Have you ever read a book or watched a movie with a happy yet a pain-soaked ending? And if you have experienced something like that, did you then hope for the climax to change even when you realised the climax did justice to the story?
'A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini' is one such beautiful story filled with sobs and sorrows and a happy but tear-filled climax that shakes your soul.
'A Thousand Splendid Suns' is a story of two women, Mariam and Laila from Herat and Kabul respectively, in Afghanistan. Set in the phase of political turmoil in Afghanistan, ranging from the Soviet rule to Taliban taking reigns in its hand; it is a heart-wrenching tale revolving around the worlds of two Afghani women, whose destinies, filled with sufferings and miseries, brought them under one roof. Though coming together did not end their miseries, they did find solace in each others' sorrows. There are some other perfectly-placed characters without whom the story would not have seemed complete.
The narration, in simple lucid language, moves like a motion picture in front of your eyes and is complemented by words of emotions, capable of moving even a heart made of stone. It proves to be a smooth blend of the protagonists' lives connected with historical significance of the events in the background.
The real beauty of the book is its plot which is unpredictable yet persuasive. Just when you start to feel a bit calm and convinced, and expect no more misfortune for either of the protagonists; the twist in the tale leaves you shocked and shaken, and since the story is surrounded by a series of true chronology, you can’t complain of drama.
The story brings in multiple themes of love, terror, suppression of women and hopes together and weaves it all into a beautiful heart-wrenching story.
After reading this book, I could not read any other book for almost two months. This book has raised my expectations from every other book and I could not read anything else with the fear of not fulfilling these expectations.
Rarely, do we come across such a book or a movie that change our perspective by tearing us apart from within. Even after so long, the book's story remains in my heart and Mariam & Laila still invokes pain in me. And truth to be told, every woman is a Mariam or a Laila, with her own struggles yet giving out happiness.
One beautiful aspect of the novel is even if the story is filled with hardships and sorrows, a strong sense of Love fills throughout the story. And isn’t it Love that makes us do all impossible tasks. Both Mariam and Laila, despite all the sorrows are filled with Love until the very end.
Khaled Hosseini mentions that he wrote the book so that the world knows what the women and families had endured in the Taliban hit Afghanistan, and yes he does justice to his mission. But more importantly, the story teaches you to be grateful of what we have by not taking anything or anyone for granted. And to treat everyone with kindness because you do not know the story of strength that person holds.
The story teaches us love, being grateful, endurance and strength and that Life will never be easy, yet we all have something to accomplish here, in this world, may be for ourselves or for others... Yet how easily we forget ourselves among all the world's chaos. How easily we believe we aren't good enough.
Life and Love are the most beautiful gifts. Make sure you gift both of it to all or at least to some.
“Mariam is in Laila’s own heart, where she shines with the bursting radiance of a thousand splendid suns”- though Mariam is betrayed constantly by the men in her society, she still finds the strength to love beyond all and her ultimate action emphasises how strong women can be and how they shine on with sacrifices.
PS- "A Thousand Splendid Suns" is one of the best works of Khaled Hosseini. If you haven't read it yet, this is the time to read it.
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