A thousand splendid suns

A masterpiece, written with beautiful words, and a story that would make even the hardest nut to crack.
Short summarised this story is built on two very different women. The oldest one, Mariam lives her first 15 years with her single mother. Mariam is visited by her father once a week, and she adores him. Her mother Nana got pregnant with Mariam, when she worked as a servant at Mariams father Jalils house. Nana often use the word Harami to Mariam, a harami is a child born outside of the marriage. In arabic Haram means forbidden, and to be called that by your own mother must be hurtful. When Nana commits suicide, Mariam's forced to marry Rasheed; a bitter, old man. In the beginning he seems ok, maybe a bit strict and with 'old fashion values' for instance that women should never leave the house without her husbond, that the man rules over his wife, and she must wear a Burqa/Burka when she leaves the house. But when Mariam fails in her duty to give Rasheed a son, or even a child at all; he becomes more cruel and make up reasons to beat her.

Laila is born almost four year after Mariam marries Rasheed. Her relationship to her father, are almost too good to be true. His biggest wish is to educate Laila as much as possible, because he means that Afghanistan would need the womens contribution to build up the country again after war. She is described as a beautiful girl, with blond hair. Her best friend is a boy whom name is Tariq and two years older than her. They eventually fall in love, and have secret meetings, even though the suspicions are quite clear. Tariq moves to Pakistan, and Lailas family dies when a bomb hit their house. Laila escapes death, but with severe injuries. Rasheed and Mariam takes good care of Laila when she's injured. Laila finds out that she's pregnant with Tariqs child. She finds out that if she marry Rasheed as fast as possible, maybe he'll think that the baby is his. He craves a boy, but get a daughter, and he treath Aziza as if she was made of air.

The two women eventually finds a strong friendship, comfort and some sort of alliance in their horrible marriage with Rasheed. Laila doesn't put up with the things Rasheed demands, and he often beat her so seriously, that she almost dies. Laila also gets pregnant with her second child, and rasheeds first, which is a son, that Rasheed spoiles rotten.

I'm not going to spoil anymore of this book, but I have to say that it's got all the elements that I appreciate. Tragedy, sorrow, happiness, humour, love, passion, and a satisfying ending - sad, but also happy and good-feeling. Buy it, you won't regret it...