This book was just as good - if not better - than Kite Runner. Hosseini is an extremely talented writer. He has the ability to draw you into the characters and make you feel their joy, their pain, their fears and their triumphs. This was the best book I have read this year.

Hosseini has an uncanny ability to draw the reader into a world completely removed from his/her own. The story is one that both repels (physical/mental abuse) and draws in (a coming together of generations due to horrifying circumstances). A great read!

Jalil is a little unbelievable. I don't believe a King would have that much time and interest to give his illegitimate girl. He had plenty of wives and other children plus an active political life.

This is mostly a sad story about human bondage, brutal regimes and the devastating effect of war on human's treatment of themselves and each other.

My reactions to this story was interest, anger and a deep sadness for the lives these some women were forced to lead.

Being a novel, it has a happy ending. That is nice.

A good read.

So sad. I had read "The Kite Runner" first(which was an excellent book), but identified more with this one since it was from the perspective of women.
It will make you furious at the way women are treated; but you have to admire them for their fortitude and courage. Makes you feel so fortunate to be here - and not there.

I loved this book! Members of our book club gave it an average 9 out of 10 rating.

While I found this book interesting, it was not as riveting for me as Kite Runner.

After not being able to put down The Kite Runner and reading it a second time in the same year, I believed all the media attention A Thousand Splendid Suns received. Unfortunately, I do not feel this new novel has the cultural and social impact of it's predecessor. It's a case of the hype taking over, and the follow-on book taking on appeal because of the poplularity of the author's previous work. While enjoyable, I felt I would not purchase this book as a "keeper", my personal measure indicating my desire to re-read a book.

PLEASE NOTE: I gave this 4 stars, not 2, because I really did enjoy it! However, the web site said there is no way to change the rating, even in the edit tab.

It is very difficult to pass up on reading a book by the author of the brilliant, The Kite Runner. Although this novel was interesting and fast paced it lacked all the beauty and magic that was found in Hosseini's first book. In The Kite Runner, Afghanistan comes to life. It plays like a movie in your mind. In Splendid Suns there was no vivid descriptive prose. It was not verbally rich nor was the subject matter very engrossing. It was a good book but definitely not a "must read."

I literally read this book in one day - a book I found impossible to put down. A story full of depth into so many possibile levels of discussion topics. The back drop of a horrible life in Afghanistan without feeling overwhelmed by a historical account of facts - the issues of child abuse and abandonment by both parents, the glimpse of hope shattered by an abusive husband, a look at the suffering of women in the Middle East, a true love story between soul mates for life, the shattered torn lives of those living in war and all it's devastation to life, communities and historical buildings, a glimpse of refugee suffering, the bonds of friendships that can form in the most unlikely of situations, sacrifices made out of love and all of this told with such depth you feel the emotions of all the characters! And in spite of all the horrific tribulations these characters face, the ending is written leaving the reader with hope. It is amazing to see that in spite of all these tragedies the human spirit prevails through the most trying and unimaginable circumstances. Khaled Hosseini has created a masterpiece!!! I would highly recommend this to all book clubs - it is a story you will want to discuss each and every layer of love and tragedy.

Our bookclub was mixed. The subject matter bothered a few. Many thought the book followed a long The Kite Runner a little too much. Would be nice if it had a discussion on line or in the back of the book. Overall it was an interesting read.

Very, very good but definitely not a classic like the Kite Runner. Hosseini went a little too far with the political stories and characters with this book that it was difficult to follow. In addition, I thought the parallel stories were interesting but were not needed in separate books/parts. It did not enhance the book and only created additional confusion. With that said, I thought the stories themselves were compelling, kept me interested and got me to think a lot about sacrifices for those you love. Definitely recommend but please, please read the Kite Runner before or after to compare and contrast.

Out club really liked this book. Without being depressing or adding his personal judgements (he leaves that to the reader), Hosseini writes a must read story about the lives of two very different women growing up and living in Afganistan though the Russian invasion, to the Taliban, to the USA invasion. In the mist of war, oppression, and loss, the women show us that the human spirit of love, kindness, and hope are never lost no matter how bad things get.

