A Thousand Splendid Suns

[KEV67]

I started reading this about a fortnight ago. I am half way through. It's jolly good. It is set in Afghanistan. It starts off with this poor, illegitimate girl who is forced to marry a not very nice man. Then the next part is about a young girl growing up in Kabul during all the fighting round about the time of the Soviet occupation and afterwards. Lots of death and tragedy. I expect at some point the storylines of the two women will cross over, but they have not really met yet.

Edited June 19, 2024 by KEV67

[KEV67]

Corr! The characters are dying off quicker than in a Mrs Gaskell novel. 

[KEV67]

Cor, women had it tough in Afghanistan. That was my impression anyway.

[Madeleine]

think it's even worse now, I haven't read the book but hear about enough on the news, since the Taliban were allowed back.

[KEV67]

6 hours ago, Madeleine said:

think it's even worse now, I haven't read the book but hear about enough on the news, since the Taliban were allowed back.

I doubt it is worse. The story has progressed to the point the Taliban took over the first time.

[Madeleine]

I doubt it's improved, and I read that they're bringing back stoning women to death for adultery. One thing's for sure, it won't be any better.

[KEV67]

Things probably improved for women after America invaded the country, and deteriorated again after they left.

 

Shame Nixon was deposed by Watergate. He was brilliant at foreign policy. He would have stopped the Shah of Iran getting toppled by Ayotollahs. Iran is next door to Afghanistan.  I don't know if Nixon would have prevented Afghanistan getting invaded by the Soviets, which destabilised the country.

[Madeleine]

Yes exactly, all the freedoms were swept aside when the US pulled out.

[niko]

17 hours ago, KEV67 said:

Things probably improved for women after America invaded the country, and deteriorated again after they left.

 

Shame Nixon was deposed by Watergate. He was brilliant at foreign policy. He would have stopped the Shah of Iran getting toppled by Ayotollahs. Iran is next door to Afghanistan.  I don't know if Nixon would have prevented Afghanistan getting invaded by the Soviets, which destabilised the country.

Nixon was actually a total boss when it came to foreign affairs. His whole China thing was just next level.

[KEV67]

Nearly finished. Only a couple more chapters and the epilogue to go. In honesty, it is good, but only so good. However with Afghanistan's recent history being so troubled, there was scope for a lot of drama. It has reached 2003 when the attacks on the Twin Towers took place. If they ever filmed this book I doubt it would play in Kabul cinemas. There was a film of The Kite Runner by the same author.

[KEV67]

The book has a couple of very sad chapters in it, which are best not to read in a public place.

[KEV67]

I do recommend the book. If I were still on Good Reads I would give it fours stars. I suspect female readers would like it even more.