A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini, is a story of love, grief, war, and perseverance. The 2007 novel takes place in a war-torn Afghanistan over a long period, beginning in the 1960s and ending in the late 2000s. It shares the intertwined stories of two women, Mariam and Laila. Their very different lives unexpectedly meet and Hosseini’s writing captures their relationship by exploring themes of love, sacrifice, friendship, and family.
The book first starts from the perspective of a young girl named Mariam. Throughout the book we watch Mariam grow up, witness her struggles, and see her become a strong, resilient woman who stays true to herself despite all she endures.
High school Language Arts teacher, Ms. Mercure has been teaching the novel in her Language Arts II classes for four years and says, “Students can learn so much from a novel like this because it exposes them to another part of the world that showcases different customs, cultures, and traditions. By the end of the novel, we learn we always have more in common that unites us rather than divides us.”
Senior Kyle England says, “I’m not much of a reader, but I really enjoyed this book. It was written beautifully, and I always wanted to know what would happen next. This was one of the few stories where I was emotionally invested in the characters and would become frustrated when something bad would happen to them. I was empathetic for the characters in the novel, which is rare for me. Similarly, when something good would happen, I would be relieved as I truly wanted the best for the characters in the book. “
Mariam was raised in an emotionally abusive home due to her Mother’s fear of abandonment. Due to this, she was not allowed to go to school or leave the kolba that she was raised in. Her Mother frequently referred to Mariam as a harami, a harsh word for an illegitimate child, and always made sure to let Mariam know she or her Father didn’t want her. Growing up her Father, Jalil would try to visit her as often as possible and would shower her with gifts, ensuring she was wanted and loved. Nana, Mariam’s Mom would often make remarks about Jalil, often calling him a coward. It isn’t until Mariam is a little older that her Father allows his wives to marry Mariam off that she realizes the harsh truth about the comments that were made.
Later in the book we meet Laila, a hopeful, strong-willed girl at first glance who seems to be the polar opposite of Mariam. From the outside, Laila had it all. She was raised by a loving Father, had the privilege of going to school, and had numerous friends throughout her youth including her best friend and first love, Tariq. As readers, we quickly realize Laila’s home life may not be as perfect as it seems. She is constantly in the shadows of her two older brothers, who are away at war. With them being far from home, it is nearly impossible for Laila’s Mom to focus on her. This causes Laila to grow up a lot faster than she has to often doing the cooking and cleaning for her and her Father.
Senior Morgan Lewis says, “My favorite character was Laila because she would always stand up for herself, even though it could end up with her getting into trouble. She went through so much, and she is such a strong character.”
Their paths cross when Laila’s life is shattered by a series of personal tragedies leaving her alone with no one to turn to. Rasheed, Mariam’s abusive husband takes Laila in, and later on she finds herself in the same difficult and oppressive marriage as Mariam. Initially, Mariam’s fear of being replaced and abandoned takes over her causing a lot of tension between the two ladies. Over time, they start to open up to one another and form a deep bond of support and protection. Mariam becomes the protective Mother figure that Laila never had, and Laila is the daughter that Mariam has always wanted.
Tariq, Laila’s childhood friend and first love, is an important asset to the story and is crucial to Laila’s emotional development. They always shared a genuine connection that blossomed into a young romance during their youth. While Rasheed is cruel, controlling, and abusive, Tariq is compassionate, honest, and loyal. He is the one person who Laila was always able to lean on and he becomes an exceptional person to Laila’s two children, Aziza and Zalmai.
Kyle England says, “My favorite character is Tariq. I appreciate that he always wanted the best for the people around him, and would try to help them at all costs. Even when he had to make large sacrifices, he would do whatever was necessary to make the lives of those around him better.”
At its core, A Thousand Splendid Suns is a beautiful demonstration of resilience, perseverance, and the power of love even in the toughest moments. Hosseini’s lovely writing style not only captivates the reader but also educates them about the trials and tribulations the Afghans have endured throughout their lives.
“There are so many important themes to take away from A Thousand Splendid Suns. One important theme that stands out to me is the power of relationships and their impact on us. This even includes our relationship with home. Other themes include the resilience of the human spirit and most importantly, hope. Students can learn so much from a novel like this because it exposes them to another part of the world that showcases different customs, cultures, and traditions. By the novel’s end, we learn we always have more in common that unites us rather than divides us.” Ms. Mercure says and couldn’t have said it better.
