by Christine Zibas

Created on: June 07, 2009   Last Updated: June 15, 2009

With 4 million readers of "The Kite Runner," it's little surprise that Khaled Hosseini's second novel, "A Thousand Splendid Suns" would be a smashing success. When a book like "The Kite Runner" is so beloved, such a runaway success, there is always the worry that the next book cannot measure up. Many asked would "A Thousand Splendid Suns" live up to the expectations of Hosseini's readers?

Many authors fail in their attempts at a successful second book, but this is not the case with "A Thousand Splendid Suns." The book does not disappoint. In fact, Hosseini has another great success on his hands, a summertime treat for readers everywhere.

At first glance, both "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns" seem unlikely candidates for the best seller list. Both center on the struggles of Afghani lives, of creating a life amidst chaos and war, of walking the edge of political madness (whether the imposed Communism of a Soviet invasion or the Islamic shari'a of the Taliban), and at heart, of human struggles in these difficult circumstances.

Where "The Kite Runner" was a coming-of-age tale of two young boys growing up in Afghanistan, "A Thousand Splendid Suns" is the heartbreaking story of two women, constrained by individual circumstances and joined by common misery, finding a connection in Kabul.

Although Hosseini is skilled at showcasing three decades of Afghani history in "A Thousand Splendid Suns," it is his powerful ability as a storyteller that drives his stories along. "A Thousand Splendid Suns" is a gripping novel that readers will have difficulty putting down. The characters of Mariam and Laila and their journeys through life in Kabul become as real as the secrets any close friend might share.

Moreover, for women readers, this story is even more striking for the realization of what life is like for Afghani women, even in the 21st century (a series of limitations fueled by the hope of a better life tomorrow). That is Hosseini's true strength as a novelist: He is able to take the lives of ordinary people in Afghanistan, and make this into an overarching story of life, loss, and the spirit of a people who have lived for years in a war-torn nation, as well as create a human connection to his readers, most of whom lead very different lives than those of his characters.

"A Thousand Splendid Suns" is a great book on many levels and makes a gripping summer read. As good as any best seller readers are likely to find on the "New York Times" list, and probably better than most, "A Thousand Splendid Suns" should make its way into your beach bag this summer. Long after your tan will have faded, this new Hosseini story will stick with you. It will be hard to pace yourself with this novel-the story is so gripping that you will want to race to the end. Then you'll be like me, waiting yet again for the next great novel by Khaled Hosseini to hit the bookstore shelves.

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