A Thousand Splendid Suns tells the tale of two women and how their lives are stirred around the events of war, violence, cultural taboo as well as the consequences of their personal actions and the sins of the people around them.

As I read the book, I found myself thrust into a totally different world that is Afghanistan (pre-Soviets until the end of the Taliban regime) and into the shoes of these two women facing all the struggles that society and war have imposed on them.

The book successfully makes its readers empathize with what these people have experienced as their country was torn-apart by years of violence. More importantly, it gives focus on the emotional experience that women from such cultures have to face -especially during the shifts from Moderate Islam to extreme religious fundamentalism and vise versa.

When I read Khaled Hosseini's first novel, The Kite Runner, I thought he was brilliant for effectively pulling the heart strings with his portrayal of love, friendship and the tragedy that lies behind a nation at war through the eyes of two male characters. But after reading A Thousand Splendid Suns, I guess I just can't help but love him even more! After all, I wouldn't have expected a man to be able to portray a woman's voice so well through writing.

Believe me when I say that I was tearing-up through most parts of the book (wuss! haha)... And if you're a woman (and even if you're not), you will surely be able to appreciate more what it truly means to sacrifice, forgive, move on, live and love. This book is a definite must-read! Trust me, it will not disappoint.