I finished Khaled Hosseini's new book A Thousand Splendid Suns today. This book was just as much of a page turner as The Kite Runner in my opinion. When I read The Kite Runner , it really struck my heart. I was so moved as I felt I was given a glimpse into life in Afghanistan both before and after the Taliban. As The New York Times Book Review notes:
Whereas “The Kite Runner” focused on fathers and sons, and friendships between men, his latest novel, “A Thousand Splendid Suns,” focuses on mothers and daughters, and friendships between women. Whereas “Kite Runner” got off to a gripping start and stumbled into contrivance and sentimentality in its second half, “Splendid Suns” starts off programmatically and gains speed and emotional power as it slowly unfurls.
And, like The Kite Runner this book has received mixed reviews. I have to wonder if some of that is because very few people (in the states especially) have a "true" picture of what life is like in this region of the world. Even the Entertainment Weekly Reviewer alluded to this:
Hosseini's depiction of Mariam and Laila's plight would seem cartoonishly crude if it were not, by all accounts, a sadly accurate version of what many Afghan women have experienced.
I still say it makes me sadly aware of just how much we have...and how much so many people in the world do not. I'm thankful for books like these that help to give me better perspective. I'm also thankful, though, for the impetus that it gives me to find more and more ways to reach out to those with less than I.
And on another note....
Melli suggested that I abandon Memoirs of a Geisha. But I shall not. It will remain in my pile. It's one that I started and didn't "want" to put down...I "chose" to put it down. It'll be read before my Summer Reading is done.
Happy Reading Everyone!!
7 comments:
Thanks again for these reviews, Susan. it helps to know what it out there. Sandy
Great reviews! Not that you want more books - but have you read The Thirteenth Tale or The Poet of Loch Ness? Both are not my typical type to read (usually reading books with more pictures than words at this stage of the game) but these two were recommended and I really enjoyed them.
Have a great weekend!
Leigh Ann
I haven't read the Kite Runner yet, but it is on my TBR list. I will add it as well. I also thing that one of the great thing about books is the understanding they can give us. Thanks!
I just finished Sunrise by Karen Kingsbury so I'm ready for a new book....
thanks
This sounds great
Thanks for dropping by my blog... and for the book recommendation in this post. It sounds excellent, and the type I would like (about life in another region of the world). I haven't had a chance to just read a book for pleasure in a long, long time. Perhaps this summer. :)
Wasn't it just an awesome book!!??? Glad you enjoyed it...and especially glad that it impacted you in just the way it did me ;) I too would recommend giving up on Memoirs of a Geisha...I must have picked that book up a zillion times and by about the second chapter I gave up...until I finally just gave it away. However, should you read it...I would love for you to review it...some books it takes getting to the middle to really enjoy it....btw...with July coming up...I would love to make some plans to maybe meet....at McRaes...just before you set out for some scallops????
Well... I didn't specifically mean to put down Geisha -- unless it just wasn't appealing to you! Because while many many people LOVED it, I also heard from many others that it was just BORING! I do think it's one of those either love it or ... not... books! LOL! However... this 2nd book by Hosseini MAY be of more interest to me than the first was. But honestly... even Kite Runner probably just hit me at a bad TIME... because ALL I am reading these days are bible studies! LOL!!! Voraciously!
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