A Thousand Splendid Suns – by Kahled Hosseini

A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS   If you read The Kite Runner, by Kahled Hosseini, or even if you didn’t, don’t miss his second book A Thousand Splendid Suns.  It takes place in present day Afghanistan.  Mariam is already living a life of marital misery under male-dominated tradition when the Taliban take over.  She finds life even harder and more challenging with the introduction into her home of Laila, a younger second wife.  Starvation, fear and brutality both inside and outside their home forms an unexpected friendship between Mariam and Laila that leads to great sacrifice and bravery.  This book grabbed my heart.  I couldn’t put it down.  It is powerfully written – a tragic and beautiful book. 

Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and moved to the United States in 1980.  His first novel, The Kite Runner, is an international best seller, published in 34 countries.