A Thousand Splendid Suns

A Thousand Splendid Suns narrates the story of a woman’s life in Afghanistan, filled with unimaginable abuse and hardship. Her life becomes intertwined with a young girl’s in the most unexpected way, forming a unique friendship. Despite their age difference and different backgrounds, they create a bond that cannot be broken.

A little girl called Mariam lives with her mother in Gul Daman, Afghanistan. Mariam is born out of wedlock, and her father, a wealthy man, visits her once a week – not out of love, but out of shame and repentance. Mariam longs for her father to visit more often, and like every child, she dreams of living in one happy family. She always wants to go to the movies with him, but she is naïve to think it would ever happen. One night, Mariam sneaks out to visit her father. This innocent mistake causes her great misery and changes the course of her life forever.

She learns to live with what life gives her, as she realises that her solemn fate would keep testing her.

My favourite part of the book is when Mariam and Laila begin to get to know each other, feel like a family, and form a close bond.

My favourite character is Laila’s dad because of his strong character. He is a big supporter of girls’ education and rights, and he stands out against the norms of society.

Overall, I loved this book because it educated me about the lives of so many girls and women and what they are going through – not only in the oppressed countries but perhaps in many other places in the world. I recommend this book to readers aged 16 years and above. Although it is a powerful and beautifully written book, it is also quite sad, so I would recommend it to people who are able to read emotional yet eye – opening stories.