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)

Top Notch

This was a beautifully written and narrated story. Atossa Leoni's voice, her cadence and delivery, did perfect justice to Hosseini's often heart-breaking story about being a woman in modern Afghanistan.

An invitation

Illuminating, thought-provoking, heart-wrenching and beautiful...the author has painted a picture of a slice of history about which I thought I had a least a little knowledge. I was wrong. I recommend this book to those who would like to see the world through different eyes, to those whose hearts are open enough to truly hear this story.

My favorite Hosseini book!

If you could sum up A Thousand Splendid Suns in three words, what would they be?

Captivating. Triumphant. Beautiful.

What other book might you compare A Thousand Splendid Suns to and why?

I would say, The Kite Runner, another book by Khaled Hosseini. Both take place beginning in 1950's Afghanistan, when the country was modernizing and progressing, and then through the decades that follow, that brought war and struggle. Both books give first-hand insight into how Afghanis felt and what they experienced, through compelling stories that left me wanting more.

Which character – as performed by Atossa Leoni – was your favorite?

Mariam. This character went through a lot of pain, emotionally and physically, and was beautiful inside.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A story of love and family through the struggles of life in Afghanistan.

Any additional comments?

This book was so great, that it was actually hard for me to say goodbye to the characters. The narrator did a wonderful job of bringing them to life.

Just terribly bleak

Loved Kite Runner, so I decided to follow up with this story. Beautifully written. The redemption for me was too little, too late.

Phenomenal! BUT gut wrenching!

Great story, very entertaining. It also made me a little more empathetic toward the people of Afghanistan. Loved the Kite Runner as well.

Great book! I listened 3 times!

What did you love best about A Thousand Splendid Suns?

This author is my favorite and I read all of his books. This is my second favorite after the Kite Runner...which is the best book of all time...for me. If you never travel to the middle east, this is a great taste of the life. A must read.

Excellent read

I thought that the author could not outdo his first book "The Kiterunner" but he has with this book. Very real depiction of the plight of women in that part of the world.

Great read

This author was able to transport me into situations in which I have had no remote experience nor probably ever will living in the middle of the US. It really made me look at Afghanistan in a whole new way and the citizens of this war torn region. He is a fabulous author. "Kite Runner" was slightly better but that still means this was an exceptional read.

A great book but depressing

This is a great story, Khaled Hosseini has a tremendous capacity to tell a story that captivates the listener. The content is disturbing, but the writing is so good as is the story that it grips you. I agree with some of the reviewers that the narrator is monotone, but to me that adds tenor to the book her narration fits the story. I am not quite finished listening, but I would highly recommend this book, especially if you like The Kite Runner

This is not "Kite Runner", but it's still good

The only fault in this book is that it follows "The Kite Runner". Without the expectations I had after reading TKR I would have loved this book. I still 'love' it, but it leaves me wanting more. The story reveals a great deal more about the Afghani people and their culture. At the end of a Hosseini book I'm left loving the characters. They are so real and so Afghan. This is a great read, but beware of heightened expectations.