I promise to get to the title of this review real soon. But I must as part of a ‘Review’ say something about this book.
Title : A thousand Splendid Suns
Author: Khaled Hossieni
Setting : Afghanistan
Mariam was a ‘H*arami’ atleast that’s what her mother kept reminding her…to the adolescent girl, she was just someone whose mother was unhappy and who looked forward to the monthly visits by her wealthy father, her only source of Joy. Joy not brought by him thru the small material things he bought for her, but the fact that he took the time to come to this desolate place, just to spend some time with her, talk to her, take her for a stroll.
After her mother’s suicide, brought on by Mariam’s attempt to meet her father at his place, she finds herself at the mercy of her father’s other two legal wives, who waste no time in marrying her off to a Shoe maker..Rasheed. Someone who is a good 30 years older, but most importantly is someone that will take this H*arami away from their lives…far far away!
Rasheed turns out to be a monster, always finding new ways to torture Mariam. The verbal abuses soon turn into horrifying physical abuse. Her only respite came, when she became pregnant, but alas that child was not to be born. The loss of the child only turns Rasheed to new ways of battering Mariam. Now Burqa clad and mute, Mariam and her life have been reduced to bearing Rasheed’s lustful ways ay night and his blows by the day.
In the same neighborhood lives Laila. A young free spirit, brought up by liberal minded parents, who believed in the education of women and the power of free thought and speech. Laila, completely in love with Tariq, the one legged boy, he was the one, that she made her foray into an adult way of love, with. Just as life was looking blissful, Tariq moves away due to the war and Laila is rendered an orphan in a rocket attack. Rasheed finds a barely alive Laila and after nursing her back to health, asks her to be his second wife. Much to the dismay of Mariam, Laila agrees, and thus starts the story of the two women and Rasheed.
But the birth of Aziza, ushers in a new chapter in the life of not only Laila, but also Mariam. Why does this little child give such hope and bring such joy to Laila. How is it possible for this little human being to bring a smile to a wilted Mariam?
Does the Violence, borne by the women ever stop? Will love triumph? Will the same love bring about unknown courage? ......................................
My Take:*
I really did like the book no doubt, and will surely recommend anybody to read it. So what makes me not rate this book a 4 or 5 star? Simple…the Hype
This book was recommended to me by anyone who had read it. Everyone raved about how well this book was written, How Khaled Hossieni is a brilliant story teller etc etc.
All that is true. The book is well written and Khaled Hossieni is brilliant. But the fact remains that the story, of women being subjugated, physically and mentally toutured and the cultural setting itself was something that was written for and catered to the WESTERN world.
It is just that simple. I found myself very familiar with a lot of terminology used in the book. And could to a certain extent even visualize what was written, but at the end of the book, when I finished reading the last line, I found myself not in awe. Why? Coz this could easily have been the story of a battered Indian women sans the war! It was like reading one of the tragic stories of a Bollywood movie….Afghanistan might as well have a lawless **CHAMBAL ki GHATTI……….
Westerners might enjoy this book much more than I did, coz to them this is a Third world scenario, something that they just read about , something exotic….!...and why not the book is written with that objective in mind.
In conclusion, many might not agree with my rating of the book itself, infact I myself think I am being too crtical. So I recommend you to read the book….coz one thing is for sure, whether its story is something that is third world or not, this book does make a damn good read!