We read and discuss books focused on social themes, written by marginalised authors.
For this meeting we will be reading A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini.
This book was a recommendation by one of our book club members, Palma, who is Afghan and found a lot of cultural pieces in it that transported her back to her roots.
Mariam is only fifteen when she is sent to Kabul to marry the troubled and bitter Rasheed, who is thirty years her senior. Nearly two decades later, in a climate of growing unrest, tragedy strikes fifteen-year-old Laila, who must leave her home and join Mariam’s unhappy household. Laila and Mariam are to find consolation in each other, their friendship to grow as deep as the bond between sisters, as strong as the ties between mother and daughter.
With the passing of time comes Taliban rule over Afghanistan, the streets of Kabul loud with the sound of gunfire and bombs, life a desperate struggle against starvation, brutality and fear, the women’s endurance tested beyond their worst imaginings. Yet love can move people to act in unexpected ways, lead them to overcome the most daunting obstacles with a startling heroism. In the end it is love that triumphs over death and destruction.
We have limited seating, so reserving a spot is mandatory.
We also ask that if you reserve a seat and realise you can’t make it after all, to let us know, so we can call in someone from the waiting list.
We know that providing accessibility should be a given, but unfortunately we are a bit constrained, as the best spot to hold these meetings is up a flight of stairs and there is no lift.
If you need accomodation, please let us know so that we can change things around a bit to make it possible.
To reserve a seat or order a copy of the book (in English or in Dutch), you can reply to this newsletter, send an email to ey@boekhandelvangennep.nl, or call/send a message to 0104330592.
These meetings are free; if you have any to spare please donate to one of the organisations in this link in support of Palestine. Thank you!
Don’t forget that you can join the book club on Storygraph, or join our Whatsapp group.
