A Take on A Thousand Splendid Suns
A Thousand Splendid Suns is a historical fiction novel by Khaled Hosseini that is one of those books that sticks with you in the back of your mind, even months after reading it. It follows the lives of two Afghan women: Mariam and Laila. They live through loss and oppression in Afghanistan, and although their lives start out very differently, they come together and eventually form a strong bond that becomes one of the most meaningful aspects in their long, painful journey together.
Mariam was a character who suffered the most oppression, abuse, and neglect throughout her life. The novel begins with her when she’s very young, and she struggles with feeling unwanted and worthless due to being a child born out of wedlock. In a desperate attempt to be a part of her father’s life and be exposed to his love, Mariam finds herself without her mother and is forced to marry a much older man than herself, Rasheed. Readers are exposed to the tragic domestic abuse Mariam faces, but also observe her relentless strength and ability to continue caring for others and pushing through challenges, despite the unfairness life puts her through. I admired her protective instinct and willingness to sacrifice so much for the people she loved.
Laila was also an admirable character, who began her life well-educated and experienced love and care from her father during the beginning of her life. Due to the war and constant danger of bombs she was under, she lost her family and was also forced into marriage with Rasheed. Although her and Mariam started off on bad terms, I loved reading about how they began to bond and get along. They started to see their situation as not them against each other, but rather them against the oppression they were under, allowing them to become more like family. Laila was a character who constantly showed up for those she loved and never gave up on the idea of a better future. She endured pain just to see her daughter, Aziza, and continued to do everything she could to help her have the best life possible. Her character reminds readers that hope can still be found and give you a reason to move forward through difficulties.
Both characters offered different and inspiring perspectives on strength and sacrifice. The pain and unfairness they were faced with changed my perspective on my own life, showing how we shouldn’t take our opportunities for granted and overlook freedoms we are blessed with. Their experiences highlight that people face struggles far worse than mine, making me appreciate life in a way I did not before.