I couldn’t imagine what life was in Afghanistan but A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini gave the readers a peek into the lives of its men and women. Published 15 years ago, Hosseini shared with us the tragedy, desperation, hope, and humanity among his lead characters. This was with a backdrop of fear of the Taliban and the unforgiving circumstances of the era the characters lived in. As a woman, what was in there for you? Fast forward to today’s re-claimed position of the Taliban, is there something for women to look forward to?
I haven’t read much literature on Afghanistan but I have only read and heard mostly negative news because of the Taliban’s activities. In my mind, Afghanistan was Osama bin Laden’s hide-out. It was a place where terrorists were trained and terrorist activities were plotted. It was a place where you breathe fear.
While reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini I came to learn that Afghanistan is not just a place where women were obliged by their men to wear a burqa. According to Rasheed, the antagonist in the book, “where I come from, a woman’s face is her husband’s business only“. But it was also a place where women have university degrees, wear high heels and sunglasses. They smell of perfumes and have painted long nails. I looked at Afghanistan in a different light after reading Hosseini’s book. the book showed the real, intimate feelings represented by the women in the story. Could they have this same freedom again now that the Taliban is in power once again?
Mariam
Mariam was the “harami” (illegitimate child) of a wealthy businessman and a servant. She lived in a “kolba” with her mother, just outside the town where her father and his wives, together with their children, live. Mariam never saw the town until her fifteenth birthday. It was a tragic day that marked the beginning of her tragic life. Mariam was disillusioned by her father who didn’t keep his promise to let her watch “Pinocchio” in the cinema he owned. When she came back to her house, Mariam found her mother hanging on a tree. The mother committed suicide because she feared Mariam was not going back to her.
Mariam lived with her father for a few days after her mother’s death. Then her father arranged for her marriage to Rasheed who was twenty years older than her. She was abused as a woman and as a wife.
Laila
Laila was the beautiful little girl in the village where Rasheed and Mariam lived. She was free-spirited, encouraged by her father and Tariq, her friend-turned lover, not to be shy about her intelligence. But when war broke out in Afghanistan, families scrambled to get out of the country.
Tariq and his family moved to Pakistan. Laila lost her parents as a bomb landed on their home on the day they were supposed to leave for Pakistan. Alone and injured, she was taken in by Rasheed in his house. Rasheed plotted to make her his new wife. As plotted by Rasheed, Laila believed a man who told her that Tariq has already died. To save herself, she readily agreed to become Rasheed’s second wife as she was already pregnant with Tariq’s child. In a Taliban-ruled country, she would be lucky not to be raped and alive within twenty-four hours of being alone in the streets.
Mariam and Laila shared the same abuses. They became each other’s protectors over the years. When Rasheed came to know of Tariq’s visit to their house, it was evident that Laila’s life was in danger. Mariam had to kill Rasheed with the only weapon she had, a shovel. She asked Laila to leave with her children and Tariq and she will be the only one to face the Taliban’s death penalty on her.
The Significance of the Characters
The novel speaks of the lives of these two abused women in a war-torn and Taliban-dominated country. However, Mariam is my true heroine. She willingly surrendered her life to give a new beginning to the much younger Laila.
Rasheed was the Taliban in this novel. Mariam and Laila were the Afghans who were helplessly under the Taliban’s control. Women are, after all, the most susceptible to abuse. The two women represent two different strengths. Mariam’s submissive demeanor and silent suffering have an inner strength that allowed her to sacrifice her life for another’s new beginning. Laila’s more outgoing personality had allowed her to win minor battles for the little comforts for herself, Mariam, and her children against Rasheed.
Afghans have their national heroes as Mariam was a hero to Laila. Afghans have their own intellectuals and freedom-fighters like Laila (and Tariq) who opted to return to Afghanistan to build a new life, give renewed hope and spread education as a means to liberate. How long and how many generations will it take them? How many more millions of are going to be sacrificed?
