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Anu's Reviews > A Thousand Splendid Suns
A Thousand Splendid Suns
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August 2007
I was riding in a cab in Bombay recently, and a bookseller on foot approached me at a traffic light with a stack of books. I did my best not to look at the boy, but I couldn't help it. He was waving several books in my face and something caught my eye. I thought my glance was discreet, but he saw me look.. and it was game over. The light turned green right then and the boy starts running with the cab yelling 'Memsahib! Memsahib!'. We're picking up speed.. I'm so scared he's going to get his foot runover so I grab whatever I could from my wallet and somehow get it into his hands. In return he tosses a random book at me through the window as he's getting further & further away from the cab. I look to see what I ended up with. It was A Thousand Splendid Suns, which I was planning on buying anyways. The cab driver asked me how much I ended up giving the boy. 'A hundred and fifty rupees,' I said, which is barely $4. The cab driver says in return, 'You paid a hundred rupees too much!'. Hardly, I thought to myself. That boy worked his butt off. The best part is because the book is bootlegged it's full of typos and random fonts. Love it. In case I ever discuss the book with you and my recollection of the story is completely different from what you read, you'll know why.
January 2008
Read the book on my way to Vietnam a few days ago. Loved it, although it was missing a few pages here and there :). Coincidentally, the friend I'm traveling with brought the same book on our trip so I had access to the missing pages. (And another coincidence - our Mekong Delta guide was carrying a copy of the Kite Runner. We were like some sort of Hosseini fanclub floating down the Mekong in our longboat...haha). I have a few thoughts on this book, I'll write them out in more detail soon. I'm heading back to Bombay in a few days...maybe I'll run into another bookseller on foot :).
I was riding in a cab in Bombay recently, and a bookseller on foot approached me at a traffic light with a stack of books. I did my best not to look at the boy, but I couldn't help it. He was waving several books in my face and something caught my eye. I thought my glance was discreet, but he saw me look.. and it was game over. The light turned green right then and the boy starts running with the cab yelling 'Memsahib! Memsahib!'. We're picking up speed.. I'm so scared he's going to get his foot runover so I grab whatever I could from my wallet and somehow get it into his hands. In return he tosses a random book at me through the window as he's getting further & further away from the cab. I look to see what I ended up with. It was A Thousand Splendid Suns, which I was planning on buying anyways. The cab driver asked me how much I ended up giving the boy. 'A hundred and fifty rupees,' I said, which is barely $4. The cab driver says in return, 'You paid a hundred rupees too much!'. Hardly, I thought to myself. That boy worked his butt off. The best part is because the book is bootlegged it's full of typos and random fonts. Love it. In case I ever discuss the book with you and my recollection of the story is completely different from what you read, you'll know why.
January 2008
Read the book on my way to Vietnam a few days ago. Loved it, although it was missing a few pages here and there :). Coincidentally, the friend I'm traveling with brought the same book on our trip so I had access to the missing pages. (And another coincidence - our Mekong Delta guide was carrying a copy of the Kite Runner. We were like some sort of Hosseini fanclub floating down the Mekong in our longboat...haha). I have a few thoughts on this book, I'll write them out in more detail soon. I'm heading back to Bombay in a few days...maybe I'll run into another bookseller on foot :).
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Reading Progress
August 29, 2007
– Shelved
Started Reading
March 1, 2008
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Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 105 (105 new)
message 1:
by
Ellen
(last edited Aug 25, 2016 12:29PM)
(new)
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rated it 5 stars
Sep 13, 2007 11:12AM
That's a great story! I guess you were meant to read that book.
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That's how I see it! I haven't read Kite Runner yet, so I was holding off on Thousand til I had read Kite Runner...but this boy seems to have different plans for me :).
That is a wonderful story.
I'm looking forward to your review!
Wow, it sounds like your story could be more interesting than the book - hope you are going to write up your travels someday.
You should write a short story of that experience. Great story. The book is amazing. I hope to read your full review on it soon. Happy travels!
Deja vu! That's how I bought my first Harry Potter book. The only difference was I was on a train and it had stopped at a station for 2 mins. I didn't have much time to bargain. I did make sure he gave me the right book though. My friends thought I was crazy.
I loved this story of how you got this book! Sounds like a adventure short story of it's own. I love Kite Runner and after reading this, I think I am definatly going to check it out.
So glad you shared these stories. Often how we discover a book is the first step of a great read.
Is that it? Now listen mine. I was about to get into a train and my pen fell down the train. The train did not leave the platform yet, and I have to get in between the platform and the train to get the pen. I immediately took a decision and got under the train. That's risky, I know, but what can I do? That pen's the gift from my long gone friend. We are yet to meet. That's where I'm going to on this train - To Kolkata. Well, while I was under the train, a bookseller approached me and asked me to buy some book from him or else he won't help me get out from there. I didn't make any decision. "What the hell?" I thought. But just then the announcement was made about my train about to leave the platform. What should I do? What? So, I said, I don't read books. He did not relent. He stopped everybody from helping me. He wanted me to buy the book. "People." I said to myself. And I told him to give me a book and then..... Whatever.
