Maureen

Poppyshake, it does get better - but the first 200 pages were as dull as ditchwater.

Yummy figolla

I am trying hard with this at the moment - and only because I am so darn persevering (OH is sometimes right, see?). As Guilia said, it is dull. The only thing I like about is is the occasional clever phrase that Atwood scatters here and there. Will probably not finish it all though.

Today is the last day of this month's reading circle, although this thread will still remain open for any observations or thoughts about this month's book. I would like to thank everyone who took part, and hope you enjoyed the book and the discussion. Thanks!

Sirinrob, I (and others ) find your input interesting, and it is appreciated.

Baked lumanconi filled with ricotta, bacon, cheese, mushooms and onion.

Anyone one else who would like to share his/her views on this book?

12. The book describes Afghanistan's enchantment with the film Titanic, and its popularity on the blackmarket. Is it something about this particular film, which has left such a lasting impression in Afghanistan, or is this a substitute for something else? According to reports on the net, even haircuts could be dangerous in Kabul. Quoting msnbc.com, 'The wildly popular Leonardo di Caprio cut, dubbed the “Titanic” by locals, has teen-age boys lining up every day, eager to be transformed into American heartthrobs. [This barber] has been imprisoned twice for his artistry.' According to BBC (25/01/01) 'Officers in the Taleban militia have arrested 28 barbers across the city of Kabul. ' The barber would probably see this as a money making risk - but I would imagine the client would be punished as well. So, the way I see it, these boys, and perhaps men, are so fed up with 'Tali-bans' and the joyless life they made compulsory, that they even risked their limbs for some 'illicit' enjoyment. The film Titanic had all the ingredients missing in their lives, music, love, beauty, .......and sadness - the one thing Afghans, unfortunately, know plenty about. The law banning laughter in public must not have been difficult for the people to abide by, but other prohibited items still made a hit on the blackmarket.

A book I have been looking forwards to reading since I got it as a Christmas present, no good deed by Manda Scott. My 'comfort blanket' read, if you like -I need this from time to time, and it looks as if I was found a new author - thank you C! I have not been able to let go of the book all day.

Yes, I agree, however I never knew that around 30 yrs ago, wearing the veil was optional, and there were a number of women who held professions and careers. Afghanistan really regressed instead of progressed!

Actually was expecting more people to join in the discussion for a Thousand splendid sun. My forbidden Face by Latifa - more Afghanistan. Good read two - true story.

I have now pasted all the questions together in the beginning of the thread for easy reference.

11. Is there a particular passage which has haunted you, even after some time has passed since finishing this book? I cannot get this particular passage out of my mind: I had my son by Cesarean section, and the pain afterwards every time I sneezed, coughed or laughed was horrible. I cannot get the image of this particular scene out of my head - and imagining the pain Laila, and all the women who had to experience butchering in hiding during this period, had to go through makes me really angry.

10. At one time Laila's father told her 'It is a good time to be a woman in Afghanistan'. Did your perception of life for women in Afghanistan change at all after reading this book? After reading this book I learnt that women's life was a far cry from the horror it was during the Taliban's time. In fact in 1964, women were given the right to vote, in 1959, wearing the veil became optional, and women had the right to an education and held jobs. During the Taliban's deplorable rise to power, instead of progressing further, almost overnight being a woman changed to recieving a life sentence of degradation, fear, a loss of even the basic necessaries of life - such as healthcare, and freedom, even losing the respect due to them as human beings - especially by the children born and raised during this period.

9. How did you feel about Tariq's return? When reading the part describing his 'death', I was not convinced it was true. It might be that the author capably described it in such a way as to make the reader question the authenticity of the claim. However it does drive home the lengths Rasheed went to, to manipulate, not just one, but two women (at least - cause we know little about his first marriage) - perhaps as a means to an end, as well - that of getting a son. Also Laila, strong and shrewd as she is, let herself be manipulated in this case - although she had her own agenda - so she was manipulating Rasheed and the situation to fit in with her own needs to. (I can only imagine what an unmarried mother would have to face in Afganistan, especially during the Taliban's reign.)

It could be fun, perhaps, if you put it on just beacuse you want to, for a period of time, (just like it could be fun wearing an intricate carnival costume)but I doubt it would be fun if it has to be put on to go out, or else you get beaten.

I'm not certain but I think Laila as well, was portrayed as feeling so - there was a particular passage when she was out with Rasheed, stumbling while walking wearing the burqa, I believe? Mariam could be described as lacking in confidence and self esteem, but, to me, Laila was a strong, confident and beautiful woman, and had a different upbringing than Mariam.

8. When we chose this book for the Reading Circle, I thought that if it had been written by a woman, it would be more credible - as she would be able to put herself in Mariam's or Liala's shoes more convincingly. Do you think the author's sex influenced at all? One time when I thought the author's statement was unbelievable, was when he stated that Mariam or Laila felt that wearing the burqa gave her a measure of freedom, as it was like looking through a one way mirror, I think he said, or words to that effect. I do not think that having to cover your face al the time, or else, will ever make any one feel anything but frustrated and depressed.

A thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini. This is this month's Reading cirle book, which I'm hosting. The book is great, and a number of seem to have read and enjoyed it, so we should have a great discussion.

Need an update here! Spot of bother by Mark Haddon. Enjoyed this book, pity that Haddon has written only two books to date! Guess what - another American thriller which turned out to be another conspiracy theory - Brad Meltzer's The book of fate. Not bad, but I am really getting tired of conpiracy theories!

to here

1. Who was your favourite character and why? It is difficult to choose between Mariam and Laila, the two main characters in the book. Mariam had such a hard, sad and cheerless life, yet she remained good at heart, and in the end gave up her own life for love. 2. Was there a particular part you enjoyed/disliked more than the rest? I hated the torture scenes -to me torturing another person just because you are stronger is despicable. I loved the part when Tariq returned ( I had suspected he was not really dead in the first place) I also loved the part when Maryam killed Rasheed - I wanted to go in the book and do it myself! 3. Was this the first book you've read in this genre/by this author, has it encouraged you to read more? It's the first in this genre, and I have picked up another couple of similar books after reading this. I have already read Hosseini's The Kite Runner. 4. Were there any parts/ideas you struggled with? The names of the various leaders tend to be confusing at times. 5. Overall, was reading the book an enjoyable experience? I enjoyed reading the book - although the story is certainly a difficult and painful one. 6. Mariam’s mother tells her: “Women like us. We endure. It’s all we have.” Discuss how this sentiment informs Mariam’s life and how it relates to the larger themes of the novel. I think Mariam's life was all about enduring - from the time she was born to the time she killed Rasheed. Even her own mother did not treat her as she should have - she blamed Mariam for her mistakes and never let her forget it. She blamed her for being a Harati, when she was the one who made her so, and treated her always as if she should have been grateful that she provided what she could for her. I guess it is also a matter of perspective - I do not expect my son to be grateful that I provide food and shelter for him, but see it as my duty as his mother to do so. 7. By the time Laila is rescued from the rubble of her home by Rasheed and Mariam, Mariam’s marriage has become a miserable existence of neglect and abuse. Yet when she realizes that Rasheed intends to marry Laila, she reacts with outrage. Given that Laila’s presence actually tempers Rasheed’s abuse, why is Mariam so hostile toward her? Even if her existance was wretched and sad, at least when Rasheed was away, she was 'Queen' of the room she lived in. If someone else came to live there, she could not even lay claim to that. She must also feel threatened by the fact that Laila is young, beautiful and probably fertile, while she is now older, had never been beautiful and unfortunately lost 6 children.