The photos and news since last week about the Taliban taking over Afghanistan have brought back the Afghan’s struggles to ground zero.
Their leaders have abandoned them. Will the common men and women have the strength to fight back for their freedom?
Nakakalungkot talaga Ang nangyari sa Afghanistan Lalo na ngayon kapag nakakanood ako sa balita or sa social media nalulungkot ako sa mga nangyayari sa kanila Sana ay madami Ang makaligtas ngunit kahit ganun ay may magandang side pa din sa Afghanistan at mas pinapahalagahan Nila ang mga kababaihan sa kanila. Hoping na maging okay na sa kanila 🤗💖
This is such a timely read, lalo na with all the happenings in Afghanistan. I love how the book gave us a glimpse of how they live, especially women whom we know have concerns there. I want to read myselfe how Mariam and Laila become stronger. I’ll try to find a copy of this book, it’s definitely a good read.
I am generally speaking about the holistic approach of this novel. I am broken hearted, they are absolutely wreck and nowhere to go.
It’s long way to peace and how we pray for them ,the whole world mourning. Our hearts filled with cry . I’m praying that it’ll end .
This is very informative books that is interesting and worth to read. Thank you for sharing this Ms.Wendy. In a short way I’ve learned something about Afghanistan. This is a kind of book that revealed the trutht about his country. Sad to say that first thing that comes in my mind when I hear the word Afghanistan is the country that the terrorist where to stay.But anyway may the Lord Bless them peace 🥰
Thankyou for sharing this po. Worth it to read po .. Sobrang nakakalungkot po talaga ang nangyari sa Afghanistan, lalo na yung napanuod ko nung isang araw sa balita.. At may makita ka ding mga bata, Nakakadurog po talaga sa puso ang nangyari dun dahil sobrang daming naapektuhan kasama narin dun ang mga kapwa nating Pilipino. Sana talaga dumating ang araw na maging ok na Yung bansa nila..
Really so sad Moment yung mga Nangyari sa kanila at daming namatay 🥺🥺 salamat sa Pag share Mommy Wendyflor truly worth to share and read this, Just Send the Love and Prayers to All Afghanistan., Sobrang nakakalungot ang mga Nangyari, But really God Knows Everything..
This book is Heart-Wrenching! In a world where people tend to make assumptions about people and places based on the news, preconceived notions, prejudice, etc., this book needs to be read.
I’m also curious to know about life in Afghanistan. This book would be a great sneak peek into the country’s culture, traditions, and daily life.
When I watched the segment of KMJS last weekend, I feel sorry about what happened to Afghanistan. Hoping na maging better na ang lahat.
It is truly heartbreaking each time I watch the news about the current state of Afghanistan.
I don’t know much about the country (except the fact that Afghanistan is one of the leading suppliers of cashmere). Thanks for sharing this book!
I pray every day for the people of Afghanistan and the rest of the world.
Thanks for sharing this. I feel sorry, saddened about the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan. Let’s pray for the safety and peace of their fellowmen. I hope their arising conflict will end soon.
Normally, these aren’t the types of book that i would read, but more people should be aware of what’s happening, especially in places like afganistan.
familiar yung title sakin, i think i have a copy of this, e-book lang though. ni hindi ko alam na it is about Taliban. Ill find my copy nga and read it as it is very timely to today’s world situation. wait is it fictional or a biography?
I really feel sad about what’s happening in Afghan these days. About the book, I got curious about it and would love to read it too so I can understand more about the story of Laila and Mariam.
It’s so sad thinking of what’s happening in Afghanistan. I can’t help but know more about their lives in there and enlighten myself of what’s happening. This book is perfect to read.
Not my kind of genre sa book pero it’s making me curious dahil sa review na ‘to. I kinda want to read it. I’m sad about what happened and kinakaharap ngayon ng Afghanistan. They’re on my prayers but at the same time naiisip ko na sana may maitutulong tayo.