A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Emily H | Marlboro High School, Grade 11

Rating: ****

Mariam is the product of an illicit affair between her wealthy father and his maid. She and her disgraceful mother are sent to live in the outskirts of town. Her father’s weekly visits bring her immense joy, but she wishes for the day when he will let her be seen with him in public. Her perfect image of her father shatters when her mother dies, and her father ships her off to a husband she doesn’t want. Laila, on the other hand, grows up with a doting family. Her and Mariam are drawn together when the war in Afghanistan leaves Laila without parents. The two bond over their lives with hardship and losses.

This book was absolutely amazing. Right from the start, the author tugs at the heartstrings. There is so much grief and hardship that it’s unimaginable what people experienced during the Afghanistan War. Mariam and Laila are such strong women in a country that doesn’t allow them to be. This book was particularly attractive to me because it centered around a life and culture that is so different from my own. We have so much freedom that we take for granted. Although it’s a sad tale, it draws two women into an unbreakable bond. Pain and loss can have positive effects, such as bringing people and communities together. This was an excellent read, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a story of tragedy and sorrow.