Brief synopsis:
Set in war-torn Afghanistan ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns tells the story of an unlikely friendship between two women, Laila and Mariam, who are thrown together in the most unexpected way. Spanning four decades the story is told from different perspectives as the two women find themselves at the mercy of fundamentalist beliefs, extremist views and a male dominated society in which they have no freedoms: a brutal backdrop for all the twists and turns a woman’s life can take. United in their shared losses, abuses and hopes their friendship is a beautifully written and tender tale of how women have the ability to endure the unthinkable and find strength in each other.
Key themes:
Love
Friendship
Loss
Resilience
The oppression of women
Hope
Read this book when: you want a powerful, emotional read which shows the power of female friendship in the worst of circumstances.
