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Books : A Thousand Splendid Suns
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Rating: 
- A stunning read.
I think this is one of the best books I have ever read. I read The Kite Runner and after all the hype I was a bit disappointed although I did enjoy it. This book is so much better. The author's style is extremely accessable, it is very easy reading but the content is so moving and harrowing. Both the accessability and the beautifully written story allows one an insight into the lives of those living in Afghanistan in very turbulant times.
Rating: - Awesome
Well the book could not have been better than what it is, an emotinal saga interwoven with historical scenarios that happened in Afghanistan. Right from the days of Najibullah, to soviets, to talibans and to the US attack.....the insight that was given into the lives of people who have faced all the suffering in Afghanistan was brilliant. There are instances within the book where you cannot help but to shed a tear drop or two. The story of Mariam, her selflesness and the boldness of Laila, to fight her life against all the odds is to be saluted. Overall this book is brilliant, do read this if you already haven't.
Rating:
- OK
I picked up this book as my friend couldn't speak highly enough about it. Hmmmm, I personally didn't think it was great and only persevered because my friend had raved about it. It is nicely written, but not amazing. The characters are ok, but a little sappy for my liking. I wasn't moved as much I was hoping to be, and I did really try and enjoy the book. It didn't work for me, not detailed enough writing, not lyrical enough, and I didnt care about the characters enough
Rating: - Brilliant
While I enjoed Mr Hosseini's previous novel, I found some aspects of the book to be slightly jarring and at times sentimental.
With 'A Thousand Splendid Suns', Hosseini has proved himself to be a major literary talent. This book kept me gripped from the first page to the most perfect last line.
I urge you to read this- it is a most unforgettable novel.
Rating:
- If you watched CNN these past 20 years, you know as much as the author about Afghanistan
I had high hopes for this book after reading so many glowing reviews, and was surprised at how dull and badly written it is, not to mention devoid of any information about Afghanistan. To anyone with even a superficial knowledge of the Middle East and Islam (like myself), this books feels phony. Farsi and Turkish words are scattered throughout the first half, seemingly to impress the Western audience and exuding a mystical aura. If you understand the words being used, it just looks silly. Why say 'bulbul bird' when you can say 'nightingale', and would never say 'nightingale bird'? Why say 'namaz prayer' rather than 'namaz' or 'prayer'? Why say 'tasbeh rosary', since those two words mean the same thing? How can the author not know the call to prayer (azan) is not once a day but five times a day? And what on earth is 'la illah u ilillah'???? (It should be written 'la ilaha illallah' - There is no God other than Allah. It is only The Most Important Phrase In Islam!)
The book (the author?) has strangely spotty knowledge not only about Islam but also about Afghanistan itself. The only monument ever mentioned in this book are the two giant Buddha statues that were blown up by the Taliban, the only Afghan monuments known to most Western people. Cultural references to Hemingway's 'Old Man And The Sea', Pinocchio, and Titanic just further reduce the credibility of the book, which appears to be written for a foreign audience.
All this felt bizarre until I read a bit about Khaled Hosseini and found out that he had left Afghanistan for Paris with his family in 1976 (when he was 11), and moved on to the US where he lives to this day. So he wasn't even there when the Soviets took over, or when Mujahideen fought them, nor when Taliban took control. He learned about all this the way we all did - from TV and newspapers. The author sadly does not remember much about life in Afghanistan, aside from things like most of the Western world is aware of - women are mistreated and Taliban blew up the Buddha statues. And that is painfully obvious when reading this book.
- A stunning read.I think this is one of the best books I have ever read. I read The Kite Runner and after all the hype I was a bit disappointed although I did enjoy it. This book is so much better. The author's style is extremely accessable, it is very easy reading but the content is so moving and harrowing. Both the accessability and the beautifully written story allows one an insight into the lives of those living in Afghanistan in very turbulant times.
Rating:
- AwesomeWell the book could not have been better than what it is, an emotinal saga interwoven with historical scenarios that happened in Afghanistan. Right from the days of Najibullah, to soviets, to talibans and to the US attack.....the insight that was given into the lives of people who have faced all the suffering in Afghanistan was brilliant. There are instances within the book where you cannot help but to shed a tear drop or two. The story of Mariam, her selflesness and the boldness of Laila, to fight her life against all the odds is to be saluted. Overall this book is brilliant, do read this if you already haven't.
Rating:
- OKI picked up this book as my friend couldn't speak highly enough about it. Hmmmm, I personally didn't think it was great and only persevered because my friend had raved about it. It is nicely written, but not amazing. The characters are ok, but a little sappy for my liking. I wasn't moved as much I was hoping to be, and I did really try and enjoy the book. It didn't work for me, not detailed enough writing, not lyrical enough, and I didnt care about the characters enough
Rating:
- BrilliantWhile I enjoed Mr Hosseini's previous novel, I found some aspects of the book to be slightly jarring and at times sentimental.
With 'A Thousand Splendid Suns', Hosseini has proved himself to be a major literary talent. This book kept me gripped from the first page to the most perfect last line.
I urge you to read this- it is a most unforgettable novel.
Rating:
- If you watched CNN these past 20 years, you know as much as the author about AfghanistanI had high hopes for this book after reading so many glowing reviews, and was surprised at how dull and badly written it is, not to mention devoid of any information about Afghanistan. To anyone with even a superficial knowledge of the Middle East and Islam (like myself), this books feels phony. Farsi and Turkish words are scattered throughout the first half, seemingly to impress the Western audience and exuding a mystical aura. If you understand the words being used, it just looks silly. Why say 'bulbul bird' when you can say 'nightingale', and would never say 'nightingale bird'? Why say 'namaz prayer' rather than 'namaz' or 'prayer'? Why say 'tasbeh rosary', since those two words mean the same thing? How can the author not know the call to prayer (azan) is not once a day but five times a day? And what on earth is 'la illah u ilillah'???? (It should be written 'la ilaha illallah' - There is no God other than Allah. It is only The Most Important Phrase In Islam!)
The book (the author?) has strangely spotty knowledge not only about Islam but also about Afghanistan itself. The only monument ever mentioned in this book are the two giant Buddha statues that were blown up by the Taliban, the only Afghan monuments known to most Western people. Cultural references to Hemingway's 'Old Man And The Sea', Pinocchio, and Titanic just further reduce the credibility of the book, which appears to be written for a foreign audience.
All this felt bizarre until I read a bit about Khaled Hosseini and found out that he had left Afghanistan for Paris with his family in 1976 (when he was 11), and moved on to the US where he lives to this day. So he wasn't even there when the Soviets took over, or when Mujahideen fought them, nor when Taliban took control. He learned about all this the way we all did - from TV and newspapers. The author sadly does not remember much about life in Afghanistan, aside from things like most of the Western world is aware of - women are mistreated and Taliban blew up the Buddha statues. And that is painfully obvious when reading this book.