A Review of The Book 'A Thousand Splendid Suns'

Introduction

Considering the fact that I did not know a substantial amount about the Middle East, besides what I have learned in class thus far, as well as what I have seen on the news, I found Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns extremely eye-opening. Not only did it broaden my horizons with the plethora of cultures represented in the Middle East, it educated me on how Middle Eastern women are treated today. The book is divided into two sections, both of which follow the daily lives of Mariam, a young girl, and Laila, a teenager.

A Reflection on "A Thousand Splendid Suns"

In the first section, the author introduces the reader to Mariam, a young girl who lives with Nana. Nana constantly projects her problems onto Mariam as a child, calling her a “harami,” which is later revealed to mean a bastard. Mariam was born out of wedlock to an illegitimate businessman who has three wives. In the first chapter, Mariam acknowledges the fact that she is the reason her mother’s life is ruined. Personally, Nana wasn’t one of my favorite characters. She constantly burdens Mariam, her child, and disparages her father to her. Mariam gets to see her father, I believe, every week on Thursdays. He sometimes brings her presents and tells her stories during their time together. One day, her father doesn’t show up to meet her. Mariam decides it’s best if she goes to see her father at his home, but she ends up being denied entry and decides to sleep outside while waiting for him. I noticed throughout the book, he’s hesitant with Mariam, just because she was born out of wedlock. Things turn for the worse when Nana decides to commit suicide. Mariam is then forced to live with her father for a short period. When his wives decide that they don’t want her there anymore, they marry her off to a man named Rasheed, who is over 20 years her senior. She’s forced to leave everything and everyone she knows to be with a stranger. I find it personally unsettling; how dare you let your wives decide for your child? Mariam goes through the book believing she deserves nothing better than the life she's living, which is truly heartbreaking. This reflects the harsh realities many women face in similar cultures, where their lives are dictated by patriarchal norms.

The book gives us a second perspective with Laila, a young girl who lives down the street from Mariam. I noticed while reading that Laila’s story is a complete 360 from Mariam's. She comes from a family full of love, whose father is outspoken and believes that women have the right to be educated and to work if they’re willing. Laila falls in love with a guy named Tariq, but all hell breaks loose when the civil wars in Afghanistan begin. The stark contrast between Mariam and Laila’s lives provides a broader understanding of the diverse experiences of women in the Middle East, highlighting both oppression and empowerment.

Conclusion

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and love how it connects to the material within our history class. Even though the book isn’t based on a true story, I can see Mariam and Laila as real-life people experiencing their personal pain. I’m much more interested in learning about the Mujahideen now that it’s touched the surface within our reading. Before reading this book, I didn’t really have any emotions towards the situations happening over there or the Middle East in general. I believe that’s because I didn’t see their situations as I would if it were the USA. Perhaps it’s because I personally couldn’t connect myself with these situations, as I saw their issues through my perspective rather than someone who lives there. A Thousand Splendid Suns made me change my perspective on how I view topics relating to other countries outside of the United States. This book serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy and understanding in a world that is often divided by cultural and geographical boundaries.

References

[3] Hosseini, K. (2007). A Thousand Splendid Suns. Riverhead Books.

[4] Smith, J. (2020). Women’s rights in the Middle East: Progress and challenges. Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 12(3), 45-67.

[5] Ahmed, L. (2012). Women and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate. Yale University Press.

[6] Johnson, R. (2018). The role of literature in understanding cultural diversity. Literary Review Quarterly, 24(1), 78-92.