A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS by Khaled Hosseini: A Book Review

A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS by Khaled Hosseini: A Book Review

Genre: war narrative, historical fiction, love story

Setting: Afghanistan, last 33 years of its history of war and oppression

Main Characters: Mariam , Laila, Rasheed, Tariq, Jalil

Release Date: November 25, 2008

Summary:

The novel is has three parts.  It tells the story of two women: Mariam  and Laila who later became the two abused wives of Rasheed, a rich shoemaker.

Part 1

The novel kicks off with Mariam’s story wherein she introduces the word harami . Harami became a part of her persona until the end. She is the 11^th child of Jalil, a businessman and a cinema owner to a house servant. In short, she is an illegitimate child. Jalil has three more wives who lives with him in his mansion whereas Mariam and her mom lives in the hills. Every week, Jalil visits Mariam to teach her and tell her stories about Herat. Mariam worships her father despite her mom’s contempt.

On Mariam’s birthday, she wanted to visit her dad’s place; however, this was not approved by her mother and said that if she goes away, it means that she is abandoning her. Mariam picked up her courage to go to the city alone and was awe stricken by the new environment but then when she arrived in her father’s house, her father did not let her in. She even slept outside and was awakened by the  guard’s prodding that she needs to go back home.

When she returned home, her mother’s body was hanging on a rope from the willow tree. Mariam felt guilty, blamed herself and concluded that her mom is right, that the good things she conjured about Jalil is nothing but lies. Later on, she lived with her father who together with his wives, decided to fix her marriage with Rasheed, a shoemaker.

She got married at 15. Rasheed was nice to her at first but when she had several miscarriages, Rasheed abused her for years.

Part 2

Laila’s story starts when she was 9 years old. She is a consistent top student of her school and has two close female friends and one male friend named Tariq. She lives with her father, a former teacher and her mom in Kabul, Afghanistan. Her mom was once a cheerful being but when her sons joined the war, she lost the will to live.

In this part, it revealed the war in their country. Children killed. Houses and buildings pulverized. Laila stopped schooling because of the war and when her parents finally decided to move out so as to start a new life, they were bombed. She got lucky but her parents did not survive. Rasheed took her to his house and proposed for marriage. At that point, Laila knew that she was pregnant with Tariq’s child and she didn’t have any choice but to marry Rasheed before it gets too late. Tariq was assumed to be dead.

Rasheed, Mariam and Laila lived together in the same house. When Laila delivered a girl, Rasheed was disappointed. He has always wanted a boy because he once lost his son in his first marriage. The beatings started again. Rasheed made it a point to punch, slap and whip both of his wives.

Eventually, Laila got pregnant again. Rasheed was happy because it was a boy.

Part 3

Laila and Mariam eloped but they were caught by police officers. They were handed to Rasheed again and the abuse became worse. Even Aziza, Laila’s first child almost died because of his cruelty. Aziza was also put in orphanage because Rasheed could no longer sustain their needs. His shop was burned down and he couldn’t find any decent job.

Then one day, Tariq came back. Laila and Tariq talked about everything that has happened. Rasheed learned about this and he was ready to kill Laila. But before that happened, MAriam got the shovel and killed him first. Mariam convinced Laila to go away and start a new life with Tariq while she stays to receive her punishment.  Death penalty ended her life.

Laila and Tariq reunited with the two children in Pakistan. They got married and were happy but later, Laila told Tariq that she wants to go back to Afghanistan. They went back. Laila visited Herat, Mariam’s hometown and traveled back to Kabul where she helped rebuild the orphanage. She became a schoolteacher there.

Theme and Highlights

Domestic Violence

This book gave me so much emotions. This Rasheed is a  sadist. How can a human being torture his wives and children? How can he not have shame, guilt and conscience? He deserved to die earlier. All the bombs should have gone to his direction and not to the helpless, innocent children.

But the question is, why do people stay in a very abusive relationship? A study says that being abused gives a certain addiction to the victim and provides her a piece of familiarity and safe zone. She cannot get out psychologically and the trauma it brings when she finally walks out will still be there. And maybe, at some point, she still has the urge to go back to him because that’s what she was used to.

