Winner of the Best Read of the Year at the Galaxy British Book Awards 2008.
Reviewed on Richard & Judy on Wednesday 9 January 2008.
If you like The Kite Runner you will love this second novel from Hosseini. This story follows the lives of two women in Afghanistan who are a generation apart and have had led quite different lives but by a twist of fate end up married to the same man. This is a novel about friendship and strength of character and is a compelling read.
Text in Arabic. Mariam is only fifteen when she is sent to Kabul to marry Rasheed. Nearly two decades later, a friendship grows between Mariam and a local teenager, Laila, as strong as the ties between mother and daughter. When the Taliban take over, life becomes a desperate struggle against starvation, brutality and fear. Yet love can move a person to act in unexpected ways, and lead them to overcome the most daunting obstacles with a startling heroism. The sense of longing evoked in Khaled Hosseinis novel is compelling and universal: the passionate search for love, family, home, acceptance, a healthy society, and a promising future, regardless of the obstacles. This novel transcends boundaries and illuminates the people and culture of a region that has been reluctantly thrust into the international spotlight.
‘A beautifully crafted and disturbing story of two women victims of the wrath of men. As unforgettable as The Kite Runner, this novel places us in Afghanistan with an open heart.’ Isabel Allende
'I loved this book - I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. It is incredibly moving and a real insight into the madness and suffering of Afghanistan - in particular its women.' Fiona Bruce
'Compelling, unflashy story-telling centred around two sympathetic protagonists struggling in difficult times... nothing beats a good story' - London Paper Book of the Week
Author
About Khaled Hosseini
Khaled Hosseini was born in Afghanistan and his family received political asylum in the USA in 1980. He lives in California and he works as a physician.