Hosseini shows a deep respect for women and how strong we really are.

An epic novel of love, loss, survival and strength. I was blown away by this book. It was a peek into life in a country beleaguered by war. Truly amazing.

A story of life during the events of war in Afghanistan over thirty years. This gives first hand experience of living every day with proverty, submission, deep love, and strong character. It is a book that will remain with you after you have turned the last page.

Powerfully touching. Amazing storytelling. So "couldn't put it down" - with discussions that were rich and questioning with the HOW did people survive this? How did others get to BE that way? And isn't the realm of "power" entrapping on so many levels? READ THIS BOOK!

The Kite runner was a great book too, but A Thousand Splendid Suns grabbed me. A transformation in me took place as I read. My heart burst wide open and I fell in love with Kabul and its' people.

This is actually five stars. I pressed the wrong button. Believe me this a can't put down book.
This is truly the best book I have ever read. I could not put it down once I started to read it and normally I am a slow reader. I have so much respect for the two main women characters. To have lived through such hardships and try to accept their fates under such horrid conditions is admirable. They knew life should not be as it was for them but yet they were helpless to help themselves and when they finally did try to do something about their lives they were betrayed. The women of Afghanistan will never have the freedoms we have but surely there is hope for them. I am forever grateful to live in this country and will never take what I have for granted

The book really kept me reading long past the time to put it down for other things. The characters made you care about them. Living in the hearts and minds of other cultures was a mind opening experience, this made us all feel thankful of our own lives. The discussion was lively with everyone in agreement that it was one of the best books we've read.

The South Bay Book club generally rated this novel a four and would recommend it to friends and family.

The general consensus was that the author did an excellent job writing about women and their plight in war torn Afghanistan. It was a sad novel and painful at times to read about Leila and Mariam.

If you liked Kite Runner, you will enjoy this novel as well.

An excellent storyteller, Houseini ,again weaves a heart- rending story of the impact of repeated invasions and upheavals within Afghanistan. This time the story is about the women of a small town: mothers,daughters, and childhood friends. The story of the dramatic change in their culture, values,and loss leaves the reader full of admiration for their strength and endurance.

Unlike some book discussions, this one flowed easily from point to point. Passages rich in language were shared, characters torn apart, and the passion of the speakers made the evening a moving, memorable time.

Hosseini's writing style gives the reader crisp imagery. I could literally see the events in my mind, as I read the story. This book moves at just the right pace and is definitely hard to put down.

Beverly Byrd

Though rather slow to start, once you get through the first 100 pages or so you realize Hosseini is building and enriching his characters so that the plot can advance. A history of the regimes that have occupied Afghanistan since the 70's and the utter disregard, abuse, misuse of the Afghani women. This beautifully written, if not painful, depiction of a country and it's twisted interpretation of the "laws of God". A wonderful book for discussion, highly recommended.

A look into life of two women in a country and situation that is so unlike our life. Enjoyed reading and the book clubs review very much

Hosseini surely has continued with his gift of writing in his second novel. As much as Kite Runner was about Fathers/Sons and friendships between men; he has followed up with this novel about Mothers/Daughters and friendships between women.

Influenced by the Taliban, as in Kite Runner, the lives of the main characters are oppressed by the regime of the time. Although their experiences are harsh and painful, Hosseini has a way of making the reader want to push on through the story.

Such love and courage is demonstrated on a day-to-day basis between the two main character: Mariam and Laila.
Although their own relationships with their Mothers were not great, they find a way to forge the strongest bond, as if they were Mother and Daughter.

Together they unite to overcome the oppression and hardships in their lives. At what cost, does one person sacrifice for another...

Our Book Club loved Kite Runner. We were not sure if this second novel would be as good. We were pleasantly surprised to see that 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' is well-written, direct and an emotional journey of the characters.

