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A Thousand Splendid Suns

A Novel

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A Thousand Splendid Suns

By: Khaled Hosseini
Narrated by: Atossa Leoni
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About this listen

 After more than two years on the bestseller lists, Khaled Hosseini returns with a beautiful, riveting, and haunting novel of enormous contemporary relevance.

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, heartwrenching novel of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love—a stunning accomplishment.©2007 TKR Publications, LLC. All rights reserved; (P)2007 Simon and Schuster Inc. All rights reserved. Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction War & Military Tear-jerking Feel-Good Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking Friendship War
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Most relevant
At first I thought not another incredibly depressing if pertinent tale and when Rashev makes Mariem eat stones I thought I can’t read this it is too upsetting but I persisted as our bookclub chose it. A well crafted, entering an informative story about recent times in Afghanistan. How sad when the 2000 year old statutes were destroyed. The ultimate triumph of the women’s love for each other and the children was moving. A novel which will stay with me for years to come, but I think that The God of Small Things is a better read.

Contemporary Social History of Afghanistan

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Unfortunately I know too many of these real life stories. So beautifully written and I finished it in 2 days

What a story

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this made me cry like a baby about 15 times. other than this, i have not cried in years. this novel is a masterpiece.

the end of chapter 47 is beautifully written. in just a few paragraphs, hosseini concludes and answers every thematic question that he asks throughout the novel. the interpretation he paints is so melancholy and moving that it would make even the staunchest, most stoic man fall in tears.

i was going to write some of my favourite quotes from the novel, but it is endlessly quotable; almost every line is worthy of recognition. if you’d like some heart breaking lines about patriarchy, war, hope, motherhood, or even just some very pretty prose, just listen to it. in the first chapter alone, you’ll get what you came for.

the voice acting is also amazing. truely a 10/10 experience.

best book i’ve read

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After listening to the ‘The Kite Runner’ and loving it, I was very keen to listen to this novel as well. ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ did not disappoint. If you a looking for an intense ‘real’ story, then this one is the one. Do not go in expecting any lighthearted moments because you will not find any. This story will make you cry, it will shock you and it will break your heart. It is an amazing story of resilience, perseverance and the power of the human spirit. Listening to it via Audible also brings forth the beauty of the Afghan language. Reading the novel would not do the language the justice it so very much deserves.

An intense experience

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Firstly, that a male author has such a deep insight into the female psyche is just remarkable.
In reading this story, I was completely transported to a part of the world I knew little about beyond my newsfeed.
A beautiful, sad, uplifting and engaging story of endurance against brutal oppression. Endurance indeed Mariam and Laila. You will both certainly endure with me.

A profound piece of storytelling

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