Memphis Reads Archive

A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS is the second novel by Khaled Hosseini, whose debut work, The Kite Runner, was an international bestseller. Set amidst four decades of political turmoil in Afghanistan, it tells the story of two very different women, Mariam and Laila. Although they are born a generation apart under different political regimes, both confront numerous constrictions because of their gender.

Reviews:

Amanda Richards at mostlyfiction.com: "There are parts of this book that will have grown men surreptitiously blotting the tears that are on the verge of overflowing their ducts, and by the time you get to the middle, you won't be able to put it down. Hosseini's simple but richly descriptive prose makes for an engrossing read, and in my opinion, A Thousand Splendid Suns is among the best I have ever read. This is definitely not one to be missed."

Ashley Simpson Shires, RockyMountainNews.com: "As in The Kite Runner, Hosseini's second novel contains tense, violent scenes. Hosseini's prose, however, has become more sophisticated. While certain scenes in The Kite Runner were barely tolerable, Hosseini's latest feels more crafted, more steeped in context. The tension of the novel arises naturally from the desperation of the situation in Afghanistan. And the twists and turns of the plot are irresistible."

Jonathan Yardley, WashingtonPost.com (registration may be required)


Interviews:

Powells.com

WashingtonPost.com



Discussion Questions:

ReadingGroupGuides.com