Whew! That was a quick trip to Afghanistan and back. That is because “A Thousand Splendid Suns,” by Khaled Hosseini, is a quick read and a good story. It opens in the 1950s in northern Afghanistan. It is the life stories of two women, and how their lives become entwined. Mr. Hosseini was able to let me see daily life and culture of normal people in modern day Iraq, throughout the events leading up to 2003.
On one hand, it was enlightening to see a side of Afghanistan that is rarely portrayed on American television or nightly news. I have always imagined Afghanis living in tents or huts, cooking over open fires and wearing robes. That apparently is not the case everywhere for everyone. The book spoke of cinemas, automobiles and grocery stores.
On the other hand, what a profound story for me to have read during these days before Thanksgiving! The atrocities and indignities, and suffering that these two fictional women endured while I was graduating high school, hosting Tupperware parties, and making purchases at my leisure are beyond my comprehension. How thankful this reading has made me for being an American at this particular time in history! WE ARE SO BLESSED!!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
[...] like my recent “trip” to Afghanistan through A Thousand Splendid Suns, I was taken back by how people are living in other parts of the world at the exact same time that [...]