A Thousand Splendid Suns, the book

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (see carousel in right side bar) is the story about 3 families in Afganistan from the 1964 through the early 2000s. It a story of war, and patriarchal domestic violence and mysogony.

It is important for Psychotherapists to understand other cultures. The values, beliefs, and practices are an important part of culture and what better ways sometimes to learn about cultures different from ones own than through the humanities such as movies and fiction.

There are many things in this novel which are quite disturbing. The characters are well drawn and the plot is quite believable. Miriam is an illegitimate child and as such is stigmatized in Afghan culture. When Miriams mother dies she is married off to Rasheed against her will and he cruelly abuses her when it becomes increasingly apparent after several miscarriages that she will be barren. Rasheed then takes a younger wife, Laila whom he also abuses.

It is interesting to see how religious and poltical oppression can have devastating effects on a society and the individuals living in it. With the United States invading this country it is important that we, as citizens, who are paying for this war, understand the dynamics, values, and beliefs that are prevalent in the country we are at war with.

This is a grim book, but well written, and worth reading. I recommend it.