A Thousand Splendid Suns is one of the best books I've ever read!

[TranscendentalMom]

Just finished. It was so intense but what an amazing book. This guy is just an amazing storyteller. Yet again, he had me up until 1 AM because I just had to know what would happen to these characters that I love so much. I didn't think it could be better than the Kite Runner but it was. Maybe because it was about women this time, but something about the writing and story was even better, too.

This is a must read for all women although I will say if you are pregnant or postpartum I would wait to read it because its just too intense if you are in an already emotional state.

I wonder if the movie rights have been sold - I think it would make a great movie as well.

[LotusBirthMama]

It was awesome, wasn't it? I had the priviledge to go see Khaled Hosseini speak when A Thousand Splendid Suns first came out. He is so personable and engaging. And also extremely hot.

[delphiniumpansy]

Hm, I enjoyed it but not this much. I thought it was rather not well written. Seemed like it was written by someone who is not that mature in his writing style. It was a very quick read.

[mysticmomma]

I enjoyed it as well, but it was difficult to read on many levels. IT had a very slow start. The non-english words made the flow of the story difficult. Reading about women and children being treated that way in our recent history, and even present was also difficult. When he boarded them in the room... my gosh... I was bawling for that baby. What other books are out there to recommend if I liked this?

[Amaranth]

I agree with the OP, but it was so intense I felt like I'd been through the wringer when I finished. My next couple books after that were complete fluff - chick lit and stories with happily ever after endings.

I thought it was incredibly well-written - same as with 'The Kite Runner', actually. Hosseini's choice of words was just lyrical sometimes.

I also liked "Persian Girls", by Nahid Rachlin (there's a MotherTalk book club discussion on that right now). It was a little less intense, but also beautifully written, about two sisters growing up in Iran in the 1950's-60's. It's non-fiction, though. The author came to the US to college in the late 60's, but her sister stayed in Iran and had an arranged marriage. The book continues through their lives to the present.

[momileigh]

I really enjoyed reading it, but some things bothered me. Off the top of my head: I know a midwife who works in Afghanistan. She says that breech is the norm there, and she actually celebrates when she has a head-down. So why would the Afghan doctor treat the breech (mind you, very little other info is given) in the way she did? She ought to be totally used to delivering breeches! I know this is a minor detail, but it annoyed me to no end and made it hard for me to accept that this guy really has the inside story.

[philomom]

I read it for my book club but.....I don't care for violence, battery of women and other such things. I can never fathom how the mistreatment of women is somehow "normal" or "right" by men or by a religion. Yes, the book had a "happy" ending for one woman but I was left unsatisfied.


As bad as America is, at least my daughter shouldn't face these sorts of hardships in her lifetime.

[jtbuko]

Enjoy is the wrong word... I guess the book really spoke to me. I'd definitely recommend it. I agree with the pp though -- needed to read some fluff after something so heavy!

[Neldavi]

Originally Posted by momileigh

Off the top of my head: I know a midwife who works in Afghanistan. She says that breech is the norm there, and she actually celebrates when she has a head-down.

OT - but, that is SO interesting! Do you know why that is?

and on the subject of inconsistent facts in novels .. Barbara Kingsolver wrote in an essay once that she has stopped reading books where there are inaccuracies, particularly scientific ones. She sounded really offended by it, like, respect your reader and get your facts right :

[momileigh]

Originally Posted by Neldavi

OT - but, that is SO interesting! Do you know why that is?

and on the subject of inconsistent facts in novels .. Barbara Kingsolver wrote in an essay once that she has stopped reading books where there are inaccuracies, particularly scientific ones. She sounded really offended by it, like, respect your reader and get you facts right :

I would love to read that essay. I loved Poisonwood Bible. Where can I find it?

When I spoke with the midwife who works in Afghanistan about the breech thing we hypothesized that the breeches are mostly about malnutrition, stress, and trauma. The babies are reluctant to be born into that environment as well.

[Neldavi]

Originally Posted by momileigh

I would love to read that essay. I loved Poisonwood Bible. Where can I find it?

When I spoke with the midwife who works in Afghanistan about the breech thing we hypothesized that the breeches are mostly about malnutrition, stress, and trauma. The babies are reluctant to be born into that environment as well.

Is it primarily a low birth weight thing? That the babies are small so more likely to be breech .. or maybe also an energetic issue, that if the babies are reluctant to be born they are less likely to put their head forward.

That essay is in her book Small Wonder, which is an amazing collection. I listened to an audiotape of it, that she read herself. I think the essay was called "What's in a Story" or something like that.

[momileigh]

Originally Posted by Neldavi

Is it primarily a low birth weight thing? That the babies are small so more likely to be breech .. or maybe also an energetic issue, that if the babies are reluctant to be born they are less likely to put their head forward.

That essay is in her book Small Wonder, which is an amazing collection. I listened to an audiotape of it, that she read herself. I think the essay was called "What's in a Story" or something like that.

Thanks for the tip on that essay!

Like I said, it is just a hypothesis, but we think both factors are at play. Due to the nutrition issues, the mothers have health and body issues (possibly including pelvises not in optimum shape since childhood) and babies tend to be quite small. And the energy thing is at work in both the mothers (reluctant to bring another child into the situation) and the babies (reluctant to go from a relatively safe environment into a dangerous world).

[ananas]

I'm number 35 in line on the hold list at the library.

[lorijds]

With the breech thing--

I just assumed it was a malpresentation thing. Like, not breech but shoulder or something. I guess I just assumed that a breech wouldn't be that big of a deal in a less medicalized society, so when she went to the hospital and the doc said it couldn't come out vaginally, I just assumed it was because it was more than a simple breech presentation.

I loved this book. My 12 year old dd read it for a book report; I'm glad she chose it. It really sparked some good discussion. She couldn't believe how terrible it was for the main characters, and for all of the people in the book. Philomom, I had the same thought, and so did my dd. What a great book. I personally enjoy his writing style and think he tells a great story. I was captivated.

[amylizpat]

This book was a real page turner for me as well. While I agree the writing is a bit simplistic, it was nevertheless a moving story. The boarded up room section had be sobbing.