2018 Beyond the Classics discussion

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseion, first starts with introducing Mariam (the first narrator.) she is a child but not just any child, her father is a very rich man. Although she is seen as a mistake because her mother doesn’t reach the standards of his other wives. Mariam and her mother live in a hut off of his palace. Her mother is a bitter woman who wants nothing to do with Mariam’s father, but Mariam believes he is the sun. Soon her father disappointed to her and she realizes he doesn’t see her as his daughter, just a mistake. Mariam also loses another important person in her life, leaving her with noone. She then is married off to an older abusive man. This then creates the plot of meeting Laila.

Lalia is younger than Marima, she grew up more in a modern time. She has two parents that love her more than anything. She was given an education and a best friend, Tariq. Even though Lalia’s family lost her brothers, they power through and stride every day to make a difference. But that firing passion doesn’t last forever. Soon war spreads to their neighborhood leaving Lalia with no one. She is forced to marry, Marina's abusive husband. She is now Rasheed’s second wife.

Laila and Mariam at first hate each other. They do not see eye to eye at all. Mariam is jealous Lail can have kids and she can’t. She is jealous of how Laila does nothing and Rasheed loves her more because she is younger and prettier. This puts a bad taste in both of their mouths. But they soon learn they need each other to survive. That no matter what happened in the past, it didn’t matter now, they needed freedom. Sacrifice soon becomes an important factor in their lives, changing everything they know.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hossein was by far my favorite book I read in Beyond The Classics. I was reading off of Emma Watson’s reading list and this was one of the books on the list. I thought the details were perfect, the characters were well developed and the narration flowed. The book was told by two women, Mariam and Laila. Each woman grew up with a different background but soon came together as one. This book also highlighted the horrors of what some other countries are going through. I was reminded how lucky I am that I have a free education, a family that loves me and the power to speak up. This book was incredibly moving, it even brought me to tears.