Women, and men, who are abused, must be awakened from the reality that that person will not change in an instant. Staying there will only tolerate that behavior. We need to have that power to stay out from the people we cannot fix. Whether that person was abused and neglected in the past, that is not an excuse to displace it to the people around him. If you want to be broken and damaged further, go on and turn a blind eye. It is your life anyway. But is the life you really want?

Fixed Marriage

Nowadays, children are still being married off to older men. Imagine being forced to grow up and living together (having sex) with someone you barely know and you don’t love. It’s almost the same as being raped and the childhood you ought to experience just smoked out.  Fact: The parents are likely to be less burdened when there’s less mouth to feed.. but what about the child’s future? Do you think that her future will be better if she will be taken away from a man who you only approved because of his riches? If there’s one thing that I learned, riches should not be the basis of marriage or any relationship. Love should always come first.

Suicide and Depression

Mariam’s mother hanged herself. Suicide had never become an option for me even when I was in my most depressed state. Suicide is a sin. They said that suicide has no face. Your friend might be smiling at you but deep inside, he is formulating ways to end his life. You can never tell.

As time passes by, more and more people commit suicide and the number one cause is depression. They either shoot, poison, cut themselves or jump off a building. I cannot visualize the horror of seeing someone terminating this gift of life. Life is the most precious gift that God has bestowed and only Him can decide when to take it back.

We need more counselors. Mental Health should be part of the curriculum now.

War

The Afghanistan war is still going for 18 years now. The Taliban is still managing most of its areas and during the 9/11 attack, Bush declared war because they did not want to hand Osama Bin Laden, the leader of AL Qaeda.

Reflection

This book is an eye-opener for me who is over engrossed to social media. I am constantly browsing the digital world without any knowledge about all these wars happening around the world. It is devastating to see those photos of homeless families, the silent cries on their sulken bony faces, the fresh scars on their skinny dirty bodies. It is more heartbreaking to read the news that until now, Afghanistan is still war-stricken and food-deprived. Many more countries are out there, wallowing in the mud of bombs and cannons, of guns and blood. And where are we?

We are very fortunate that we are here living a peaceful life. We are very lucky that we still have the chance to be with our loved ones. We are lucky that we don’t have to send our brothers and father to war. We are lucky that we have our necessities. Who are we to complain when we have a roof on top of our head? 

I am recommending this book to everyone. It will hurt you to read this but I am sure that it entails you to be more sensitive to world issues.

Favorite Quotes

“Like a compass needle that always points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam.”

“God’s words will never betray you, my girl.”

“I know you’re still young, but I want you to understand and learn this now…. Marriage can wait, education cannot. You’re a very, very bright girl. Truly, you are. You can be anything you want, Laila…. I know that when this war is over, Afghanistan is going to need you as much as its men, maybe even more. Because a society has no chance of success if its women are uneducated, Laila. No chance.”

“Laila, my love, the only enemy an Afghan cannot defeat is himself.”

“[S]he was leaving the world as a woman who had loved and been loved back. She was leaving it as a friend, a companion, a guardian. A mother. A person of consequence at last.”

“God has made us differently, you women and us men. Our brains are different. You are not able to think like we can. Western doctors and their science have proven this. This is why we require only one male witness but two female ones.”

NOTHING LASTS FOREVER BY SIDNEY SHELDON: A BOOK REVIEW

Setting: San Francisco

Characters: Paige Taylor (surgeon) and Jason Curtis (architect)

Secondary Characters: Honey Taft and Kat (both are doctors , too)

Genre: medical thriller

Publication date: 1994

Summary:

This medical thriller tells the story of three female doctors trying to prove themselves in a profession dominated by men. Each of them has their own story, and each of their tales are well connected and intertwined with each other. But suddenly there is chaos, one dies, another is about to get the hospital shut down, and the third faces the death penalty for murder. (credits: WIKIPEDIA)

Reflection

I only knew that this book was published in 1994 when I researched about it right after reading the entire novel.  When you are an avid reader of his works, you’ll know that his style  is weaving  intricate twists and turns. Indeed, Sheldon has proven to the world that he is one of the greatest master storytellers. With this book, eventhough it was a bit old, it didn’t fail to give me the suspense I was dreading. I like that it is a medical thriller and it gives three different views about three women. So, here are some positive notes from the book:

1. It gives light to gender discrimination. Paige, Honey and Kat were treated as if they don’t belong to the medical field. Male doctors referred to them as ladies or judging them as incapable and incompetent. Not only doctors, mind you, but also with their patients. Nevertheless, they proved to be deserving of title and respect.

