21. A Thousand Splendid Suns Hosseini

I read Hosseini's first book a couple of years ago and was enthralled by how he managed to encapsulate all that was going on in a culture like Afghanistan. For this book however I was a little disappointed.

Neither the Kite Runner nor Thousand Splendid Suns could ever be regarded as a fantastic story, but both have the ability to fully educate about what life really is/was like over the last 30 years in Afghanistan. To this end both novels achieve that goal and my knowledge has improved... although I would argue that less so with the second.

A Thousand Splendid Suns was perhaps a little too obvious. Dealing with the problems of women and women's rights in Islamic countries is something that has been covered many times over in the media, and I am really not convinced that Hossieni adds much, if indeed anything, to the discussion. Yes, Afghani women lead quite horrific lives by Western standards, but I'm not sure the true horror of that is captured by Hossieni.

If the impact of the story is removed all I am left with is a functional tale that deals with the relationship between the two women and their husband. At no point am I particular convinced by their characters and to be this is the real failing with Hossieni's book.

Yes by all means read it, but don't be expecting too much, and certainly nothing like the impact of the Kite Runner.