Questions About A Thousand Splendid Suns

by Khaled Hosseini (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (54)

I read The Kite Runner by this author. Is this book better?

Stephanie Having just finished reading both, I actually had a hard time with this question personally. The thing is, for much of the length of the book, I found…moreHaving just finished reading both, I actually had a hard time with this question personally. The thing is, for much of the length of the book, I found I ENJOYED The Kite Runner maybe a little more than A Thousand Splendid Suns, but not because the latter was any worse.. it just had very few reprieves from the anger and sadness I felt for the characters. It had a huge emotional effect on me, but that effect left me almost dreading reading more for fear of even worse things happening.

The Kite Runner, while incredibly emotional and also incredibly angering at times, I found it was easier for me to get through because there were also a lot of beautiful and more tender moments. So both had a very powerful impact on me, but I still found myself longing for the balance between beauty and sadness in The Kite Runner over the horrible circumstances the characters had to endure in A Thousand Splendid Suns.

All of that said, by the end I really felt like A Thousand Splendid Suns achieved that balance as well- it just took some time to get there. The last quarter or so of the story were so powerful and well written to me, and made me fall in love with these characters and their incredible strength and the relationships between them, rather than just feeling awful and nervous about what more they might have to go through. And that's not to say that it's only the ending that's good- it's more that, like the characters in the story, you just have to keep getting through the really painful stuff in order to appreciate the love and the good that's formed there despite it all as well.

I still do adore The Kite Runner so so much, and in terms of my own personal connection to the story, I'd probably just leave it at that both stories had a huge impact on me and I found them both stunning :) Having completed A Thousand Splendid Suns in its entirely, I don't think I can say I love it more or less than The Kite Runner.. I just adore them both.

In terms of which is technically written better? Hmm... perhaps ATSS, mostly because I thought the structure of it was really lovely, and lent a lot to the story at hand (also because, admittedly, The Kite Runner does get quite heavy on the coincidences toward the end). Then again, I did love the use of Amir's narration in The Kite Runner as well, and the first person narration was something I missed in ATSS until, again, the latter part of the book where I started to see a clear picture of how the structure of the book was being used to enhance the story. So they're both just beautifully written and make excellent use of their respective narrative structures and voice.

So, very long story short: Do read A Thousand Splendid Suns if you enjoyed The Kite Runner! They're both some of my favorite books I've read recently, and stories of true human resilience and love.. and it WAS really great to get a female perspective on the Afghan experience. Just do be prepared that it is not a FUN read, and can be quite tough to get through for the first while.. more so than The Kite Runner which gives you some good breaks from the sadness throughout. (less)

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مش لاقيه النسخه االعربي في اي مكتبه !! في حد ممكن يدلني على مكان الاقيها فيه ؟؟

Shahnaz انا نزلتها pdf و قراتها

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Did reading A thousand Splendid Suns, being a book about traumatised characters and domestic abuse, help you with your own trauma? did it present you with insights on your personal wounds? and did it make you reflect on them? If the book influenced you in any way on a personal level, would you please share how? Every answer will be deeply appreciated

Sam I will only answer this shortly. Most of all, this book made me think about love, and of loss. Both the loss of people and the loss of opportunities. …moreI will only answer this shortly. Most of all, this book made me think about love, and of loss. Both the loss of people and the loss of opportunities. Like with what happened to Laila; her future looked bright, only to be smashed into pieces. But even though this book carries very dark themes, to me it is a book of hope. These are all themes that tend to affect me deeply, emotionally, and makes me draw parallels to my own life, reflecting on my own situation, my own relationships. This book especially gives a wider perspective, and it is a book that gives light; even though you've gone through hell, you can still find happiness. And that if anything is a very reassuring thought, it's one to strengthen. (less)

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Why did Nana kill herself? Was she mentally unstable? Or simply consumed with grief because Mariam went to go see her father?

Rojaly Nana had been a socially rejected person after her unwanted pregnancy. Even before being made pregnant she was a lowly servant in the huge household o…moreNana had been a socially rejected person after her unwanted pregnancy. Even before being made pregnant she was a lowly servant in the huge household of Jalim. being abandoned by her own father and rejected by Jalim for marriage she had realized the futility of her own life in a cruel sadistic male dominated Herat. Though Jalim built a Kolba, a thatched house and provided ration regularly for her and Mariam it was out of his own selfish penance, not truely out of love. Nana knew that Jalim had once rejected her and his love for his illegitimate child was not whole hearted. She knew that though Mariam was a "harami", a bastard she was her own. Mariam was her own blood and her last living relative. Consumed with hatred and vengeance Nana had become a bitter person but rooted deep insde her was an insecurity regarding Mariam's love for her father and his gifts & stories. But Mariam unaware of the big bad world was consumed by curiosity and she decided to leave the Kolba inspite of her mother's begging and threats. And when Mariam leaves Nana becomes desolate and hopeless. Being separated from the outer world of Herat and confined within the four walls of the Kolba for around 16 years, she finds herself lonely and without the emotional support of her daughter. And she was a patient of epilepsy and probably a mental patient too. She finds a better option in suicide than in living a desolate life without her life support system, her daughter Mariam.(less)

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Is it true that this book is very similar to The Kite Runner, so having read the latter I shouldn't bother get this one ?

Aušrinė The stories are very different, but they share similar historical events. You can imagine them as happening at the same country, at the same time, but…moreThe stories are very different, but they share similar historical events. You can imagine them as happening at the same country, at the same time, but about completely different people, who have different destinies.(less)

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