2. Honey received the highest grades and commendation from her school; however, during the internship, she was incompetent. The grades she got were all obtained by seducing her professors , even the dean. She learned the art of lovemaking because she felt that she was valued when men gained pleasure through her. Her lack of self-confidence escalated because of this and eventually, she got away from being sacked from her school and work through her sexpertise.  

A person cannot be judged without looking at her past. Honey was a wallflower and much more, she came from a family of geniuses and beauties. They made sure that she was the odd one out. Her family only accepted her when she started gaining attention from the school and the males.

3. Kat was a black doctor. She was also discriminated because of her color. At an early age, she was raped by her step-father and when she confessed to her mum, she refused to believe. She didn’t have a choice but to leave her brother behind and live with her aunt. Later on, she found out that she was pregnant. She decided to abort the child and found an inspiration to become a doctor.

In the hospital, she was labeled as the manhater because no matter how the doctors try, they cannot get hold of her until she played a game with Dr. Mallory. Dr. Mallory and the other doctors placed a bet of 10,000 dollars to see  if he could have sex with her. Kat knew about this and she tried to play it cool with him. Like all women who feel like they could changed someone, she believed it. She fell inloved. She lost.  She got pregnant. Mallory killed her.

Overall, it was an unfortunate life for Kat. She was highly intelligent and skilled but she was just unlucky.

4. Paige’s life as a kid revolved around the third world countries. She traveled with her father who was a WHO doctor and Alfred, the son of another doctor. They were sweethearts for so long until Paige was brought back to the city to live and her father was killed in a tribal war. They remained corresponding but when Alfred visited her, she was surprised that he got married. She busied herself with work and then she met, Jason Curtis, a rich and renowned architect.

But the center of the story was Paige’s court case. She was accused of murdering her patient with million dollars involved. She was a victim of circumstance and jealousy of her colleagues. In the end, she was acquitted and married Jason Curtis.

Confess by Colleen Hoover: A Book Review

Confess by Colleen Hoover: A Book Review

Main Characters: Auburn Mason Reed and Owen Mason Gentry (They are not blood related, fyi.)

Genre: Romance, Contemporary

Setting: Texas

Summary

Part One of the book introduces the tragic past of Auburn wherein she lost her first love named Adam because of a serious medical condition. The story unfolds to the present where Auburn was talking to a lawyer and it was also revealed that she has financial issues because she is considering about getting three part-time jobs to pay for the fee. She works as a hair cutter/stylist in a salon in Texas, which she recently moved in.

As fate has a great significance to the story, she came across this signage infront of a studio looking for a helper. As she was reading it, she noticed some notes written on the walls which turned out to be anonymous confessions. Owen suddenly opened the door with another “desperate” signage and that’s when he met Auburn.

Owen Mason Reed is a young painter. He knows Auburn from the past but of course, Auburn does not.

Owen did not tell Auburn about this throughout the novel. Going back, the two had felt their connections. For one night, Auburn helped Owen sell his paintings in an Art Exhibit. The inspiration of the paintings was also given light and it all ended with hanging up in a bar.

The story became more intense when Trey entered. He is the brother of Adam who works as a police officer who is in love with Auburn. Lydia, Trey’s mother also stepped in with a surprising twist – that Auburn has a child from Adam and his name is AJ. Auburn wants custody over her child.

