A book review

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini is a gripping tale about the power of friendship between two women. Beautifully crafted this novel places us in Afghanisthan with an open heart. It is the story of Mariam and Laila. Mariam is only fifteen when she is sent to Kabul to marry Rasheed. Nearly two decades later, a friendship strikes between Mariam and Laila; a local teenager. Their bond becomes as strong as that of a mother and a daughter. When the Taliban takes over, life becomes a desperate struggle against starvation, brutality and fear. Yet, it is love that leads them to overcome the most daunting obstacles with startling heroism. This novel is a heart-wrenching and inspiring tale focused on the women of Afghanisthan.

Hosseini is successful in making the story come alive and evoking the feeling of compassion and condemnation in the readers. It is a powerful portrait of female suffering and endurance under the Taliban. With his knack of story telling this novel is vivid and compelling. His narrative style portrays the terrible realities of war and suffering in a compelling manner. At the same time it also provides convincing glimpses of the possibility of redemption and salvation.

This book is universal in dealing with the issues of war and women. It is so captivating that you can feel the pain experienced by Mariam and Laila in the story.