SCPL Teens discussion

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a book set in Afghanistan by Khaled Hosseini. This book shows the struggles of two Afghan women, Mariam and Laila, in their society that led to them choosing to sacrifice their lives for the happiness of their loved one. Mariam was born as harami meaning useless by her own loved ones and had to live her own life by marrying at such a young age after the death of her mother. Mariam's lives with her husband, Rasheed who abuses her and mistreats her after many miscarriages Mariam has after her marriage. Laila on the other hand is a younger girl who lives in Kabul with her parents and later falls in love with her childhood friend, Tariq. After the bombings happening in Afghanistan Tariq and Laila’s family decide to move to Pakistan for a safer future. However, Tariq’s family is able to reach Pakistan but Laila’s family dies in the bombing but Laila survives. She is later rescued by Rasheed and asked to marry him in order for him to have a second wife and have children.

At that time Laila is pregnant with Tariq’s child. After she gives birth to her first child, Aziza who is a girl which leads to Rasheed causing more harm to the family and also physically abusing Laila because his child was not a boy. The Taliban, a military group who come to gain control in Afghanistan make laws that suppress rights in their own country. The Taliban uses harsh punishments if laws are not followed by women and men. They decrease healthcare, education for women, and forced clothing. Laila is pregnant again with her second child who turns out to be a boy, Zalmai. Laila and Mariam try to escape but end up getting caught and punished by Rasheed. After a long time Tariq comes back to meet Laila at Aziza’s daycare which leads to a major conflict causing violence between Rasheed and his family. Within the fight Mariam ends up killing Rasheed and gets executed for it after being in trial. Mariam as a motherly-figure wants to keep Laila and her family safe so she leaves them so they can go to Pakistan and Mariam stays in Kabul for her execution.

This book gave me many life lessons that are important and help you keep relationships like love, trust, confidence and fighting for others. This book uses lots of tension and mystery within its plot events which makes the readers read more. This story of two women fighting against all odds made me want to understand people’s lives who are going through a difficult time and how some take things for granted. I would really give this book a 4.5/5 because it is just that good because the plot events make it a really interesting book.