Trey caught Owen for possession of drugs. He was imprisoned. Trey warned Auburn about him. Auburn and Trey started dating but Auburn likes Owen but still dates the former because of her son. Later on, Owen was released and the two got back together. They faced more struggles and Trey just kept on destroying their relationship even resorting to attempted rape. Eventually, Auburn had finally found the courage to defend herself and fight for what is right and she succeeded. She got her son and her second fate in love, Owen.

The ending went back five years earlier revealing how Owen met Adam in the hospital. It was another confession that you have to find out for yourself.

Highlight

1.       The idea of paintings inspired by a confession is new. I like that it is more realistic but it also adds suspense and mystery. Imagine if you wrote a confession then you saw the painting based on that, would you buy it? I am following Colleen Hoover on instagram and in her stories, she asked her readers about their confession and all just poured in. 

2.       There were photos of paintings on the book. All were sentimental and deep.

Favorite quotes

1.        “I’m afraid if I listen to my heart once, I’ll never figure out how to ignore it again.” – Owen

2.       “Selflessness. It should be the basis of every relationship. If a person truly cares about you, they’ll get more pleasure from the way they make you feel, rather than the way you make them feel.” – Auburn

3.       “I think love is a hard word to define. You can love a lot of things about a person but still not love the whole person.” – Owen

4.       “Sometimes we don’t get second chances, Owen. Sometimes things just end.” – Auburn

Reflection

        The story is not so extraordinary. If the confessions and paintings were removed, I would not have continued reading it. It did not give me the chills or intensity that I am looking for a romance novel. I want a novel that can make me cry or laugh or not go to sleep.

        Anyways, if you’re looking for something that shows a mother’s love despite young age, read this. If you are looking for a love story that has no psychological dilemma , read this.

               

Personal Say

        Reading this book made me question all the mistakes that I did and if I am ready to confess all of them. My secrets are safe with me but with time, maybe these will be revealed. The last time I confessed was when I was in grade 6- that was 16 years ago infront of a priest.  I remembered saying sorry for being a stubborn child. Until now, I am still a stubborn child and I might add a stubborn believer.

        I’ve been thinking about confessing but I always back off everytime. I am too scared to admit my sins and I am afraid that I might do those again after saying them. It’s a vicious cycle. Mind you,  I do not regret the decisions I made in the past because those are part of me now and I embraced them.

BEAUTIFUL GOODBYE

Love and breakup came too fast.

Yes, we broke up. We broke up in chat. I tried to work it out but the past few days had been really tough. We fought when we had a date last time in the park. Of course, I noticed that there was something wrong and it was made more intense when he told me that it was unfair that I couldn’t tell him about my past relationship. Before, he said that he would wait until I am ready but he was so impatient then he was not looking at me, and said something really hurtful. I walked out crying but I didn’t want to end it that way. I wanted to grab every chance from that relationship.  With all the strength I had, I walked back to him and let him explain. The explanation was even unworthy but I accepted it since I was committed to him. However, he was pissed and I ended up as the one consoling him.

Little did I know that during that time, he told his parents about our relationship.  They were angry at him and disappointed. They wanted him to marry an Egyptian with the same religion as theirs. That’s why he displaced his anger to me at that point. So in chat, I asked him if he would follow them and he said that he is with me but he can’t promise me marriage. He won’t even fight for me. What’s the sense of having a relationship with someone if you do not intend to marry her? Then he said that he wanted to focus on his career and family and I deserve someone better.  Seriously, same statement just like my ex? I really wanted to make our relationship work but he was more afraid than I am.  We both are, I gues.

I was also to blame. I entered a relationship which I was not ready.  I tried convincing myself that what I felt for him. I was comfortable with him but it’s the comfortability of having someone by your side not having someone you love by your side.  I apologized to him several times about this and I know my apologies were rejected as seen by his post in facebook.

From the very beginning, it was not supposed to last. I am looking for a long relationship that ends in marriage, that ends with a happy family.

For now, I am dealing with the monsters in my head alone. I am still glad since being alone will give me more time to focus on myself and to be away from those who can hurt me again especially that my heart is not yet capable of more pain.

