pink sheep of the family

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.
Mariam is only 15 years old when she is sent to Kabul to marry Rasheed. Nearly two decades later, a friendship grows between Mariam and a local teenager; Laila, as strong as the ties between mother and daughter. When the Taliban takes over, life becomes a desperate struggle against starvation, brutality & fear. Yet love can move a person to act in unexpected ways and lead them to overcome the most daunting obstacles with starling heroism.
A gripping tale - it is, too; a powerful portrait of female suffering & endurance under the Taliban rule.

Afghanistani writers & Afghanistan stories still remain all the craze these days - thanks to the war that the Americans declare on. Everyone wants to read about them - the sufferings, the desperations, the torture, the redemptions, the triumphs.
I don't know anything about Afghanistan, save from what I hear, see and read in the news - tribal wars, political turmoil, hardship, female cruelty and the never-ending unrest. But this story was amazing in that it opened up this whole new world to me; that I could see the fairy lights sparkling in the trees, set against the rocky hills, like a scene in a movie; I could hear the rocks & snow crouching beneath boots, the scream, the cries, echoing off empty walls in the streets; and I could smell fresh naan breads and spices wafting through the air in the markets. I can feel the character's strong determination to survive, to lift themselves out from these adversities, the beatings they have to endure and their desire to go back to their home country to help build their nation, to end poverty, to champion the women's rights.

The book deals with issues like friendship, betrayals, loss love, a mother & daugther relationship; unraveling of a secret past deed, the hardships under the Taliban rule, loss of a child, dealing with deep personal grief & regrets, an empty arranged marriage, keeping dark secrets from loved ones, not taking the control of your life until you discover that you're 40 and full of sadness & regrets...an excellent read...an intriguing story, something I would really like; exquisitely moving & touching plus I really liked the cover page - a liberal educated woman who have to hide behind the burqa; yet wearing a pair of illegal high heels :)

There was some really beautiful moments as the characters faced their grief and confusion - moments of the past, layered and entwined with the details of the present. If you don't like long, poetic paragraphs, soaked with memory flashbacks, the book's probably not for you.
As I finished the book, yes...I was completely inspired and deeply moved by Mariam & Laila's story. I feel humble, rich and grateful.