Hardcover, 372 pages
English language
Published Jan. 11, 2007 by Riverhead Books.
A Thousand Splendid Suns is a breathtaking story set against the volatile events of Afghanistan's last thirty years—from the Soviet invasion to the reign of the Taliban to post-Taliban rebuilding—that puts the violence, fear, hope, and faith of this country in intimate, human terms. It is a tale of two generations of characters brought jarringly together by the tragic sweep of war, where personal lives—the struggle to survive, raise a family, find happiness—are inextricable from the history playing out around them.
Propelled by the same storytelling instinct that made The Kite Runner a beloved classic, A Thousand Splendid Suns is at once a remarkable chronicle of three decades of Afghan history and a deeply moving account of family and friendship. It is a striking, heart-wrenching novel of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love—a stunning accomplishment. --front flap
This was a lot better than the Kite Runner, but still overrated.
Don't get me wrong, this was a decent book. I have no idea a better source for an easily digestible view into Afghanistan culture.
I have high hopes for the author's future work as it's clear he is improving in his storytelling.
