A Thousand Splendid Suns....

...is a very sad book to say the least. I've just finished Part One, and so far Mariam - the protagonist - has:

• come home to find her mother hanging from the tree in her front yard
• realized that her father whom she "worshiped" really doesn't care about her...
• ...and is hurriedly given away to a fat old shoemaker for marriage [at age 15]
  
• taken away from everything and everybody familiar, unwillingly brought 650 km away from home
  
• had six miscarriages, and as a result, endured beatings from her husband

Don't get me wrong though, the book is very well written, and its definitely hard to put down, but its just the subject matter thats tragic, and even a little disturbing at times. But, even still, another thing that has to be taken into mind is that the story takes place in Afghanistan, where women are treated as inferiors is normal behavior. Mariam's story is probably a little more tragic than others, but overall, her issues with marriage are what many women were, and still are, treated.

Its stories like these that make me grateful for growing up in Edina, and not having to experience hardships such as these.

Oh and I don't know why it says that I posted this at 12:58, its really 3:29 pm...

The End Is Near....

Well actually, its here. Black Boy is finished, leaving me content. I actually enjoyed book. Shocker. I know, especially for me, because I'm usually not a big fan of books we read in school. Except for Thunder Cave. That book was a literary work of art....not so much. LRT was a joke.

Anyways, Black Boy was a winner for me because I enjoy memoirs, especially straightforward, not-so-deep ones. I also like reading about segregation in the south. It was such a strange time (for our living standards today at least), and in my opinion, it makes for a very interesting story. Another thing that contributed to my satisfaction was the point of view it was written in. The book I'm currently reading for outside reading is written in third person, and I keep thinking that it is written in first, so I always get confused as to who is telling the story. I'll just have to get used to it considering I have about 350 pages to go. Great.

I think that its time to go find a cure for my raging headache...it will probably end up with me not being able to find the Advil, so I'll just go to bed. Its only 9:00 so maybe I'll get a decent night of sleep for once.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Mariam was five years old the first time she heard the word harami." (Hosseini 3) This is the first sentence of the book. We later learn that harami means 'bastard' in Arabic. To me, this opener is kind of....harsh, I guess is a good way to put it. So far the first few chapters have been about Mariam (the protagonist) and her woeful first years. Her father was a rich businessman who had an affair with the maid (Mariam's mother). Once her baby bump started to show, Mariam's mother was cast out of the household, and sent to a clearing where Jalil (Mariam's father) build them a "...rathole." (pg 9) The two have been living there in poverty ever since they were exiled from Jalil's home. Mariam is always looking forward to the next visit from her father, when he will sit her on his lap and tell her stories of far away places, and about how overjoyed he was when he found out that his daughter had been born. Mariam's mother scorns Jalil, and tells Mariam that her father is a selfish man who didn't come for two weeks to see her after Mariam had been born. Mariam believes her father's account of the story, and feels closer to him, even though she only sees him once every week or so.

I think this little explanation of mine may have rambled a bit, so I apologize if its difficult to read. I'm not going to start judging the book until I get a little farther that two chapters in, so don't ask me what I think of it.

Black Boy: Chapters 1, 2, & 3

So far, Black Boy has been an...interesting book. I really enjoy the style (straightforward and not too deep) and the storyline is very intriguing and a bit disturbing at times. So far, Richard has been beaten/whipped by his parents and other family members, killed a kitten, become an alcoholic at age six, participated in gang fights, told his granny to kiss his behind, and taken a peek in a whorehouse. Still, the thing that I think would be the most difficult to overcome is having a stroke-plagued, paralyzed mother. Richard even talks about the impact is has on him on page 100:

"My mother's suffering grew into a symbol in my mind, gathering to itself all the poverty, the ignorance, the helplessness; the painful, baffling, hunger-ridden days and hours, the restless moving, the futile seeking, the uncertainty, the fear, the dread; the meaningless pain and the endless suffering."

That's pretty depressing. I couldn't imagine my mom being immobile, laying in a bed all day. I mean, she's been gone for a week and a half on business now, and I'm not gonna lie, I miss her!

Well, outside reading is reserved....

I finally have a copy of the book A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini reserved at the library, so nobody will steal my copy. Unfortunately, I haven't had any time to retrieve my book, so I will have to go get it tomorrow after school.

I chose to read this book because I after Kite Runner in 8th or 9th grade, and loving it, I naturally wanted to read the author's next book. Also, naturally, I never had any time to go about doing it. I took outside reading as an opportunity to get this book checked off my list.

So, Mrs. West, if you're reading this, there is my [lame?] excuse for not having my novel with me in class, as well as clarification that I really do have a book chosen.

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