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A Thousand Splendid Suns (Chapter 1-10 ("'she herself has to…
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Chapter 1-10
"She did not turn to look when Jalil's palms pressed on the glass, when his knuckles rapped and rapped on it. When the bus jerked forward, she did not turn turn to see him trotting alongside it."
This quote demonstrates how Jalil's selfish acts over the years have finally caught up with him. He never really cared for Mariam even when she thought so highly of him. Now that she knows the truth Jalil most likely feels the guilt seeping into him when she all of the sudden hates him.
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"'she herself has to answer. And she should wait until I ask three times."
"He asked the question two more times...'Yes,' she said shakily"
It is difficult sometimes for people to understand customs outside of our culture such as this form of marriage. One may ask why she did not just refuse. If one thinks of it she didn't really have anywhere to go, Jalil obviously doesn't want her and her mother is gone. Although she doesnt want to be married she is in a bad position to say no since she has no where else to go.
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Chapter 11-20
"Then Rasheed was tapping her on the shoulder and handing her something here. It was a dark maroon silk shawl with beaded fringes and edges embroidered with gold thread...This shawl, Mariam saw, was a true gift."
Throughout the story the reader feels grief for Mariums disfortune, but this quote begs the question if Rasheed actually may care about Marium or if marium is just trying to make herself believe he does.
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"Mammy's hand floated up to her chest, tapped there. 'In here.What's in here.' then it fell flaccid. 'You just don't know.'"
This quote may hint towards either Lalia's mothers lack of health or her carelessness for her children. Though she seems to care about Lalia it seems more of a health issue.
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Chapters 21-30
"Lalia pictured her life as a rotted rope,snapping, unraveling, the fibers detaching, falling away"
This part is a turning point in the story for Lalia as it becomes more and more apparent how her story can relate to mariams. They both lost things dear to them, and now have nothing to support themselves.
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"Not with the daily retching. This new fullness of her breasts. And the awareness , somehow , amid all this turmoil, that she had missed a cycle"
This new development in Lalia escalates the story and makes the reader wonder what will happen next? Will mariam and Rasheed still take care of her? Will they take the baby for her? This can be considered part of the Rising action until there is climax
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"At last, she could end her vigils, and her sons could rest in peace ...The day after Najibullah surendered, Mammy rose from bed a new woman".
The quote demonstrates a lot of where Mammy's loyalties lie. While she is sick and bed ridden, she never gave the effort to take care of her daughter who was actually alive and focused on the death of her son.
Would Mammy still have been bed ridden and depressed if Najibullah never surrendered? How would it have affected Lalia.
31-40
"' You try this again and I will find you. I swear on the Prophet's name I will find you. And, when I do there isn't a court in this godforsaken country that will hold me accountable for what I do. To Mariam first, then to her, and you last. I'll make you watch. You understand me?'"
All pity that I had for Rasheed is gone, As said in previous chapters its practically his fault his son drowned and I have a theory he might have also killed his wife . Rasheed clearly doesn't care about Mariam and Lalia and also doesnt care about Aziza. It shows how selfish he is and how all he cares about is gaining a new son .
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" She was encouraged to see that he had soft eyes, a kind face. .She told him the story that he and Mariam agreed on...'You want to come with my family.' the young man said."
Mariam and Lalias escape might have gone better if they had gone on their own, but then again the Journey would have been a lot longer and harder on them. especially since Lalia had Aziza with her .
How could Lalia and Mariams escape plan have been more effective ? Would the timing of their escape had affected it?
" Rasheed raised the belt again and this time came at Mariam... ' You win. You win. Don't do this. Please, Rasheed no beating! Don't do this.'"
This quote demonstrates Lalia's selflessness . Especially since Mariam has been very commanding of her and not very friendly. Which is understandable since they both are under the stress of Rasheed.
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41-51
" And, with that, Mariam brought down the shovel this time,she gave it everything she had."
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"Lalia watches MArium glue strands ofyam onto her dolls head, in a few years, this little girl will be a woman who will make small demands in life.."
Going to the kolba I think relieved Lalia and sort of put her past behind her, officially starting her new life with Tariq.
Although most of Lalia's life was with Rasheed and Mariam, how will this affect the rest of her life?
"But Zalmandi was bawling now and pounding his fists, crying that it wasnt the same ball, it couldnt be, because his ball was lost, and this was a fake one, where had the real ball gone?Where? Where where wherre?
Years of living with Mariam and Lalia one would think Zalmandi would be more mature, but even he is affected by Rasheeds prescence and influence in spoiling him
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Final Thoughs
A Thousand splendid suns is a novel about two women and their unfortunate circumstances that brought them together. It represents the injustice of women in other countries and how their culture affects their lives. While this is a good book, for me it was not very readable as with each oncoming chapter brought more conflict and more heart break. The ending was happy but I felt there was no real reward to keep reading it until finally at the end. This also demonstrates the authors ability to bring the characters to life and really make you feel for them.
Why do you think the author decided to start with Mariams story rather than Lalia's? Would it have made a difference?
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"Nana said, 'Learn this now and learn it well, my daughter: Like a compass needle that points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman. Always.'"
“She 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.”
“One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs,
Or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.”