We highly recommend this book to other clubs! It prompted great discussion. Our Book Club will be looking forward to Hosseini's next novel, when it is written,

This book was a book that was hard to put down. You wanted there to be something good to happen, so you didn't want to stop reading. It is an eye-opener of Afghanistan women and what they had and have to endure. We take so much of what we have for granted!!!! It gives a good account of the history to make you think that these 2 women in the book could be real characters, which makes the story even sadder! A great discussion at our book club, and if you have any emotions you will cry a number of times in this book! A great story teller!!

Our book group has enjoyed both of this author's books. First, The Kite Runner and now this one. It generated interesting discussion and gave insight into the lives that women lead in oppressive countries.

Khaled Hosseini is a master in his craft and we can learn the recent history of a nation by reading this novel. The story is very sad, but so is has been the life of these people. It is a story of how two women bond in the most unlikely of circumstances and how lives are torn apart by war and internal struggles. It is also a story that shows that hope continues in the midst of the worst of circumstances.

I enjoyed reading this book and learning more about another culture and lifestyle. I really appreciate the advantages I have living in America.

Of course book club members liked this book and many took home more titles from the "If you liked this book.." We discussed the relationship between the women, the purpose of the title, the idea of it being a love story and compared and contrasted with The Kite Runner.

This book is surely to raise strong discussions regarding the fate of Islamic women in Afghanistan and how politics and religion shape their future. Opportunities to compare and contrast to other cultures, including the US.
An interesting companion to this book is "Charlie Wilson's War" by George Crile.

This story is as good as The Kite Runner. I loved it

This is one of my favorite books. It made me cry. A++++

I was so impressed with this follow-up to The Kite Runner. I didn't quite know what to expect, but it had all the makings of a fantastic read. The female characters were so strong despite living in such oppressive conditions. The story is eye-opening and fascinating, and I feel that I've become a bit more educated in Afghanistan's culture and history. I loved this book and the hope it inspires. It's reminded me to appreciate the freedoms we enjoy here in the United States.

I was immediately drawn into this incredible story. The Kite Runner has been a favorite of mine - to my surprise, I liked A Thousand Splendid Suns even more. Khaled Hosseini does an amazing job at creating characters you feel connected to. I have found that I have learned so much about Afghani history and culture. I hope that there are more beautiful stories that Hosseini wants to share in the future. I am most certainly an avid fan of his.

I never in a million years would have selected this book to read. I was never expecting to relate to the story or the characters. In the first 30 pages I was hooked. Hosseini does a fantastic job capturing the voice of his characters. I could not put it down and even more surprising to me I gained an appreciation for a part of the world I will most likely never see and never though I would understand.

This book was so beautifully written and poetic. I found I could not put the book down; even with the very heavy brutality challenging me to close the pages, Hosseini keeps you reading with his beautifully descriptive prose. I was uplifted after finishing this story as opposed to the depression that stayed with me when I finished the Kite Runner. The author does a great job of describing what it must be like to live in Afganistan under Taliban rule as well as what it must be like to be a woman subjugated by one's culture, family and husband.

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a very sad story but is written very well and grabs your interest from the start. I did suspect the ending early on, but that did not really take away from the book.

Story is told well, but characters could be filled in with their desires, and thoughts.Shocking that this discrimination exists in 2008!!

In our group, each member ranks the book on a scale of 1 (hated it) to 5 (loved it and will read it again). Our average for this book was a 4. We all agreed that Hosseini is a great story teller, if not a great writer. Some of the events and relationships are inplausible, and we agreed he didn't explore the characters' emotions as much as he could have. We had a solid discussion about the book.

I really loved this book because of the enduring friendship between Laila and Miriam. It made me appreciative of the wonderful friendships I have achieved with my women friends thoughout my life. Khaled Hosseini is able to capture those nuances between the two characters and show how despite our differences women are strong and can persevere no matter what the odds! The story is a gripping account of what life is like in Afghanistan under the Taliban.

