EDIT: SPOILERS AT THE BOTTOM!!!! I added the tag when I originally made the post and it shows up for me, but some people are not seeing it. Avoid this post if you want to avoid spoilers!
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I just finished reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, started and completed in less than a day because I simply could not put it down. This was the first book in years that has made me gasp, jump up from my seat, read rigidly with anxiety. Genuinely this book has me fucked up. The suicide? The lies about Tariq dying? Jalil coming to see Mariam? The kids? Murdering the POS husband? The execution???
There's something about the writing, the plot, the realness of the characters and the complexities of their stories that drew me in and kept me hostage. The death and life, the karma, the back and forth of stories and rules and expectations rattled me. I had to stop myself from skipping over words because I was so engrossed with the book. Part of me wants to read it again and begin to break down things I'm sure I missed, analyze every detail given, get to know each person again. Part of me never wants to read again. I know Khaled Hosseini has other works, but I can't imagine anything topping this, or even comparing. For the last seven years of my life I've had the same favorite book, the same comforts and desires in reading, and A Thousand Splendid Suns has changed it.
How am I meant to continue reading after experiencing this? Maybe the pain of the book is worth going through again. Who knows!
by thneedery22
32 Comments
Read it in school. I recall it being kind mid. But books hit people differently. Just read more and you will likely top it.
I remember getting to the part where she reads the letter and just SOBBING. So tragic. Loved it though!
I’ve reread this book about 10 times since it was released. I also read it in one day the first time I read it. This is my favorite book. I’ve read all of his books and imo, this is his best work. The way he writes women is something that other male writers should take notes on. I’m writing my own story for the first time and I hope I’m half as good as he is. I’m staring at my copy on the shelf debating on reading it again right now. I have about 5 other stories that call my attention though.
I felt the same way you did, but mine was when reading The Kite Runner. I remember reading a thousand splendid suns after and kinda liking it but it was nothing close to The Kite Runner. Like the other guy said though, some books hit different for different people.
Such a good novel! It was my first book that I read from Hosseini. I was 16, reading it for a book competition. I couldn’t stop reading it. I really liked the book so much that I went to go find other books he had written. I recommend The Kite Runner. I learned a lot more about Afghanistan and it’s history from reading his books.
I read it about 15 years ago and it remains my favorite book. It deserves more recognition than it gets because of all of the reasons you listed. I think it’s his best work, but I think you’ll like And the Mountains Echoed if you liked this one.
I read The Kite Runner in high school and I thought it was decent. It was definitely better than a lot of the other books I had to read, but I didn’t appreciate it until I read it again as an adult.
A Thousand Splendid Suns really is the superior book in my opinion. I also couldn’t put it down when I started reading it and made me appreciate the former book so much more.
It’s soooo good. You must read Kite Runner too. That one RUINED me.
This was also my experience, instantly went to the top of my list when I read it years ago. I’ve also read Mountains Echoed and Kite Runner, but Splendid Suns is by far my favorite. To this day no other book has caused such visceral reactions in me.
This book was the gold standard for me for years. *Girls Burn Brighter* had a similar vibe and I recommend it, although it didn’t ruin my reading life quite to the same extent as *A Thousand Splendid Suns*.
I can’t tell if this is hyperbole or more concrete. I’ve never had such a reaction to a book.
I loved this book, but it haunts me.
I read A Thousand Splendid Suns before reading The Kite Runner and I still think, A Thousand Splendid Suns is better. I remember sobbing at the end of the book. I am grateful I read his work before reading other men who write women characters.
The emotions I felt reading Jalil’s letter were visceral
My absolute favorite book.
Absolute genius of a book. I still
Remember the pebble forced chew. Argh.
I was a voracious reader as a kid, but marriage, full time work, and childrearing but a kabosh on my most of my reading as an adult.
Picked up A Thousand Splendid Suns about two years ago and LOVED it. Reminded me why I love reading so much!
It’s one of the very few books that had me sobbing, I wish I could read it again for the first time
you might love a book called ‘the republic of false truths’ very similar tone and Al aswany writes characters in a similar flawed but lovable/hateavle way.
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its about multiple differnt people during the egyption revolution against Mubarak.
I’ve listened to The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns on audiobook and I have a copy of And The Mountains Echoed waiting to be read.
I felt so distraught after finishing this one. The end was hopeful, but knowing where Afghanistan is now made it difficult to read.
Read it in high school and thought it was okay. I don’t remember the writing style or a lot of the details cuz it was a while ago so maybe I’ll reread and enjoy it now that I’m older but I just wasn’t a fan of how every page got situationally worse than the last. It made a great page turner but an a bad unbreathable read at the same time if that makes sense.
That was my first experience of reading that author. He is absolutely astounding. I think my least favorite of his is The Kite Runner and that’s saying a lot cuz it is an exceptional novel. I’ve even had the opportunity to go to a q&A and meet the author, he’s as kind in person as you would imagine.
This is the last book that made me forget to take a break. I just couldn’t put it down. I lost all awareness of my surroundings. That was 17 years ago. No book has done it since.
It’s an incredible book. I highly recommend you do give his other novels a try. Kite Runner is the most famous of them, I think, and another harrowing read. My personal favourite of his works is And the Mountains Echoed. His storytelling approach is different in that one but I really love it. He’s among my favourite authors. Even his illustrated poem, Sea Prayer, is beautiful and well worth reading.
>!”One last time, Mariam did as she was told.”!<
When I tell you that line *ruined* me… I still can’t think of it without tearing up.
I wish he would write another book
YES this is my favorite book of all time for exactly this reason – i’ve never had a book fuck me up so bad. i got so attached to Miriam and Laila, Hosseini has a way of making them feel like real, breathing people and it makes everything they go through and suffer together so vivid and painful. i STILL weep like a baby at the last line of Miriam’s POV. i don’t know how this got greenlit for high school students to read, but i’m forever grateful that it did.
I cried so hard my glasses couldn’t stay on my face … it’s incredible
This just proves there’s something for everyone, because I absolutely hated that book haha.
There is a scene with supposedly under cooked rice that I remember vividly to this day… I was 15 reading this book and it was just too much for me. I chucked it across the room and cried. It is not the worst thing that happens in this book but the pure malice of the act … it was the last straw for me for that day. I was only able to pick it up again a few weeks later.
I absolutely love the book. It’s my favourite one. Haven’t read it in a long time, but the line that resonates with me is the one where >!laila’s friend, Hasina, her prediction about laila’s photo being published in the newspaper coming true!< It always brings a tear to my eyes.