I absolutely loved "A Thousand Spendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini. The book is written in a similar style to the author's first book "Kite Runner" with beautiful phrases and descriptions. Right from the start there is so much emotion. The characters each have strength yet a vulnerability that can destroy them and does in some cases. Though there are two main characters,,, their personalities are so intricately woven with the other characters and their relationships thus defined.
Hosseini so vividly describes Afghanistan that there are times I can actually feel the dust and heat or smell the foods.
I was so touched with the desperation of the young mother trying to keep her children safe and alive. Enduring beatings, the possibility of rape even death just to see her daughter.
And then there is the element of love. Throughout the book he captures the love between parent and child,, man and woman and woman and woman.
As bleak as life may seem at any and all stages of life for these characters, the message of strength, honor and friendship shines through as a happy an ending that could realistically be realized in the situation.
I highly recommend this book.