A Thousand Splendid Suns | Khaled Hosseini | Book Review

Have you ever wondered how lucky you are to see the rays of light that brings hope every morning. Well after reading this beautiful narration I am thankful that everyday I get to see that light and that indeed is my Heaven.

A Thousand Splendid Suns tells the story of Mariam, who was married at the age of fifteen to Rasheed who was thirty years her senior. Being born as an illegitimate child Mariam has always wondered if her life could be of some meaning and after failing to give birth to a child she found it was not possible. But little did she know that down her street a child was born who would give her a reason to live and to die.

Laila, an educated girl was only fourteen when she entered Mariam’s household as her husband’s second wife. She was one of the victims of war, her brothers shaheed, her parents dead and the love of her life, Tariq has left Kabul with his parents. Now knowing that she has to survive to save the baby in her womb she decides to marry a man who was almost her father’s age. 

This heart breaking story tells us how they have lived together, endured the hardship, the pain and the brutality of their husband and a beautiful bond that was created— of a Mother and Daughter. 

While Mariam made her life meaningful by being a good mother figure to Laila, a good Khala to her kids, it was Laila who survived the war and found peace and love by marrying Tariq. Now she sees the beautiful rays of light every morning with a new hope of future for herself and for her nation.