A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini

[MooseLooseAboutTheHoose]

I read a lot of books, and I’m not sure any other book has elicited the same level of emotion in me. Sadness, fear, desperation, the occasional glimpse of hope and happiness, complete and utter grief and heartbreak.

I’ve read this book across 2 evenings, and have just come in from the garden at 2.15am unable to tear myself away and needing to finish it.

I’d love to discuss with anyone who has read it, and implore anyone who hasn’t, to buy a copy and walk a while in the shoes of our Afghani sisters. This was truly eye opening, heartbreaking and an incredible, small tribute to the resilience and courage of women.

I don’t want to give anything away for those who haven’t read it, but I’d love to discuss it here and we can add a spoiler warning if needed.

Well not everyone is going to rate books in the same way I guess. Do you have any recommendations for books that have stayed with you, lingered in your mind beyond having read them?

I’ll put this on the list as well!

I read this a few years ago and re-read it last year. It's a book I will probably re-read again and again.

It must be 15 years since I read this, and I remember loving it but not much else. I think it’s time for a re-read.

I think re-reading it at this point will probably make it even tougher. At least when you read it 15 years ago, there was some hope that the suffering of women would be lessened with the US having moved in. Now, with the Taliban back in power, it’s so far backwards the situation has gone.

I’ve read all three of his books and love them all. Time for a re read I think. Thanks for the reminder.

I read this years ago and I have never forgotten it.

The last sentence brought tears to my eyes.

There are so many Maryams out there and I want to hug and rescue them all. Damn the Taliban!

It’s one of the most moving books I read along with ‘Kite runner’

Ah loved this! I bought a few copies and gave well forced them on my female relatives and when my daughter got old enough i made her read it as well.

im just about to start The Lion Women of Tehran which i believe is supposed to a similar vibe

www.waterstones.com/book/the-lion-women-of-tehran/marjan-kamali/9781398534759#reviews

Yes Kite Runner is really good.
And better in my opinion purely because it's not so harrowing

I read this book on holiday a few years ago. It has me sobbing in more than one place. It’s definitely not light holiday reading.

Beautiful book but definitely harrowing and really quite brutal. Kite Runner is beautiful too but not quite as traumatic.

I read both this book an The Kite Runner many years ago. In fact, I have just discovered a copy on my book shelf. So will give it to my 16yo dd1 to read with a massive warning beforehand.

Now off to look up the other book recommended about the Iranian women.

It’s interesting reading different perspectives, both my mum and I loved it but my sister wasn’t as enthusiastic.

The understated description of the C section...

I read this when the Taliban retook Afghanistan and I wanted to understand the history of it all, absolutely heartbreaking read but definitely one of the best books I have ever read.

I found the kite runner a harder read but I think that was due to the distressing content (I don’t want to give spoilers but trigger warning, it contains suggestions as to child sexual assault). khaled hosseini is an exceptionally talented writer though