A Thousand Splendid Suns

By: Khaled Hosseini

Narrated by: Atossa Leoni

Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Propelled by the same superb instinct for storytelling that made The Kite Runner a beloved classic, A Thousand Splendid Suns is at once an incredible chronicle of 30 years of Afghanistan history and a deeply moving story of family, friendship, faith, and the salvation to be found in love.

Born a generation apart and with very different ideas about love and family, Mariam and Laila are two women brought jarringly together by war, by loss, and by fate. As they endure the ever-escalating dangers around them, in their home as well as in the streets of Kabul, they come to form a bond that makes them both sisters and mother-daughter to each other, and that will ultimately alter the course not just of their own lives but of the next generation. With heart-wrenching power and suspense, Hosseini shows how a woman's love for her family can move her to shocking and heroic acts of self-sacrifice, and that in the end it is love, or even the memory of love, that is often the key to survival.

A stunning accomplishment, A Thousand Splendid Suns is a haunting, heartbreaking, compelling story of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love.

©2007 TKR Publications, LLC. All rights reserved (P)2007 Simon and Schuster Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Another searing epic....[Hosseini's] tale is a powerful, harrowing depiction of Afghanistan, but also a lyrical evocation of the lives and enduring hopes of its resilient characters." (Publishers Weekly)
"Unimaginably tragic, Hosseini's magnificent second novel is a sad and beautiful testament to both Afghani suffering and strength. Readers who lost themselves in The Kite Runner will not want to miss this unforgettable follow up." (Booklist)

Touching and eye opening

I realize this is a fictional story, however many of the referenced dates, the events around Kaboul, Russian occupation, American Assistance, and the Taliban (which serve as backdrops to the story) are real.

I admit that I have very little knowledge of Afghanistan, however, after reading this story, I was left with two emotions:
1. The shock of how the western media portrayed the Russian occupation as the most sinister and evil thing on the planet, while it was good in many aspects of Afghani life (i know the Russians did awful things as well).
2. Very disturbed with the segregation and hate that Taliban had for women, I was aware of it, but the writer makes you feel it. It is frustrating as well to know it happened in the name of Allah, when the Quran actually forbids this treatment of women.

Well done to bring these facts to life, I wished though you stated that Islam is not like this, and all that happened was misinterpretations by fundamentalists.

Great Story, Okay Performance

I love this story, but it was difficult to follow along at times because the narrator didn't speak with much emotion.

Listen and you will never be the same

OMG. This book. Well read, but the content!! Appalling that this kind of behavior actually goes on in today's time. These women were warriors to endure the treatment they went through and still endured. Brought me to tears so many times, yet inspired me. Many heartwarming moments and these two women's friendship and the bond they shared warmed my heart. These women have true grit. Left me feeling a bit helpless that you don't know what you could do to help with this type of abuse. I would recommend this book to everyone. One of my absolute favorites. And the narrators were amazing!

Beautiful and informative!

I love this story. It was beautifully written and the characters were wonderfully portrayed. I love stories that also help me learn about other cultures and events happening in the world. This one wove together the recent history of Afghanistan along with a beautiful narrative.

Amazing

Incredibly sad yet captivating story. A story of two very strong women and a lot of love getting them through their difficult lives. So much rich history just from the past 40 years. And leaves me wondering when and how the strife in that region will ever end. The narrator was fabulous - nice to have someone with accurate pronunciation of the beautiful language

Eye opening and tranformative

If you were looking for a book that is going to educate you on war and give you insight from another country’s perspective this is the book for you. I highly recommend listening to this book I really enjoyed the performance by
Leoni.

wow.

This was incredibly moving. I will absolutely be recommending this book to all of my fellow readers. ❤️

outstanding

This book captured me right from the start. It held my attention and opened my emotions.

Amazing Book - Horrible Reader

Loved the book, if a person could "love" the tradegy and sorrow of this story. He writes well and portrays clearly and from what little I know, accurately, the horror that has been Afghanistan since the Soviet invasion. The reader was horrible. She made it difficult to listen to. She doesn't get the phrasing right, leaves sentences hanging, sing-songy voice. Poor reader. Don't let her ruin the book for you.

must read!

absolutely loved this book! Definitely makes my top five. I developed a true appreciation for the Afghanistan people particularly under Taliban influence. the author's ability to write about human experience and emotion with such honesty really allows the reader to connect with the characters and the characters environment.