For Robert, I WISH that what he feels for Amaya is genuine love and respect and I hope that the girl feels the same. They are both moving on, too from their past relationships but maybe they can heal each other in the process. I won’t lie when he said that he moved on but this is the truth that I must accept. We are not getting back together AGAIN.  His words still affect me until today. I hate it. But what to do? The sincere souls feel more.

3- month rule

“I am going to start dating again after three months.”

Funny how I broke this statement when I met this guy four weeks ago. I just needed one more month to fulfill my promise but yes, I gave in.

The first conversation we had happened while I was doing  squats in the smith bar in the gym and he just came up and said “Good Job!” He was unbelievably good-looking. He had that playboy grin and blue-green set of big expressive eyes with thick eyebrows and curved lashes that can make any Filipina drool. Well, that was a bit of exaggeration (the drooling part) Haha. He has black wavy hair, fair skin and muscles to die for. He is at least 5’8 tall. In short, he was the man that I’ve imagined dating 10 years ago.

He was striking a conversation with me in Filipino- English like where I was from and how many years have I been here in UAE. I learned that most of his colleagues are Filipinos; hence, the Filipino communication skills and when I asked if he had been to Manila, he replied “Someday, I will go there with my girlfriend.” From then on, I assumed that he has a girlfriend. “Just another fuckboy,” I whispered to myself. But  I admit, I was really really attracted to him.  

Next time we crossed paths was in the signal and just like the first, he was talking animatedly with that foolish grin. He asked where I was going and I said I was on my way to the gym. Before we parted ways, he asked for my name.  I found myself smiling like a fool after that. “Stop it,” I told myself.

After a few days, I saw him again in the gym. He was smiling as usual and talking to the other ladies. He was helping them with how to use the sports equipment and correcting their form. There was no reason for me to be annoyed but I was in a bad mood when I saw that they got his attention. The ladies were obviously into him and I swore that I was never wrong in my assumption that he was a playboy. When he saw me doing my lunges, he stopped and talked to me. He kept asking me if I was okay but I just ignored him. He ruined my day.

After an hour, I realized that I was being shallow. Why was I letting him affect my workout? This fitness journey is not about attracting bad vibes but spreading goodness and kindness. And so, when he asked again if I was fine, I was back to my old smiling self. We did our ab workout together and discovered that he is a Christian which is really very important. If he is a Muslim, I would never have ever given my phone number. He texted me as soon as he arrived home.

His first message was, “Kamusta ka maganda?”

Then everything just happened.

Fun facts:

1. He only had one girlfriend and that was six years ago. He never dated after.

2. He never kissed a girl on the lips. Their family is conservative and traditional. Therefore, he was more innocent than I am.  lol

3. He is family-oriented. He calls his family every night. He loves kids especially the kids that he taught in their church.

4. He always speaks fondly about his family, friends and God.

5.  He is very optimistic in life. He has many struggles but he is always smiling and hopeful that everyday is getting better.

6.  He dreams to be an actor.

We had our first date on the beach one windy evening. It was a nice date but I had difficulty opening up.  He caught me staring somewhere far most of the time and that happened for our other dates. He would always say, “Hello, I am here. What are you thinking? ” showing that same grin. He was actually my first date after my breakup and I guessed I was not ready to have a serious and intimate conversation with another man.

Maybe it was too early. More than two months was not enough to give myself the time and space I need to pull my shit together.

There were times that when we talk about each other lives, I still feel devastated. He knows that I am still in the process of moving on and it makes me feel guilty that I could not give the full attention that he needs. I wanted to be present at the moment but my mind wanders somewhere else.

There was also that one incident that made me question his sincerity. I thought he was cheating and all that he said to me were lies. I argued with him HARD and we did not talk for a day. Turned out, it was only a big misunderstanding. I realized that I have trust issues and I am very SCARED to love again. When we saw each other after that argument, I decided to stop seeing him forever. I was trying to find the right timing to say it to him but then his male friends from the Church picked us up and we went to the beach altogether. While we were talking, I was giving hints that I wanted out of this exclusively dating stage but when I looked at him, he was so expectant. To my surprise, he asked me, “What good did he ever do to you?”

I was left speechless.

