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From the author of the much acclaimed novel 'The Kite Runner' comes another masterful narrative,'A Thousand Splendid Suns'.
The story talks about the inner lives of two struggling Afghan women, Mariam who is sent to Kabul to marry Rasheed when she had just turned fifteen and Laila a local teenager who is struck by misfortunes that leaves her all alone in the brutal world away from her love.

Nearly two decades later, a thick freindship grows between them as strong as a relation between a mother and daughter.
The story describes their struggle against starvation,brutality and fear as the Taliban takes control of Afghanistan. But yet they overcome the most horrific obstacles with great heroism and optimism.

The story tells a lot about the Taliban style of oppression against women in Afghanistan where once women were proffesors,lawyers, doctors and played an important role in society.The torture,humiliation and gender based abuse faced by an Afghani woman is portrayed in the book which creates a horrific image in our minds.

Hosseini vividly describes about the 'Golden Years' of the 1960s and 70s, where women actively contributed to Afghan society and then the transition into a period of repression and brutality when Taliban seized power through the stories of Mariam and Laila.

The two women are separated by a generation but united by an unbreakable bond of freindship. Even when they face obstacles, they remain resilient and true to themselves.

The story not only describes the henious acts of the Taliban and the suffering faced by Afghani women but along with it carries a message of optimism and hope. A belief that the war torn land of Afghanistan will return to it's 'Golden Age'.

The innocent world of young Mariam, her inspiring Koran tutor Mullah Faizullah,Nana's uncanny nature, Jalil's helplessness, the brutal nature of Rasheed, Babi's wisdom, Laila's smartness and yearning to learn more, Tariq's charm and his love towards Laila, 'Mammy's long wait to meet her sons who left to fight in the war, the blue eyed little beauty Aziza and the young Zalmai makes this book a must read.

As said in the 'O', The Oprah Magazine; "Love is not the first thing that comes in our minds when we think about the war torn landscape of Afghanistan but that is what that suffuses the pages."

Heart breaking yet ultimately uplifting story of endurance and love. This thought provoking tale brings out the need to keep the spirit of optimism even through hard times.The novel will leave you with a sense of compassion and empathy for Afghan woman.