by Dawn Ilsley

Created on: January 14, 2010   Last Updated: January 15, 2010

-The Author-

Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and grew up in the area until his father was transferred to Paris with his work.  Because of the unrest the family chose not to return to Afghanistan and instead they headed for America and political asylum.  He is now based in California and is a US goodwill envoy for the United Nations Refugee Agency.  He is a qualified MD although he is not currently practicing.  His first novel was The Kite Runner, this is his second book and it was published in 2007.

 I have not read The Kite Runner and wasn’t sure what to expect of this book.

 -Synopsis-

Mariam is the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy business man.  She lives with her mother who is obviously unwell but dotes on the father who comes to see her, regularly, every week.  She does not fully comprehend her place in his world and when he doesn’t arrive for an anticipated engagement with her she takes it upon herself to visit his home.  Thus begins a catalogue of events that culminates in her being married to a much older man, Rasheed in Kabul.  She quickly settles to her new life and expectantly awaits the arrival of her first child.

Laila is a daughter forever living in the shadow of her two brothers who are fighting for their country.  Her lifelong friend, Tariq, is her constant companion and his parents expect them to marry when she is old enough.  Laila’s father is very forward thinking and expects his intelligent daughter to make something of herself in the world although she will still have to struggle with her mentally ill mother.

Their lives continue as the conflict in Afghanistan escalates, the enemy keeps changing along with the rules and gradually it becomes apparent that expectations will have to change.  How will this backdrop affect Mariam and Laila, where will their future take them?

 -Opinion-

As soon as I started to read this book I was entranced by the beautiful writing style. The words flowed so effortlessly that I just did not want to put it down.  Some writers just have the ability to draw you in from the first page and Khaled Hosseini certainly has that talent.

I sometimes find that if I have no common ground with a character in a book I can struggle to empathise with them. This was not the case here; Mariams life could not be more different from my own, but she was so well-crafted that I felt I knew and understood her from the moment

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