Recently, in my English class, we read the book A Thousand Splendid Suns, so I thought I would write about my opinion of it.
This book switches between the perspectives of two girls living in Afghanistan during the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in the 1990s, and how their fates coincide.
The book starts off with the perspective of Mariam, who is the illegitimate child of a rich businessman and his former maid and servant. When Mariam's mother dies, Jalil, Mariam's father, gives her away in marriage to a man named Rasheed.
The second perspective in the book is of Laila, who had a pretty good childhood and was working towards her education when a missile of some sort hit her house, orphaning her. She, too, ends up marrying Rasheed due to a lack of choice.
I would recommend that anybody reading this book be at least 13-14 years old, as it covers sensitive topics such as abuse, assault, trauma, etc. However, anybody who is willing to brave the 384-page novel will be rewarded with a satisfying story with well-developed, fully fleshed-out themes, characters, and relationships.
Everything is wrapped up in a neat little bow at the end, and although the book is a little cliché at times, you never feel forced to turn a page.
All things considered, I would probably rate this book a 9/10. You should really check it out if you ever get time!
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