When he walked me home, I was still thinking how to reword my farewell speech. When we got inside my room and hugged me goodbye, I couldn’t help but to shed tears. He had seen me countless times crying especially when he is becoming too intimate.

I feel so sorry. When he hugs me, I wish I could feel his entirety, I wish I could give my warmth. When he says I love you, I wish I could say it back. When he kisses my cheeks when I cry, I wish I could respond that I love him too.

He then gently asked if I wanted him to go. I couldn’t make up my mind because I was lost in the safety between his arms and the confusion in my heart. I was torn between telling him to stay and forcing him to move out from my life. I was torn between taking a big leap in loving and trusting, and breaking apart again. I don’t want to be miserable.  I don’t want to experience the same pain.

But when he holds my hand, I never felt safer. When he looks at me, I never felt this appreciated. He calms my storms and understands my silence.

He asks me every freaking day how I am doing; he comes when I need him no matter what time it is or no matter how tired he is. He does not ditch me. He treats me well despite my stubbornness and insanity. He calls me during his short break time.  He is always excited to see me and listen to my stories.  There is no guessing of his feelings, no insecurity. He accompanies me to the grocery store and carries my stuff. He walks me home and proudly introduces me to his friends. He may not have a car or a villa and is still figuring out his career path (me too), but that is okay. The bottomline is, I am myself when I am with him. I am comfortable. I am free.

I want to make this relationship work. This love might not be as intense as what I felt before but love should not be too complicated, messy and confusing. Love protects. Love encourages you to be better and kinder. Love does not destroy. It should inspire and build you up. Love helps you grow and flourish. Love is always in your corner, not just when it is easy but when it is hard too. Love sees your soul. Love is not one foot in, one foot out. Love is not mixed signals. Love is not without labels. Love does not blame and seek revenge. Love is being your authentic self. Love prioritizes you. Love heals you. Love makes you breathe again. Love is not losing your values. Love fights for you. Love does not walk away when your opinions are different. Love finds a reason to stay.

I am not sure of what the future holds for both of us. But I am excited of where we will be. I do miss him everyday. Yes, I might not be fully healed yet but I am getting there. I  know that total healing cannot not achieved by being with him but more on seeing my worth and getting up , being independent even if he is in my life. There are potential risks in the decision that I made but I am happy that I chose someone who chooses me and someone who makes me a better person everyday.

Message

This book breathes soul.  It pulsates our young writers' thoughts, experiences and imagination. Through this book, we believe that many will reconnect with literature and creative writing and hopefully,  find beauty, healing and joy from the words carefully woven together. Being the first literary folio of The Philippine School, may this book be a testimony of our incessant effort to showcase and value TPSians'  talent and hardwork, and may this also authenticate how all our voices can be heard through the pen.

Don't just read this book. Immerse in it then write your own story.  We are waiting.

BE STILL MY HEART

I am moving on from him.


I do not expect anymore that we will reconnect or he will explain himself for blocking me in all forms. There are really unanswered questions and I am better off this way than to distract myself again because of love.

Anyways I am spending 2 to 3 hours in the gym everyday and for the past two days I am finally following the program given by the gym instructor. For two weeks I was only doing what I wanted based on the videos I watched in youtube and insta. STILL stubborn and independent, eh?

Good thing about the program is he helps me correct my form. However, it couldnt be helped that he will touch some parts of my body. I just tell myself that it is purely business but my friend says that the coach likes me. MAYBE HE DOES. He even invited me to go clubbing on the weekend which I instantly refused. He also compliments me everyday and calls me baby. He wants to buy me protein rich food and other stuff. Physically wise, he is fine. He is an Indian and muslim though and I would never have a relationship with a muslim.

I havent finished all the to do list since the publication took so much of my time. I HAVE TO DO ALL OF THOSE this week so I wont cram and be absent in my workout sesh.

Moving on is hard. But it must be done. I HAVE GROWN.. I HAVE LEARNED MY MISTAkes. I AM BRAVER. STRONGER. WISER. AND I NOW KNOW WHO DESERVES ME AND WHAT I DESERVE.