Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner
I don't know if there is anyone who hasn't read this book at this point but I'm going to review it, and recommend it, anyway. The Kite Runner is about Amir, the son of a wealthy businessman, and Hassan, the son of their servant. When they two boys are young, they are inseparable; they
spend their time running kites, spinning stories and being children. Until one day when their bond is broken forever by a horrific act. As Afghanistan becomes more and more unstable, Amir and his father flee to America, but Amir is still haunted by his old friend. It is his quest for forgiveness that causes him to seek out his friend, years later, and return to an Afghanistan that is now under Taliban rule. This book is so compelling and the characters so richly developed, that it is sometimes hard to remember that this is not a memoir. It will probably make you cry and will most definitely stay with you.

A Thousand Splendid Suns
From the author of The Kite Runner comes A Thousand Splendid Suns, also set in Afghanistan but this is the story of two women, Mariam and Laila, the wives of Rasheed. Mariam is forced to marry the 40-year old Rasheed when she is only 15 years old; always a cruel man, he becomes more and more vicious as the years pass and she fails to produce an heir. Eighteen years later, he brings home and marries 14-year old Laila, whose parents have been killed by rocket fire. Forced together, Mariam and Laila join forces against Rasheed, whose systematic beatings were
condoned and blessed by Islamic Law. The novel really gives you insight into such an extremely patriarchal society, where women are completely dependent on their fathers, husbands and sons. The story is so sad but also so powerful and while it wont leave you with the most positive view
of Afghanistan, it will help you realize how strong and resilient the Afghani people are.