The historical fiction novel “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by the Afghan American author Khaled Hosseini is an emotional story set in Afghanistan between 1960-2000 with two powerful female characters; Mariam and Laila.
Reading this novel gives you the chills as it’s one of those fiction books you never forget. Whether you’ve read the novel or not, we provide you with A Thousand Splendid Suns summary covering the main topics, characters, and events to help you grasp the novel in minutes.
A Thousand Splendid Suns Characters
- Mariam: She’s one of the main characters, and her story begins in childhood in an abandoned area away from people’s eyes because she’s an illegitimate child. Mariam’s growth is seen through her shift from childhood to marriage when she was only 15. Mariam is Rasheed’s first wife.
- Laila: She’s one of the main characters, and her story begins in her teenage years with her loving family. Her parents die during the war and she is forced to live under harsh conditions and take tough decisions to survive; one of them is marrying Rasheed to become his second wife.
- Rasheed: He is Mariam and Laila’s husband who rules their lives and controls the household. Rasheed is violent and unmerciful toward them, in addition to him being much older than Mariam and Laila. He insists on becoming a father and Laila births Zalmai to him.
- Tariq: Laila’s best friend from childhood and her first love. The war comes between them but later on, they get married and bring their daughter Aziza. Tariq has a prosthetic leg and is a hardworking man who fights for his family and lover, Laila.
- Nana: Mariam’s mother who tries to show Mariam the truth about her father Jalil. Sadly, she commits suicide out of fear that Mariam might leave her alone.
- Jalil: Nana’s ex-husband and Mariam’s father who hides them away in a secluded area because Mariam is an illegitimate child and he visits them every once in a while. Jalil values his reputation because he’s somewhat of a businessman in the city, so he hides his second family.
- Mammy Fariba: Laila’s mother who is kind, loving, caring, and strict with her daughter to raise her well. She suffers from depression and she is devastated when her son dies. Her role ends when she dies due to an explosion.
- Babi Hakim: Laila’s father who homeschools her due to the war. He dies with his wife due to the explosion.
- Mullah Faizullah: A Qura’an tutor who teaches Mariam the prayers.
- Aziza: Laila’s daughter with Tareq.
- Zalmai: Laila’s son with Rasheed.
A Thousand Splendid Suns Summary
The novel revolves around the lives of two women, Mariam and Laila, and how their destinies become intertwined amidst the backdrop of war in Afghanistan.
Our summary of A Thousand Splendid Suns Khaled Hosseini is presented in the order of the novel’s parts which are 4 starting with Mariam and ending with Laila.
Here is A Thousand Splendid Suns summary:
Part 1: The Story of Mariam
Mariam is an illegitimate child, living on the outskirts of Herat with her bitter and unloving mother Nana who is very attached to her daughter. After Nana’s tragic suicide, Mariam’s father Jalil forces his daughter into an arranged marriage with a much older and abusive man named Rasheed. Jalil’s rejection of Mariam is a shocking experience to her that shapes her future decisions and leaves her heartbroken. Throughout Mariam and Rasheed’s marriage, Mariam endures hardship, violence, and the heartbreak of not being able to bear children, which only deepens Rasheed’s cruelty towards her.
The story shifts between Mariam and Laila, however, in part 1 Laila is introduced to us briefly along with her loving family and best friend Tariq.
A Thousand Splendid Suns Part 1 lays the foundation for the deep emotional connection that will develop between Mariam and Laila as they navigate their shared hardships and dreams in Afghanistan. Their journey will test their resilience and strength as they find comfort and companionship in each other amidst the tumultuous times they live in.
Part 2: The Story of Laila
Laila is a young and educated girl who grows up in a privileged area in Kabul. As the war intensifies, her life takes a tragic turn when a rocket attack kills her parents, leaving her injured and orphaned. To protect her, Rasheed and Mariam take Laila into their home, which leads to a complicated relationship between the three.
In part 2 of A Thousand Splendid Suns, Laila and Mariam encounter new challenges as their lives get more intertwined together. In this section, Afghanistan experiences significant historical events, including the fall of the Soviet Union and the rise of the Mujahideen and subsequently, the Taliban. These political changes further complicate the lives of the characters and the societal norms they must navigate.
Rasheed’s abuse towards both women increases, making their lives even more unbearable. Despite their shared suffering, Mariam and Laila find strength in their friendship and mutual support. They draw comfort from each other’s company, and their bond becomes a source of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
Part 2 of A Thousand Splendid Suns continues to grip readers with its emotionally charged storytelling while shedding light on the complexities of Afghanistan’s history and the resilience of its people, especially the women, in the midst of war and oppression.
Part 3: The Lives of Mariam and Laila
In Part 3 of A Thousand Splendid Suns, Laila becomes pregnant with Rasheed’s child Zalmai. She hopes that having a child will protect her from Rasheed’s abuse and secure a better future for herself and her family. However, Rasheed’s abusive behavior persists, and he becomes increasingly suspicious of Laila’s relationship with Tariq, her childhood friend.
As the story progresses, an unexpected turn of events leads to a shocking revelation about Tariq’s fate, which leaves Laila devastated. This revelation brings Mariam and Laila even closer, as they share in each other’s grief and pain.
In Part 3, Mariam makes a fateful decision that forever alters the course of their lives, setting the stage for a powerful and emotionally charged resolution that will leave readers both heartbroken and inspired.
Part 4: The End of A Thousand Splendid Suns
In part 4 of A Thousand Splendid Suns, Mariam and Laila make a failing escape attempt to flee Kabul, but the police and authorities catch them and send them back to Rasheed and he beats Mariam for trying to escape.
As the events escalate, Rasheed’s shop is burnt and ruined, so he asks Mariam to ask her father Jalil for money, but she finds out that he died a long time ago.
Tariq visited Laila previously and Rasheed had just known about his visit, so he furiously attacks Laila and chokes her. Mariam steps in with a shovel and hits Rasheed on his head, resulting in his death.
The next day, Laila and the children prepare to leave, while Mariam chooses to remain behind to face the consequences of Rasheed’s murder. She is captured by the Taliban and subjected to a brutal and horrifying execution.
In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Mariam’s life ends when the Taliban brutally stone her to death and Laila escapes successfully with the kids and meets Tariq.
A Thousand Splendid Suns Book Review
A Thousand Splendid Suns is one of Khalid Hosseini’s Books which are highly influential. It is a thought-provoking read that discusses women’s rights in war, relationships, friendships, sacrifice, oppression, and love.
We recommend this book to every person who enjoys reading historical fiction regardless of their level of English because the author uses simple language.
Trust us when we say that you will not forget the story of the women in A Thousand Splendid Suns and it will keep coming up in your head whenever it’s mentioned.
Books Like A Thousand Splendid Suns
- The Kite Runner
- And The Mountains Echoed
- The Blind Man’s Garden
- A Cup of Friendship
- The Dressmaker of Khair Khana
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