Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns is a powerful novel following two Afghan women whose lives intersect across decades of war and oppression. Through Mariam and Laila's friendship and resilience, Hosseini explores how women survive impossible circumstances and find strength in solidarity. The novel becomes both intimate character study and sweeping historical narrative, proving that women's stories are essential to understanding Afghanistan's history.

WHY WE PICKED IT: Because Hosseini centers Afghan women's experiences in a history where they're often invisible. This novel reminds us that women bear the heaviest burdens of war, that female solidarity is survival, and that resilience doesn't mean suffering quietly.

DETAILS: • Author: Khaled Hosseini • Publisher: Riverhead Books • Format: Hardcover • Publication Date: June 1, 2007 • ISBN: 9781594489501 • Ships direct from distributor in 3–7 business daysf