Books
by Khaled Hosseini
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A Thousand Splendid Suns |
Set in Afghanistan, this story of two women - both forced to marry an ignorant and brutal man - becomes a sort of metaphor for the turbulent history of that country from pre-Soviet invasion to Taliban rule, portraying all the horrors of war: loss, repression, starvation, physical and mental abuse. Yet finally the women find some sort of redemption through the power of love. It's an immensely readable and worthy successor to The Kite Runner (bwl 29).
(Jenny Baker - bwl 42 October 2007) |
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A Thousand Splendid Suns |
I could hardly bear to put this down. Hosseini completely gets inside the heads of the two girls, who grow to women during the course of the book, and who are the main characters. The third is Afghanistan itself and its history, much of which I knew very little about. The book chronicles
decades of hope, fear, love and hate for the characters and the country. It is both moving and unbearable on all counts.
(Julie Higgins - bwl 51 May 2009) |
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The Kite Runner |
A deep childhood friendship between Amir, son of a wealthy Kabul merchant, and Hassan, son of their household servant, is torn apart by jealousy and suspicion, and finally destroyed as the boys go their separate ways. Years later, in America, Amir determines to return to Kabul to make amends for a decision that has haunted his life. Husseini is a compelling storyteller and paints a vivid picture of Afghanistan before and during the Taliban rule.
(Jenny Freeman - bwl 29 April 2005) |
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