Book: A Thousand Splendid Suns
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Publication: Bloomsbury, 2007
Khaled
Hosseini's A Thousand
Splendid Suns is more an experience than a mere reading. A wonderful book
which made me thirst for reading it. As I was reading the book, I eventually
came across some science students. Out of five of them atleast three were
acquainted with Hosseini's writings. What we hear in a biased way through the
media, the author provides us honestly through his first hand experiences and
lively characterisation. The book deals with the life of two women who endure
the harsh pangs of patriarchy and fate.
"the book
deals with hope and despair, joy and sorrow, young and old, men and women, the
genuine and the hypocrites, the communists and the radicals making it whole and
perfect"
The story is
set mainly in Herat and Kabul.The story moves along the lives of two women. Mariam,the
illegitimate daughter of a maid and her wealthy owner and Laila, a girl
though born in a good family and educated is forced into situations against her
dreams by fate. The Communist rule in Afghan , The Mujhahideens, Jihad and the
advent of the Taliban set the background of the novel. To be brief, the novel
focuses on life of women, education, terrorism and politics.
Moving to the
characters, I should say that the characters have become one with my heart.
They influence the reader with their realistic life situations,emotions and
simple yet well tuned language.the characters bring joy and tears.
For both
Mariam and Laila, life is a struggle against patrirchy and fate. For
Mariam educaion passes away as a dream never pursued. She was eager to go
school like her half-sisters . But she is married to an old man (Rasheed) at a
very young age.She is ill treated, beaten till she bleeds and locked up it
brings tears in the eyes of any reader when he thinks of her little dreams
going unfulfilled.Laila on the other hand, though brilliant and educated also
ends up marrying Rasheed.Both struggle together for freedom and joy.
The people in
the novel who captivated my thoughts are, Mariam, who represents the
voice of every woman whose yearnings for education and freedom is suppressed. Laila( night
beauty) who is a reformative figure in whom we find not only endurance but also
cleverness, She is clever enough to distract Rasheed with blood from her
hand and protect Tariq's baby in her. Mullah Faizullah shows us the
true face of Islam among a group of hypocrites and radical terrorists. He
is the one who taught me and cleared me of my prejudices about Islam. Finally,
the baby Aziza who is carefree and innocent even amidst such
political and family turmoil.
Daily we read
about blasting of a bomb, suicide bombings,people killed and buildings
destroyed. The novel can be felt, experienced and related to our life. Through
the death of the family of Laila, the author points the consequences of one
bomb. It can make a daughter orphan and a lover lonely. How many Lailas would a
bomb make orphan? How many Tariq's woud it make legless? It made me think.
The narration
and style is perfect.We find atleast two Farsi words every
page.(eg)Didi-Sister, Harami-Bastard, Nikka-Wedding. The language is simple,
yet they have life in them. Faizullah's words encourage us whereas Rasheed's
words are disgusting and reflect his character.
As an average
reader, I loved the book very much I anticipate to read The Kite Runner
by the same author. My most favorite part of the novel is the reconciliation
of Mariam and Laila. They begin to struggle together. Mariam has tears in
her eyes when Aziza's tender hands reach out for her and want her.
"Mariam
had never before been wanted like this.Love had never been declared to her so
guilelessly, so unresrevedly. Aziza made Mariam want to weep"
Some memorable lines to quote,
"I mean a
real school, akhund sahib. Like in a classroom. Like my father's other
kids"
"Each
snowflake was a sigh heaved by an aggrieved somewhere in the world."
"Like a
compass needle that points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman.
Always"
I strongly
recommend this book A Thousand Splendid Suns for beginners who need grip
and anticipation in their reading. The simple language, great characterisation
and perfect plot is sure to draw one towards the book.My rating of the
book based on its plot, characterisation, language is 9.5 out of 10
- Oswin Barnabas
