Ruby Ramblings

Open your current read, pick two lines that aren’t spoilers, share….

” The tree tops swayed in the breeze, and she imagined they were nodding their welcome to her. Mariam steadied herself against the waves of dismay passing through her.”

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

I have been avoiding reading this book since it came out. Because it was picked for the Seoul Women’s Bookclub this month, I had to suck up and read it to join the discussion. (Actually I’m sure they would have welcomed me anyway, but I am somewhat interested in reading it.) I may be the only person who read The Kite Runner, and wasn’t at all crazy about it. Although I enjoyed the imagery, and was happy to see a major, popular work from an Afghani writer, I found the book to be completely improbable. Although this book starts out great, I have a feeling I will think the same . Too many events line up to make what would have been a tragic life, a bearable one. Not that I want the characters to suffer, but they way they are saved in Hosseini’s books just seems so unlikely.

I was sitting in a shop of a Pakastani friend, and we were having fun picking through all the Pashtu words mixed into the text. Although his first language is Urdu, his mother spoke Pashtu, and he found most words quite recognizable. A side note is that the word harami in this book refers to an illegitimate child, where as in his region he said it was used for men who are backstabbers.

Hosted by Should be Reading.

First, thanks for stopping by my blog. Second, I haven’t read either The Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns. Like you, I wasn’t (and still am not) interested in reading them. If a book club, though, were reading it, I might be tempted.

I was just chatting with a friend from Korea earlier today. He and his wife live in Busan. Funny you would comment on my blog not too much longer after I talked with him.

Comment by unfinishedperson July 21, 2009 @ 4:19 pm

I’m right outside of Seoul in Incheon. Haven’t made a trip down to explore Busan yet, but it’s on the list!

Comment by therubycanary July 21, 2009 @ 4:25 pm

I’m also one of the few that hasn’t read that or The Thousand Splendid Suns…not sure if I ever will. One day, perhaps. I haven’t even seen the movie either.

Comment by Karoline July 21, 2009 @ 7:53 pm

I just loved this book…hope you’re enjoying it, too!

Comment by JoAnn July 21, 2009 @ 10:13 pm

I liked this one better than The Kite Runner.

Comment by bybee July 22, 2009 @ 5:50 am

I really enjoyed ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ (more so than ‘The Kite Runner’) and I look forward to hearing what you think of it.

Comment by karen (morsecode on Ravelry) July 22, 2009 @ 1:33 pm

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