A Thousand Splendid Suns

Mariam saw two men sitting on leather chairs, rifles and a coffee table between them, sipping black tea and eating from a plate of syrup-coated jelabi, rings sprinkled with powdered sugar. She thought of Aziza, who loved jelabi, and tore her gaze away.
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On their way out of the lobby, Rasheed walked briskly to the coffee table, which was now abandoned, and pocketed the last ring of jelabi. He took it home
and gave it to Zalmai.

- A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khalid Hosseini

I am sure most of you would have heard about this book. It’s a must read, if you ask me. In case you haven’t read this book you should immediately do so. I can help you by providing soft copy of this book, in case you are interested. I also have the hard copy for those who live in Jammu. I love this book so much that I have forced/pressurised almost all my friends to read it. Some have lovingly accepted the offer while others have not!

Coming back to the lines! The book is full of emotional stuff. Even the hardest of all have to, HAVE TO shed tears. The lines I have included are not even close to being emotional but they never fail to tear me apart! Every time my heart sinks when I read these lines (and mind you I have read this book more than 10 times!)

A little introduction with the characters for those unaware.

Mariam – She is the main protagonist of the story. A child born out of wed-lock, married to a man (Rasheed) two times her age. Only to be beaten a ridiculed by him. She only finds a little happiness in her life in the company of LAILA.

Laila – though not in the lines, she is the other main protagonist of the story. Struck by tragedy when her parents get killed. She is forced to take refuge in Mariam and Rasheed’s house. And forced to marry Rasheed when she realizes the love of her life Tariq is dead and that she is pregnant with his child.

Rasheed – An a-hole! I hate him from the core of my heart. Know more about him when you read the book.

Aziza – Laila and tariq’s child. Though in the story everyone thinks she is Rasheed’s daughter.

Zalmai- Laila and Rasheed’s baby boy.


Mariam is very close to Laila’s children especially Aziza. So that explains the fact she could bear to look at those men eating her Aziza’s favourite jelabi (as because of a crisis they are very poor and cannot afford to arrange even the simplest of all meals for themselves). After finishing there business Rasheed takes the left over jelabi only to give it to Zalmai. Obviously because he is the son. All through the story he loathes Aziza, well because you know she is a girl etc etc.

These simply written lines are so beautiful. Also whenever I have any intensions of wasting any food, I remind myself of these lines. There is always a someone out there in the world, who is not as lucky and happy as you are!

P.S The book has also been made into a movie which will be releasing in 2011. Read the book before watching the movie. Catch the trailer here.