Our book club loved it, the book was meaningful, compelling, emotional, and kept your attention throughout the read.

Afghanistan may be a land of "A Thousand Splendid Suns," but we do not feel the warmth of the country as seen through the eyes of two woman. Despite the hardships and misery the woman endured, there was still a love of what was lost, and even for Lalia, there was a longing to go back to her home in Kabul. Mariam and Laila perhaps made mistakes, but their stories are captivating and you admire their strength and courage.

Our club discussed the treatment of the women in this book, and how they showed their strength in being able to survive abuse, both physical and mental, and how they chose to rise above it.

Such an interesting book; you won't put it down!

This book was definitely easy to fly through, however, it is one with very sad undertones. To read about how women in Afganistan are treated is continually surprising and depressing. Everyone in our club loved this book, a majority of them much preferred it to even the Kite Runner.

K.Hosseini is a great writer we have seen that with the kite runner. This book is about Mariam. Her life with her mother the visits from her dad. Then everything changes.
She is so real he pictures her so like all of us.
What a view into the lives of women in Afganistan.

Led to a great discussion on the differences between the powerlessness of the women in the novel versus the options available to the women in the western world.

I have read The Kite Runner too and I preferred this book by far although our book club opinion was split. While the content was sometimes difficult to stomach, it was enlightening to see how women in Afghanistan live even is this is fictional. My heart goes out to them.

I think it's important for Western women to know about the lives, the good and bad, of other cultures, and especially this particular country and our involvement. Wonderful read.

Our club was divided on this book. Three of us absolutely loved it and gave it top marks and two didn't like it much at all. We had a great discussion though! From my summary you could probably guess that I was one that loved it. Although the story was heartbreaking I found it really hard to put down and loved the characters so much. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to anyone!

This is an EXCELLENT book and I highly recommend this nook to all book clubs. The discussion was varied, lively and deep. We so enjoyed the "Kite Runner" that we wanted to continue our journey learning about Afghanistan with Khaled Hosseni.

This book club selection was a pleasant surprise. I would never have picked this, especially never having read Kite Runner. So rich with detail and history. I learned much about the lives and traditions of a country better understood now. Recommended highly!

Excellent book...very thought provoking...it brought out a very good discussion among our club members.

Truly enjoyed this book, and would recommend to anyone.

The reaction to this book was unanimous -- everyone loved it! It prompted an engaging discussion about how the two women, Laila and Mariam, continued to go on as they did, and why each of them made the decisions they did.

It made us reflect on how fortunate we, as American women, are.

This book is a perfect book club selection because of the abundance of issues to discuss.

Wonderfully written novel surrounding the mess in Afghanistan and the surrounding areas today. Puts into perspective what these peoples are going through and the hardships that they have to indure just to survive. Especially the hardships of the women and how their lives have little value in this part of the world. Highly recommended story.

This was a really good read and I had trouble putting it down. I gave it four stars instead of five because I found a few things a bit formulaic. Sometimes the characters felt almost cartoonish. Ironically (because this is a male author) I thought the male characters were the least developed. Rasheed , the brutish husband, was just too flat a character for me. Even Tariq felt a bit stereotypical, I wanted to know more about his life away from Laila. Still, it was a compelling story and I very much enjoyed it.

Our club read The Kite Runner, now this. We loved them both. Difficult subject matter, but both books gave us glimpses of worlds we would normally never see.

Sad, sad story. The violence, beatings and sadness broke my heart. We've read several books these past months containing violence toward women and children. This one was just too much for me.

Excellent book for discussion-- Afghan history and culture plus the the bonding of the two main women Marian and Laila.

You will instantly find love for all of the characters. You are immediately grounded from day 1 of reading this book. Suddenly all of your problems seem silly compared to these people. Amazing read. Something that I have already recommended to soo many people, thank you Khaled.

Suggestion: Read with The Kite Runner and discuss the author's successful characterization (or not) of male vs. female characters.

