Book Review
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Things are a little weird these days. CNN and BBC keep talking about the South Koreans that were kidnapped (though no one here can believe they were on THAT road without any kind of security). Last week a couple of Germans were taken about 25 miles outside of town. And now the government has decided that all foreigners in Kabul can’t drive out, unless they are with security. Since I HAVE security, I can leave—but there really isn't anyplace to go, and regardless, I really wasn’t up for it this weekend.
So this was a Friday to sit on the roof on a lovely July day and finish reading A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini’s follow up book to The Kite Runner.
To read A Thousand Pleasant Suns while working and living in Kabul is surreal. Driving through the City, you see the incredible damage that was done during the civil wars of the 90’s, and everyone has heard of the extraordinary stupidity and unbelievable cruelty of the Taliban, especially toward women. But the book, which covers the lives of two women over the last 40 years, gave me an insight to the country, and the women here, that is enlightening. All over the city—including across the street—women in burqas and children are begging for food, and for money. The other day I was walking down the street and a little boy was actually pounding at a door, yelling over and over ‘Please, give me some bread, please, give me some bread, I am hungry.’ Given half a chance, the conditions here will rip at your heart, and often the only defense is a callous disregard for the tragedies that seem to surround you. For better or worse, A Thousand Splendid Suns forces me to take a second look.
Beyond the story of two women is a story of a country that is strange, bizarre, tragic, brutal, god awful, and confusing, laced with an incredible resiliency and overall sadness--and now uncertainty. The book is stark, barren, and bleak, sadly reflecting the lives of many of the people who live here, and the land in which they live. For me, it was tough to read. It is so plain, so simple, and so horrible. And so incredible. If you can't visit Afghanistan, (and you're invited!) the closest you will get is A Thousand Splendid Suns.
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Things are a little weird these days. CNN and BBC keep talking about the South Koreans that were kidnapped (though no one here can believe they were on THAT road without any kind of security). Last week a couple of Germans were taken about 25 miles outside of town. And now the government has decided that all foreigners in Kabul can’t drive out, unless they are with security. Since I HAVE security, I can leave—but there really isn't anyplace to go, and regardless, I really wasn’t up for it this weekend.
So this was a Friday to sit on the roof on a lovely July day and finish reading A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini’s follow up book to The Kite Runner.
To read A Thousand Pleasant Suns while working and living in Kabul is surreal. Driving through the City, you see the incredible damage that was done during the civil wars of the 90’s, and everyone has heard of the extraordinary stupidity and unbelievable cruelty of the Taliban, especially toward women. But the book, which covers the lives of two women over the last 40 years, gave me an insight to the country, and the women here, that is enlightening. All over the city—including across the street—women in burqas and children are begging for food, and for money. The other day I was walking down the street and a little boy was actually pounding at a door, yelling over and over ‘Please, give me some bread, please, give me some bread, I am hungry.’ Given half a chance, the conditions here will rip at your heart, and often the only defense is a callous disregard for the tragedies that seem to surround you. For better or worse, A Thousand Splendid Suns forces me to take a second look.
Beyond the story of two women is a story of a country that is strange, bizarre, tragic, brutal, god awful, and confusing, laced with an incredible resiliency and overall sadness--and now uncertainty. The book is stark, barren, and bleak, sadly reflecting the lives of many of the people who live here, and the land in which they live. For me, it was tough to read. It is so plain, so simple, and so horrible. And so incredible. If you can't visit Afghanistan, (and you're invited!) the closest you will get is A Thousand Splendid Suns.
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