• A Thousand Splendid Suns

  • By: Khaled Hosseini
  • Narrated by: Atossa Leoni
  • Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (14,392 ratings)

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A Thousand Splendid Suns  By  cover art

A Thousand Splendid Suns

By: Khaled Hosseini
Narrated by: Atossa Leoni
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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)

What listeners say about A Thousand Splendid Suns

Average customer ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    10,248
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Heartbreaking and Amazing!

The writing, the narration, and the characters are so vivid, so real. Couldn't stop listening.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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beautifully written! my second time through

I love this author he's one of my favorites. this audible was narrated beautifully. I recommend this book to everyone.

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must read

What a heart breaking beautiful story. A story that will open your eyes to the privilege of being born an American woman. A story that will reveal how shallow our American lives can be and all we take for granted.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

AFGANASTAN

IT WAS A VERY RIVETING BOOK. OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE OVERTAKEN A COUNTRY AND TWO WOMEN THAT WE'RE BORN THERE . A MUST READ.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Would appeal more to women...I think

Very interesting epic-like book that may not appeal to the typical male reader.

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Wonderful

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

Simply the best

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mariam of course. I was interesting to follow her life from a young girl living in poverty through her troubled life filled with sacrifices.

Have you listened to any of Atossa Leoni’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Not that I can remember, but, her narration was, in my opionion, one of the best.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The ultimate sacrifice that one wife gave to the other.

Any additional comments?

One of the best audio books I've ever listened to, bar none.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great story

Just a great story, well read. Sad but enjoyable. I really enjoy this author.
I would listen to apt her books by this author or narrator as well.

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Beautiful. 5+ Stars.

A beautiful, gripping, crushing, heart wrenching, and wonderful book from the first word to the last. If you read The Kite Runner, you have to read this book.

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Beautiful, captivating, and informative

So glad I read this book! Moving story, compelling pace, expressive narration, and helpful cultural insight. Highly recommend!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great Story!!!

Brilliant story following the lives of women in war torn Afghanistan. I loved it and learned a great deal in the process.

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