ISBN1594489505

While I agree that this is a story worth telling, I was hoping I would have been more captivated and felt more engaged. Instead I felt more like a distant observer than being right in the middle of the events/action. As a result it failed to move me much emotionally or leave a lasting impression. I often felt as if the descriptions were too generic; and not enough was done to convey the atrocities with enough passion/emotion to really make me care.

The story is interesting enough and moves at a good, even pace; but there is 'just' enough interest to keep turning the pages, no more.

After reading this incredible tale, I will admit to having been completely ignorant as to the history and struggles of the people of Afghanistan. I picked this one up on a recommendation and was hardly able to put it down, staying up till the early hours of the morning to finish it (yeah it's a page-turner). Mr. Hosseini has accomplished a rare feat - a history lesson that is also an intense, gripping story. In choosing to tell the story through the eyes (and thoughts) of two women - one "illegitimate" and uneducated, the other on a path towards great things until her life is derailed by events out of her control - Hosseini captures the changing dynamic of the Afghani political system and culture in a way that is relatable and evokes sympathy. It is painful to experience Miriam's treatment as a second-class person by her own father due to her "illegitimate" birth, and to watch Laila's transformation from a bright and beautiful student in love with a childhood friend into an abused wife of an extremely violent, manipulative and domineering bully. However, it is that which makes the ending all the more redemptive. On a metaphorical level, the struggles of Miriam and Laila seem to parallel and represent those of Afghantistan itself - this, I believe, is Mr. Hosseini's central point.

Admittedly these characters are somewhat one-dimensional and sometimes feel like caricatures painted in broad strokes. Additionally, certain scenes are clearly written to tug at the heartstrings in a melodramatic manner (without giving too much away, the references to the movie "Titanic" are not misplaced with regards to Laila and Tariq, whose young relationship comes to border on the stuff of romance novels). However, the strength of the storytelling and the sense of gritty reality overwhelm the simplicity or predictability of the characters' thoughts and actions to make a whole that is far greater than the sum of its parts. This is a book to be taken in as wide-screen drama rather than picked apart in any great detail. One gets the sense that this book will soon be made the basis of a successful film, which in this case is definitely not a bad thing - this story virtually screams for it.

One final note - the violence in this book can be pretty graphic, so be warned if that kind of thing bothers you (for me, it just made the experience seem that much more real). With that caution, I cannot recommend many books higher than this one. It's an unflinching look into a world few Americans would ever know about if it were not for this fantastic author.

I think I liked it even better than "Kite Runner" because it was from a female perspective.

Similar to The Kite Runner, Hosseini's latest novel deals with illegitimate children in an Afghanistan reeling from turmoil and change. This time, Hosseini focuses on the female perspective by recounting the lives of Miriam, an illegitimate daughter of a wealthy cinema owner and business man, and a woman named Laila, whose parents are killed in a rocket attack. Both women, in the span of 18 years, end up married to Rasheed, a shoemaker who ends up beating them both relentlessly. The women try to escape from their husband's rule. All of this takes place against the backdrop of the Soviet Union leaving Afghanistan and the subsequent Taliban takeover.

I ended up reading this book incredibly quickly, as the prose and the pacing is well done. You really do fly through everything. But what bothered me about the book was the same thing that bothered me about Kite Runner - everything seemed like it was written by someone who wanted to provide a perfectly balanced story that had to end in a somewhat neat package. Both of Hosseini's books, although filled with tragedy, telegraph the redemption that saves the newest generation. I can understand the desire to end on a hopeful note, but there is something too artificial about the way that Hosseini goes about executing his vision.

Overall, this is a decent read, but one that does not live up to his previous outing.

A Quote:

"In that week, Laila came to believe that of all the hardships a person had to face, none was more punishing than the simple act of waiting."

I read this novel immediately after reading "The Kite Runner". I had not read the reviews, but selected it simply because it was written by the Kahled Hosseini. For those who want a happy tale and are averse to graphic brutality, this book may not be for you; unless you are willing to patiently hope to find redemption. In that respect, this novel mirrors life - redemption is not always obvious but it is generally there for those with the patience to hold on. The brutal treatment of the women in this story at first made me wonder if Hosseini was intent on being an apologist for western intervention in Afghanistan (and Iraq) by painting such an intolerable picture. But as I read the story, I recognized a beautiful resilience in the women and some of the men. There indeed are monsters in this book. But there is more than enough bravery of human spirit to leave one with a sense of hope by the final page.

This is a GREAT book! I borrowed it from the library, but I would own this one for purposes of exploring the wealth of middle eastern literary references alone.