A Thousand Splendid Suns: Week 7, Post B

Well, I suppose this will just be a wrap-up of sorts, just some of my final thoughts on the book. First, let me just say I enjoyed the book very much. Although it's not my favorite book I've read this year, or even really in the top-5, it's by no means a disappointing book. I'll put this out there first: It was a little repetitive. The beginning 1/3 was very fulfilling, but the book spiraled downward, as it were, from there. The same plot lines were simply visited again and again, using simple plot twists to retell and already mediocre storyline. And it worked- For a while. The story line seemed to be compelling enough, generally pushed by the simple change of location or addition of basic characters. That's not to say the book failed in all ways. On the contrary, it built on our knowledge of life in the middle east, and provided an in-depth and remarkable look inside. But, it tried to hard to follow up the previous success of "The Kite Runner," which, although it could be used to the novel's advantage, resulted in somewhat sloppy writing, and an overall bittersweet read.
There were some parts that did stand out in the text, however. Like I said, the beginning was very well written, and some of the characters were pretty good. But, characters, especially the children of Laila, were very vague, and the personalities seemed slapped on.

Now, I'm a picky reader, so don't take this review the wrong way.... 6.5/10

A Thousand Splendid Suns: Week 7, Post A

VOCAB

Babaloo: (362) Prayers spoken by the family, generally said by head of house (father).
Rickshaw: (363) A small, covered, two-wheeled vehicle, for one passenger.

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

"But mostly, Mariam is in Laila's own heart, where she shines with the burning radiance of a thousand splendid suns" (366). Actually, I'm not 100% sure what this is...it's kinda a personification, because Mariam is dead, and obviously can't shine anywhere.

"A woman who will be like a rock in a riverbed, enduring without complaint" (355). This is a simile, because it compares Mariam to a rock, something strong and unwavering.

"Her way of keeping Mariam close awhile yet before time has its way, before it snatches Mariam from the garden of her memory like a weed pulled by its roots" (362). This is also a simile, because it compares Laila forgetting Mariam to a weed being ripped from its garden.

QUOTE

"Because, if it's a girl, Laila has already named her" (367). This line, the last of the book, shows us the deep respect Laila has for Mariam, amazing considering that only a handful of year ago, they wouldn't even talk. This is a great quote, and a fitting end to a good book.

THEME

Love is a powerful force, because love compels Laila to go on with her life, to help at the orphanage, and to move her family back to Kabul.