Genre: Bildungsroman, Domestic Fiction
Key Stage: KS4+ (contains mature and sensitive content including domestic abuse)
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (2007)
Reviewer: Zach, Year 12
Overview: A Thousand Splendid Suns is set in Afghanistan from the early 1960s to the early 2000s. It begins with a girl called Mariam who grows up to have an arranged marriage with a man called Rasheed who is abusive. Later in the novel, we are introduced to a young woman called Laila who lives down the street from Mariam and Rasheed. Due to bombing and being displaced, Laila has little option but to marry Rasheed causing a clash between the two wives. However, as the two women started to converse more, they grow a deeper connection and understanding more about each other.
What I liked: I enjoyed understanding the deeper bonds both Mariam and Laila develop for each other as they become each other’s family and help each other with the challenges they face.