An intriguing story of the plight of women in an oppressive culture. The book reads quickly and Hosseini lives up to his reputation in presenting vivid imagery and strong characters. A real emotional ride.

I loved this book .. what an amazing and yet at times cruel depiction of the treatment of some women in the middle east .. and the spirit that makes them strong women. A great read!

A good book for discussing values, cultural and gender differences, and the nature of families and love.

Anyone reading this book will come away with a clearer understanding of how recent events in Afghanistan have effected the families who have tried to continue living there.

Our book club enjoyed this book. We use a 4 point rating (1= didn't like and 4=one of the best books read) and our average rating was 3.4. It was, at time, a difficult book to read because of the subject matter and the realization that this book is not written about something that is going on hundreds of years ago but is the way women are treated today. There was a lot to talk about and this is our first group meeting where we talked about the book for an hour before we even started with the usual questions.

A great book for discussion. Well written and strong character development. The bond between two women under horrible conditions is heart warming.

The bond two women in a desperate life share threads them through tough times in Afganistan.

This was a very interesting book. Not an easy read but worth the effort.

This book made me realize how lucky I am to have the freedoms of being an American. I had to keep reminding myself that the story took place in current time, not long ago. The story was well written, and a good story. I absolutely recommend it, our book club had lots to say about this one - great discussion.

This book spans forty years of history in Afghanistan, through the Russian occupation, the Taliban rule through current day. The main characters are so well developed that the reader truly develops an emotional attachment to them and their well being. The Afghanis have endured so much throughout the last four decades (and beyond) that one cannot help but feel the heartache of their plight. This story tugs at the heart strings, has you on the edge of your seat at times, and also makes you want to spring into action to fight the wrongs being committed in this country. My only complaint was that the resolution was a little lengthy and most of it seemed unnecessary. But overall this was an excellent book. Everyone in my bookclub enjoyed reading it, loved the characters, and we had a lot to talk about (even though we forgot to bring our discussion questions!) I highly recommend this book to other book clubs.

I found the book very interesting as well as troublesome. I think it would make a great Discussion book, but many women may have a hard time finishing the story. It was depressing at times, yet eye opening. It is a great reminder of our good fortune to live in America and it reminded me of the innumerable freedoms that women have here.

This book (which follows the Kite Runner) explores a difficult time in Afganistan, a terrible time for women who are considered less than worthless, except for bearing children. Women's lives have been turned around, and men have all the power. A very interesting read.

After reading The Kite Runner and loving it, I didn't expect that it could be surpassed but this book did! It's extremely well-written with characters that come alive and enter your heart. A very touching book.

Amazing story of the struggles of two women in war torn Afghanistan. Through their common enemies, the Taliban and their brutal, abusive husband, they develop a mutual respect and love for each other. Somehow they manage to survive and even thrive in this horrific world. Sad, beautiful and tragic - Hosseini has managed to eclipse his previous masterpiece, The Kite Runner. Graphic at times, but well worth the read.

Great book--especially for American women. Journey to a tragic, wartorn part of the world where women control very little of their own destiny. Poignant story of love and sacrifice. Sometimes difficult to read because of the realistic depiction of life in Afghanistan. Worth reading. Recommend THE KITE RUNNER too. Because of these two books, I understand the war in a more personal way.

Hosseini is the most powerful story-teller I have ever read. Nobody tells a story like he does! I loved the Kite Runner. My book club loved the Kite Runner. I loved A Thousand Splendid Suns even more and so did my book club. The story is so heart-wrenching you can feel the tension in your veins as you read. I couldn't put this book down.

I couldn't put this one down! Also The Kite Runner!

An epic of a book - just when you think things can't get worse, they do - and then again. Magnificent. In my all-time top 3!

I enjoyed the book. I enjoyed learning about some of the customs in Afganistan.

This book was so tragically sad for me, but I loved it.

A gripping tale of the plight of women in the Middle East. Raw detail of their treatment by the men. Their courage in supporting each other with supreme sacrifice.