Khaled Hosseini

[David]

Some time ago I read The Kite Runner, his first book, and was really sucked into it. I chose not to see the movie, because those movies always disappoint me.

 

I really like first-time authors, though, and that book was terrific. At the heart of his skill is the ability to tell a story with normal people as characters. It's a skill I can't even understand, much less do.

 

But these terrific first-time authors often give birth to duds with the second book, so I was reticent to read A Thousand Splendid Suns, another book set in Afghanistan. Julie read it first, though, and couldn't put it down, so I picked it up after she was done.

 

What a terrific story. If you're looking for some good reading this summer, I'd recommend both. It provides some real insight into a ravaged country where humans are still triumphing.

[doc47]

David (if you haven't already) check out Jhumpa Lahiri. She won a Pulitzer. Observant with a delicacy for description.

[David]

Thanks, Doc.