A Thousand Splendid Suns is a fictional novel by Khaled Hosseini. It was originally published in the year 2007.
Synopsis
Mariam is an illegitimate child of a wealthy businessman. She lives in the small village of Gul Daman with her mother and suffers from stigma surrounding her birth while growing up. After her mother commits suicide, she is sent to live with her father in the city of Herat. At the age of fifteen, she is being married to Rasheed. Not being able to give birth to a boy, she faces abuse from her husband.
After two decades later, she develops friendship with a local girl, Laila. When the Taliban take over the town, life becomes difficult, brutal and fearful for all. In such horrifying circumstances, the two leading ladies struggle against the odds for survival.
A Thousand Splendid Suns is a heart breaking, haunting and compelling story of friendship, forgiveness and love.
About the Author
Khaled Hosseini is an Afghan-born American writer and physician. He was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. When he was 11 years old, his family moved to France. Then, four years later, they shifted to the United States. He graduated from Independence High School in San Jose in 1984 and earned his bachelor's degree in Biology in 1988 from Santa Clara University. He got his M.D degree from School of Medicine, University of California in 1993. He practiced medicine for over 10 years.
Khaled Hosseini has written three novels, all partially based in Afghanistan. His debut novel 'The Kite Runner' came in the year 2003 and was a huge success. He is currently the Goodwill Envoy for United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
