Wednesday, June 11, 2008

From "A Thousand Splendid Suns"

"Each snowflake was a sigh heaved by an aggrieved woman somewhere in the world. That all the sighs drifted up the sky, gathered into clouds, then broke into tiny pieces that fell silently on the people below.
As a reminder of how women like us suffer," she'd said.

"How quietly we endure all that falls upon us"

If you don't know already, "A Thousand Splendid Suns" is Khaled Hosseini's second book. This one is about women in the Afghanistan of the Taliban.

More than anything else, this book makes one feel grateful to have the right to education and livelihood, the right to go out of one's house unescorted, and the right to travel alone.

We forget that these are rights, and in some parts of the world, nearer than we think, (i.e., right here in India), there are women who do not have these rights.

16 comments:

Artnavy said...

While i found the book a little melodramatic - i agree it was moving and made me feel fortunate

Id it is said...

Khaled Hosseini is a master story teller no doubt. Both of his novels are among the most gripping reads I've come across in the last few years.

Violation of women's rights are happening in numerous parts of the world even as we speak so a novel such as this which makes the reader ponder over the plight of women is definitely a great read.

The Phosgene Kid said...

I cannot understand any culture where a person is treated like a piece of furniture because of sex, race, caste or religion.

human being said...

yes we should really be grateful for these rights...
funny first people are deprived of their natural rights and then they should be thankful to enjoy them..
;)
such is life... games to play
:D

Mampi said...

Human being: yes it is this strategy that has made some powers what they are today...
we feel grateful for these natural rights only when we compare ourselves to those who have not been 'granted' these. - all the while we know that these rights are to be taken for granted.

Neha said...

I havent read that book...but I know what you mean...and here in my office...in 2008...I find pregnant women who want to have a son...and if by chance they have a baby girl, then she should be quiet and nice and obedient and soft spoken..and if its a boy, he shoud be a bratt!!!
O yes...i am not supposed to speak like that...we like in a society which believes in "feminism"

ThoughtSafari said...

Completely agree with ur sentiments!

EXSENO said...

I have always been grateful that I have these rights. It sickens me to see how it is for women in some other counties, like Iran where the women even have to ride in the back of the bus. It's heart breaking.

WritingsForLife said...

i think i should give it a try... i watched the Kite Runner... quite impressive... i am sure the book had been way better than the movie.
:-)

Moonstruck Girl said...

I have not read this book.. Nevertheless, I agree, we do tend to take a lot of things for granted without realizing how significant they are :)

Cheers,
Me

The Phosgene Kid said...

Too many oppressed and downtrodden walk the earth.

How do we know said...

Hi Artnavy: melodramatic... umm...some people in my Book Club thought so too.

Hi id it is: true, a novel like this is very very necessary. Khaled H has done more to create awareness about the Afghanistan devastated by the Taliban than any other media today.

Hi Phos: Couldnt agree more. I really, really like the new found anger against things unfair and dimwitted - both on ur blog and in your comments.

Hi human being: Yes, and what would our politicians do without such games?

Hi manpreet: Taken for granted? In a way, yes, but when even the right to life is not assumed for a female foetus, what other rights are there?

How do we know said...

Hi n: "if by chance they have a baby girl, then she should be quiet and nice and obedient and soft spoken" - it is people like this that make me feel that female infanticide is a favor to the girl child. Better byu far that you kill her once than that you kill her sould every minute that she lives.

Hi smart: TY!

Hi exseno: I did not know that about Iran. Oops!

Hi Raaji and impulsively me: You should give that book a shot.

delhidreams said...

...and all her tears turned into little smowflakes that fell on ground and turned into water that nourished life...

m sorry howdy, ki m not speaking practically here...but this is what that came to my mind instead of the human rights and others issues.

How do we know said...

Hi Adi: Lovely, that thought! And how true too.. those tears that should have turned to acid rain, end up becoming the water that sustains life..
And the sighs that should have become wraths of Gods, become snowflakes...

Ah! To be a woman!

Prince Charming said...

Whoops...looks like I've reached a page full of very passionate comments...

Just wanted to say - thanks for your comment on my blog