A Thousand Splendid Suns

"One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs,

Or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls."

- Saib-e-Tabrizi (a 17th century Persian

poet writing about Kabul)

It took me quite a long time to finish reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. It wasn't that interesting at first, but it became more and more compelling as the story developed, in a sad way of course, as wars raged the homeland of the Afghans, depriving people of their loved ones, rights, hopes and dreams. And innocent lives. It took nothing more than a second to change one's life forever. It took nothing more than a despicable lie for one's own benefits. The costs were years of youth, happiness, and honour. And there were regret and forgiveness that came too late, words that were never spoken and heard.

The story was so convincing that more than once my heart ached for what the characters went through. Maybe Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner was more famous, but somehow it didn't grip me as much as A Thousand Splendid Suns did.

I'm trying to find words to describe what's in my head at this moment, but I can't. The novel just keeps me thinking and feeling. Feeling sorry for the people who are really suffering. And feeling grateful for the life I'm living.

There're stories that make their readers feel. There're stories that make the readers feel AND think.

Now that's my definition of a successful novel, a story that doesn't die the moment you close the book.

A review on this book: http://www.theworldonline.ae/?p=274