A thousand splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.
After reading the much acclaimed Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini and liking the differently set honest story, I chose to read this book from my library. The writing style was totally on a different level altogether, and smelt of the countryside, the smoldering heat of the kitchen, and the warm smell of the breads, narrated by the sweet little Mariam who is so much in love with her Dad, like most little girls are. More so since Naana, her mother is always punching, poking and prodding her with harsh words, their bitterness striking her then while the Truth hurts her later.
"Like a compass facing north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam."
A very relatable story for most girls, there is always a different view of the super hero Dad that only a mother knows and rants about. Truth dawns on Mariam after her mother's death, and before she comes to terms with it life has lots in store for her. Though the background is set in Afghanistan, the setting or part of it is there around us. While the reader almost gets into the prejudice that this is due to Mariam's background, We are introduced to Laila. A better household, parents who love their kids, and things going good if not perfect.
Laila was much better than Mariam, and the story takes to a better turn and as we wonder what was it about Mariam then, destiny has different plans and the two meet. Such an emotional roller coaster, while Rashid is such an opportunist, even he is not completely portrayed as negative.
“A man's heart is a wretched, wretched thing. It isn't like a mother's womb. It won't bleed. It won't stretch to make room for you.”
The best part of the story is the relationship between the two women, sisterhood that we feminists keep crying about.The initial friction, the moment they understand the woes of the other, and the beautiful way they stand by each other not letting go of the other, was the most beautiful thing of the story. The style of Hosseini was so full of feelings and emotions that could possibly only be felt by another female. I so loved the man for the beautiful way he portrayed the women like only a woman can, like he knows what happens inside a woman's head and heart.
After reading the much acclaimed Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini and liking the differently set honest story, I chose to read this book from my library. The writing style was totally on a different level altogether, and smelt of the countryside, the smoldering heat of the kitchen, and the warm smell of the breads, narrated by the sweet little Mariam who is so much in love with her Dad, like most little girls are. More so since Naana, her mother is always punching, poking and prodding her with harsh words, their bitterness striking her then while the Truth hurts her later.
"Like a compass facing north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam."
A very relatable story for most girls, there is always a different view of the super hero Dad that only a mother knows and rants about. Truth dawns on Mariam after her mother's death, and before she comes to terms with it life has lots in store for her. Though the background is set in Afghanistan, the setting or part of it is there around us. While the reader almost gets into the prejudice that this is due to Mariam's background, We are introduced to Laila. A better household, parents who love their kids, and things going good if not perfect.
Laila was much better than Mariam, and the story takes to a better turn and as we wonder what was it about Mariam then, destiny has different plans and the two meet. Such an emotional roller coaster, while Rashid is such an opportunist, even he is not completely portrayed as negative.
“A man's heart is a wretched, wretched thing. It isn't like a mother's womb. It won't bleed. It won't stretch to make room for you.”
The best part of the story is the relationship between the two women, sisterhood that we feminists keep crying about.The initial friction, the moment they understand the woes of the other, and the beautiful way they stand by each other not letting go of the other, was the most beautiful thing of the story. The style of Hosseini was so full of feelings and emotions that could possibly only be felt by another female. I so loved the man for the beautiful way he portrayed the women like only a woman can, like he knows what happens inside a woman's head and heart.
"She thought of her entry into this world, the harami child of a lowly villager, an unintended thing, a pitiable, regrettable accident. A weed. And yet she was leaving the world as a woman who had loved and been loved back. She was leaving it as a friend, a companion, a guardian. A mother. A person of consequence at last. No. It was not so bad, Miriam thought, that she should die this way. Not so bad. This was a legitimate end to a life of illegitimate belongings.”
Such beautiful lines throughout the book, this was one of those books that I read and reread phrases for their beauty and their truth. The final part of the book feels like an add-on, probably to give women and people in general a hope, but nevertheless one of the best feminist fiction from a wonderful man. An all time favorite. Something I wish just remained as history to future women.
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