Kori+Q4

Quarter 4 Wiki **
 * A Thousand Splendid Suns ~ Khaled Hosseini

**Assignment 1 - Due April 15** - //What is the novel about?//

In one to two paragraphs, identify the title and author, summarize the setting, main characters, and major conflict in the novel.

For my 4th Quarter wiki, I read "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini. Over the course of the book, the main characters are Mariam, Rasheed, Laili, and Tariq. These are the absolute main characters, most of the rest of the characters are listed below. The setting of this takes place all over Afghanistan. Finally, the conflict of this book can be sumed up in one word: war. How war has broken the lives of the main characters and how they deal with the never-ending changes and hardships.

Main Characters: Mariam* Nana Jalil Mullah Faizullah Rasheed* Laila* Fariba (Laila's Mother) Babi (Laila's Father) Tariq* Aziza (Laila & Tariq's Daughter) Zalmai (Laila and Rasheed's Daughter)

Setting: The setting of this book mainly takes place in Kabul, Afghanistan. Begining- Mariam's story stars in the city of Herat in Afghanistan (the kolba mainly) Mariam moves to Kabul when she is married to Rasheed Laila, Tariq and their families also live in Kabul (Tariq and his family move to refugee camps in Pakistan) End- Laila and Tariq move their family to Murree Laila and Tariq move back to Kabul

Conflict: 1-Mariam is born illegitamately of Jalil and her mother, Nana, and has to deal with being born a disgrace, and for 'ruining' her Mother's life. 2-Laila's life is torn apart by raging wars in Afghanistan, and she learns to cope with life's everchanging course.

**Assignment 2 - Due April 22** - //What's so special about THIS book?//

Identify one or two things that make this book unique. Find examples from the text to illustrate what you mean.

This book so far has been amazing to read, for me personally. One thing that makes this book unique and sets it apart from most others is that it tells about the lives of Afghani women through a fictionally tale. For most people this may seem normal and not that special but for me, having no background knowledge of the lives of these women, it captured my attention and heart from the first page. For example: "'Learn this now and lean it well, my daughter: Like a compass needle that points north, a man's asccusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that Mariam."' (Page 7) This quote just gives a quick look into the message the author is trying to get across. After reading this book, and becoming more aware of the hardships these women go through, it makes me more thankful for the freedoms I have and the life I am able to live. Another way this book has touched me is because when reading this book, I became emotionally attatched to the characters, so to read of their hardships affects me personally. This just makes it even more real and possible, it would be easy for me to believe this isn't happening to these women if I had not been wordly educated. So overall, this book is special because the author just brings you in and makes you apart of the story.

**Assignment 3 - Due May 5** - //What's it really about?//

Identify a possible theme or big idea in the novel and find three examples from the text.

Endure. That is definately the theme and main idea of this book. I think that 'endure' is the theme because the two main characters, Laila and Mariam, went through so much and overcame life's hardships time after time. When one thing good would happen to one of them, a huge wave with more horriblness in it came crashing down on them. In my mind I pictured two girls drowning in the ocean, and everytime they came close to reaching the top or swimming to shore, something would bring them right back to where they started. This book was about the struggles Mariam and Laila went through to survive.

Example #1: "'I'll die if you go. The jinn will come, and I'll have one of my fits. You'll see. I'll swallow my tongue and die. Don't leave me Mariam jo. I'll die if you go.'" "But Mariam could not hear comfort in God's words. Not that day. Not then. All she could hear was Nana saying "I'll die if you go. I'll just die."

For the rest of Mariam's life she has to deal with the death of her mother, and Mariam blames herself, thinking it is her fault. This affects the rest of her life and is just one other thing she has to live with in her hard, hard, life.

Example #2: "Hair was ripped form Laila's scalp, and her eyes water with pain. SHe saw his foot kick open the door to Mariam's room, saw Aziza flung onto the bed. ... She howled with pain as he slammed the door shut. A ket rattled the lock."

These are the conditions that Laila and Mariam had to live with. A husband that beat them and treated them as dogs, just there for his personal use. Having to endure beating after beating made these women stronger.

Example 3: "Then Laila struck the wall. Crashed to the ground.On her face and arms, a shower of dirt and pebbles and glass.The last thing she was aware of was seeing something thud to the ground nearby. A bloody chunk of something."

Not only Mariam and Laila, but people all over Afghanistan had to deal with the years and years of war. Whether it was the the Soviet Invasion, to the Mujhadeen, the reign of the Taliban, to the American invasion after the bombing of the Twin Towers. The Afghan people haved endured and been through so much, you could say that they were 'masters of war'.

Assignment 4 - Due May 12** - //Evaluate the reading experience.//

In the end, describe the overall experience of reading this novel. Was it a good use of your time? If so, why? If not, why not? Did you like it? If so, why? If not, why not? What age or interest group would find this novel worthwhile. What was good about the book? What was not-so-good?

Reading "A Thousand Splendid Suns" was an amazing experience and I would willingly read this book again, and someday I plan too. Like I said before, it captured my attention from the first page and never waivered. A couple reasons why i enjoyed it so much is because it was so new to me. Never in my reading experience had I read anything like this. The closet thing I have ever read is "Kite Runner" by the same author. Also, I learned so much about this book and it really gave me insight about the lives of Afghani women as well as making me thankful for the life I have. As much as I loved this book, I can see why some people may not be as fond of it. I think that mainly females would like this book. I really can't see a male enjoying reading reading this. I think this book would interest any age from to (mature) teen to adult. Futhermore, some of my favorite parts of the book where when Laila and Tariq have sex... I am a sucker for love stories and I was so happy when they were together. I was also devastated when Tariq left. Another favorite part of the book was when Laila accepted Rasheed's marriage proposal. At first, I was outraged! I wondered why Laila, such a strong, indepedent women would sentence herself to that. But when I found out she was carrying Tariq's baby I was overcome with joy. One final favorite part was when Mariam gives herself up after killing Rasheed. She, in my opinion, saves Laila and her family, and to me, that is the definition of a true hero and role model. One of the only negative aspects of this book was that the author dragged out his sentences sometimes! Maybe I just have a short attention span, but I found myself skipping some parts that were long and boring. (Which I know is bad and I should never do... but I can't help it!)