A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS- KHALED HOSSEINI

                           
           
             

                                “But it is true, it is a good time to be a woman in Afghanistan, Laila jo.”

                    Blessing us with a story that moves the hardest of hearts and touches the deepest of souls, Khaled Hosseini tells us what it is to be a woman, irrespective of the times, places and situations she is surrounded with. Surprising how a good book can show you so many aspects of what a woman is looked up to or frowned upon for. This book also gives many instances to any person who has read The Kite Runner, to reminisce.  

                    It all begins at the age of 5 for Mariam. Yet another innocent soul to whom life played games at. Mariam is a walking, breathing embodiment of shame. Her knowledge of the Koran being the sole, priceless possession of her undisputed existence. Times become hard for Mariam after she decides to make the first choice in her life. The events turning so disastrous that she is let out to marry at the age of 13, a man named Rasheed, decades older than her age. But for Mariam’s family, early teens is a solid age for marriage. A solid age for a woman to embrace her destiny, her fate.

               

               In her ill- fated marriage to Rasheed, Mariam’s greatest happiness is snatched away. After this, Mariam is just another burden despite being a good wife. But again, what is a good wife? What makes a good wife? She underwent self-denial, loathing and sacrifice, which led her to believe the truth in her mother’s words that she didn’t want to believe. Mariam was led to believe that she deserved all the beatings, slaps, kicks, insults, being spat on, breaking of bones and teeth; just because her nang and namoos, her pride and honor was something in the hands of her husband, only.

          

             Despite giving details of how Mariam endured everything that life threw at her, the author imprints the brutality of war times. It’s in the little details of struggle that Mariam found her solitude. How important is education and knowledge where achievement of men would obliterate a woman’s entire existence. Marveling at Hosseini’s ability to portray the cruel pain in losing a loved one, the sacrifices of parting, the union in love, the horror of torture and the longing for justice. I turn speechless when I think of the families that lived to see what war did to their loved ones. To see what remains of a sister, brother, grandchild; bones or mere headless torsos. 

               Mariam is blessed with some happiness, years later, in a kinship that she develops with Laila. Laila gives Mariam the love she always wanted to experience. Aziza, who was the only one who loved Mariam guilelessly and unreservedly, whom Mariam was grateful for. She lives, endures, only to believe that this is her life, because she was born a woman and born a harami.

              A Thousand Splendid Suns has been a book that has truly touched me. I cannot get enough of the excellence with which this book is written, the words spoken, the emotions felt, grievances unspoken, burdens unprotested and pain endured. Though we may not relate to all the occurrences, the book is just not something that can be forgotten. To anyone who wishes to pick this book, wishing you well to witness what is Aghani suffering and strength, through a heartrending and powerful tale that is impossible to resist.