(Continuation of how I came across the book) - I asked him to give me a book and he gave me 'A thousand splendid suns'. I asked him to get me up. He demanded that I first give him the money and only then will he help me come out. I refused because I didn't believe him. And just then the train bellowed. I was in a pressure situation. But I decided that I stand my ground, under that train. He stood his ground too, on the platform. The book is in my hand, and I didn't pay him any money. You know what happened then? - I caught hold of one of the pipes under the train and hung under there until I get to the another station and the train stops. It took three hours until the train stopped again (it's a super fast express), and in that time, I hung down there with one hand and the legs clasped around that big pipe and with the other hand I held this book and read it all. The book is just amazing. Really, a different way to read a book.
My friends mom told me to read it after i had recommened Sarahs key (great book) .. im going to read it as soon as im finished the book im reading now .. Im excited even more after reading everybodies comments.
@ Aditya: Dude! You are very funny! And so full of it!!! I mean India is a crazy place, but really? I mean, REALLY?
how blessed to be founded by the book!!!!
@ M.M.Sana: You think India is a crazy place? Finally somebody to agree with me. ;)
Yes Aditya. Hilarious story. What was your take on the book, it being about two women and their journey. You said such beautiful things about the subject in regards to The Bridges of Madison County. Here are two women from a different country and different experiences, yet it's still about love lost.
@Aditya Haaa! Haaa! Absolutely agree with you!
Anu, what a cute story- I can imagine that scene. @ Aditya. Hilarious. I hope your friend knows how you risked your life for a token of your friendship
It's the other way round for me.Read Kite Runners and planning on reading A Thousand Splendid Suns. Your story is interesting btw :)
Sounds like a lot of good synchronicity to me Anu. I also loved this book, and the amazing thing for me was that I was actually in Kabul at the time this was set. Thank you for sharing that lovely moment ;)
wonsderful!!! when you are really suppose to do something the world conspires for it to happen.... some wisdom from The Alchemist.
@Aditya hard to believe for me, because I haven't actually bought books elsewhere but shops ;)
Nice story Anu , I have read this book & And the Mountains Echoed, enjoyed reading them
Great story ! I felt like it all happened to me (the red light phase) :p
Is this review or a personal comment if so maybe the reviewer should go on a chat site. Sorry but I want to read about the book not the reviewers personal life.
WOW! Fabulous stories of your experiences in places I'd like to be, involving books I care about! Thanks!
What a great review! Thanks for sharing your story. I wish I could get my hands on a bootlegged copy from Bombay. I'd pay top rupee!
Ria wrote: "This story is proof is what strange ways we find stories that stay with us forever."
We carry the two girls forever in our hearts.
We carry the two girls forever in our hearts.
Have a random review from a post that's a few years old. Cause the internet never forgets... and I have no life.I just had to say... WTF OMG, YOU HAVE BOOK-SELLERS ON THE STREET THERE??? PUTTING BOOKS IN YOUR FACE WHEN YOU'RE IN TRAFFIC? I have epic jealousy feels right now.
There's reason 8465339214 that I need to go to India ASAP. Bootleg or not, the idea ot being in a car & someone being all "HAVE A BOOK RIGHT NOW THIS VERY SECOND!" sounds exactly like my vision of heaven- (except minus me teaching at Hogwarts- which randomly relocated to India, and Bipasha Basu being the person throwing books at me while Bollywood-dancing on all the cars to keep up with mine... But still, pretty damn close to heaven in my book! (no pun intended).
(well... I'm assuming this is India, the only Bombay I know of is in India. Sorry if you're like "wtf, I'm in Antarctica dude, everything you said was irrelevant" [which is true regardless, I guess]. But yeah, if the Bombay you had drive-thru-book-drop isn't in India, disregard my nonsensical ravings. Even if the Bombay of which you speak is the one in india... well you can still disregard my nonsensical ramblings- Most people do, and with very good reasons, as you've surely gathered by now, lol.
You should be a writer, that is if you are not one already :)
Great story. Lived in India (a land of many tales) for 10 years in the 70's and 80's. You bring that tale to life.
Absolutely love you story about Mumbai, sounds like you were destined to read the book.x
@Aditya Mandalemula Even Bollywood movies don't show this exaggerated a lie...you HUNG down a pipe, AND read?? And people actually believed you??? What a joke! Dude, respect your own country
you were destined to read that book and write this review so you can inspire us
Quite an enjoyable review.. :D
Love the story - about to go into a book club to discuss this book so might share your wonderful anecdote.
Anu; love the way the book find the path to your hands...
Same to all the comments, love it :)
Not so much a review as a travelogue.
Wow, what a magical story. Thank you. And thank you for the review. “The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.” - Charles de Gaulle
hahaha what a beautiful story! :)
Heard a lot abt this book
