Aug. 16th '2009

A Thousand's Splendid Sun
by Khaled Hosseini

My eyes are still red and puffed, my head is starting to throb but my mind and fingers are itching to write something. I started reading this book last Friday night after arguing with my husband who let me had the chance to get a hold of this one in the first place. I chose to read this first over another which I had no idea what it was exactly about as to a synopsis or something of that sort. For this book, hubby was able to, at least, tell me more like a sentence or a brief description about it. It wasn't just "it was top ten recommended books to read" or something to that effect. In order to for someone to start something to read, there should be at least a background or something of a pre-reading part before the actual reading. You just don't go bungee jumping without knowing what's below you. Err..is that too much of a comparison,now? It was well late into the night and I seriously don't have any plans of turning on my laptop to check for the background of the story online.

That left me starting to read Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand's Splendid Sun. The setting started in an all-too-innocent backdrop of a place in a country far from civilization. Meaning, no electricity, a couple of farm pets in the scene, -- a very simple living. There was a girl. And an eccentric mother. A little girl of fifteen years of age, and strange words that signals the reader that this wasn't an average English written novel. It continues on with these local words, giving it some spice. It isn't straightforward English and sometimes, you'd get lost in some terms. Nonetheless, looking at the other side of the coin, it gives the reader a glimpse of the language and culture of where the story begins. From the innocent setting that it has started, the story unfurls into almost excruciatingly painful changes that takes place in the young life of the protagonist. As the story moves to the city of Khabul, I wonder what kept me reading it. If somebody has told me that most of the story takes place in Afghanistan, I am not sure if I would have the interest of finishing at all. I am not going to attempt to retell the storyline or much less give out spoilers, pray forgive me. Perhaps in another entry I might, or might not, after all.

This will only be my reaction. I cannot share this with my DH coz he hadn't finish it yet and I might give out some spoilers.

Reading the book made me thankful, again, that I was a girl born in a country where I have rights. I am not really one patriotic citizen, with all the shams going on in my country but for being born and brought up where women have more right, is more than a good fortune. It is a privelege. I don't think I can live in a culture where women are thought less of any more than a possible wife, mother or househelp. Don't get me wrong, all of those roles are beyond repproach but THAT isn't all. The author dedicated the book to two names and the women of Afghanistan. Women. Yes, women. Not to the scantily-clad women of tabloids, of TV's and movies but my guess would be to the burqa-clad women who have no choice but to live in their husbands shadows, along with the violence that women around the world endures. This I must reiterate. I am open to the fact that it much of the culture that some women in certain countries live that way. It is their culture. Yes, but if the women should have a choice if they wish to follow their culture or another. I perfectly understand women who have a great respect to their own culture and I DO ADMIRE them for that. I can only be be grateful that they have a heart like for I myself may not have any for such. Go ing back to the story, it tells of a tale of two young girls who later on grows up in front of the reader's eye's into women, made sterner through all of the wars, bloodshed and the simple ramifications of living a life in Khabul, under the different political disturbances for a period of a decade or two. Or is it even three? I can only sigh. This is indeed a good read, not for the faint-hearted but for anybody who has a heart, a man or woman for that matter.