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| Author: Khaled Hosseini
Publisher: Riverhead
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy Used: $8.94
You Save: $17.01 (66%)
New (116) Used (152) Collectible (42) from $8.94
Avg. Customer Rating:  1279 reviews
Sales Rank: 41
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 372
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.7 x 6.1 x 1.2
ISBN: 1594489505
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9781594489501
ASIN: 1594489505
Publication Date: May 22, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Looks like an unread copy in near perfect condition, Pages are clean & are not marred by marks
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| Customer Reviews:
 He breaks my heart June 13, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Where the Kite Runner focuses on the lives of two men, this is the story of two women. Like his previous book, Mr. Hosseini has found a way, again, to bring me to tears. His words are simple but their impact continue to touch me. I now have an overwhelming compassion for the Afghanistan men and women.This is a loving, well-crafted story. I could not put the book down or recommend it more strongly!
 Slow builder, but keep reading June 13, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
At first, I wasn't sure I was going to like this book as much as The Kite Runner (5 star), and bottome line, I prefer The Kite Runner over this novel. But the story is still very compelling, nonetheless. I actually give it 4 1/2 stars. And I will continue to read Khaled Hossini's future novels.
The story builds slowly but steadily for the first half of the novel. It starts with Mariam's life, then switches to Laila's. At first, I didn't get a FULL sense of how hard Mariam's life was with Rasheed, as we were left to imagine a lot for ourselves. Their wasn't a lot of detail or instances of the abuse she suffered, but you knew it was there. That could be either a good or a bad thing, depending how you look at it. Then we go through Laila's somewhat happy childhood. When Laila, through unfortunate circumstances, marries Rasheed, we know her life will never be the same but understand the choice she made. Again, the story seems to build slowly with few instances of the abusive life she lives. But it is within these sparse instances that we get a glimpse of the developing relationship between Mariam & Laila. I will have to admit, that at first I didn't think I cared to deeply for the characters in the story.
It wasn't until the birth scene of Laila's son, Zalmai, that you started to get a good sense of how deep Mariam & Laila's relationship had become..... And how much more I cared for these characters. This is where the story starts to take real shape.
From this point, you are gripped to read on. Much like in The Kite Runner, you are moved, you feel, you weep for its strength (or weakness) of character which was so delicately laid down before. HERE you get a very good sense of Rasheed's brutality, and the women's suffering and enduring. The apex of the novel is reached 9/10ths of the way through the story. What is left, is the aftermath. Like The Kite Runner, it is also bittersweet.
It is very difficult to follow such a hugely popular debut novel like The Kite Runner. For 2 years, I waited patiently for this 2nd one. I am NOT disappointed. It is a good story worth it's own weight. And further more, I learned even MORE about Afghanistan history and turmoil then I did in The Kite Runner. It was relevant to the story but not preachy.
But don't forget the dark nights June 13, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I was not disappointed in this eagerly awaited novel. The story made me feel very sad at times but it is one that should be told. Life with rules and values dictated by the Taliban is oppression and should remind us of the value of separation of church and state. What a loathsome character Rasheed is and, yet, his presence is what allowed the deep friendship between Mariam and Laila to grow. As in Kite Runner, tough decisions are made but the reader understands the compelling, human reasons for the characters making them. Hosseini has a magical way of creating enough tension to make the reader squirm only to come back and paint a picture of tenderness and hope. As long as this gifted writer keeps writing, this reader will keep reading.
A thousand more books from this author, Please June 13, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I had my doubts he could produce another book of The Kite Runner's quality, but he certainly has. The character development is great, and even though you won't like everyone, you will understand what drives them. This is beautifully written, all the charters come together in a credible, tightly woven conclusion, and this book does not have the nightmare-producing qualities of his first book (you can lend this one to your mother and grandmother, and will want to).You will also finish the book with plenty of reasons to be grateful you are an American woman. The best book of 2007, so far.
Absolutely phenomenal June 13, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I didn't know if I could expect anything as good as "The Kite Runner," but "A Thousand Splendid Suns" was perhaps better. The story is riveting and the characters are deep and intriguing-- Hosseini must have interviewed many women to have his level of understanding. Not only is the book outstanding as a novel, it provides a detailed account of Afghanistan's turmoil that can only help you to sympathize and understand the nation's history. Overall a highly recommended read.
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