Alright, I believe I owe a post. However, in my defense, you must understand I am currently torn between the two books.

As for Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. I enjoy the writing style very much. As my Mom would say it’s like “mental gymnastics”. With that said, oddly enough I can’t decide if I like the narrator. Even though the fast paced story telling with random references and small ominous tidbits are fun, I have to say the boy is actually quite annoying. I think I would best describe him as a child on the verge of ADHD-if not fully consumed by it.

Now, one of my literary colleagues ( ) proposed a possible reason for his hyperactive thoughts/narration-his Father’s death. Do I think this is a probable reason? At first I thought no because he showed signs of hyperactivity early in the novel long before the tragedy occurred. However, after I revisited my logic I remembered that most narratives are stories told by the narrator after (sometimes long after) the supposed events had taken place. So after some thought I would have to agree and even retract my first thought, now stating the hyperactivity could very probably be the result of the tragedy.

Moving on to the many subtleties of the novel. One thing that doesn’t sit well with me is that the boy has been afforded the opportunity to be disrespectful to his Mother because of his Father’s death. I can understand his frustration with his Mother seeking out new companionship but I do not agree with the disrespect his Mother allows him to display towards her simply because of his personal tragedy. Children are known to try to strike the nerves of their parents in order to test them. To see what type of role model they will portray, and in this way I believe his Mother shows her weakness. She appears to let his accusatory questions about her new relationship make her uneasy. In this way she looses his respect.

He also lacks compassion for his Grandmother which again strikes me as disrespectful. An argument can be made that maybe he doesn’t understand the hurtful implications that questions like “If Grandpa was so great then why did he leave?” could have on his Grandmother. To that I say – “Teach him”. I think it is an excellent opportunity to raise him with good social common sense. However in this moment his Grandmother becomes childlike, recoiling into her house and ultimately giving the boy the authoritative position.

I think that the boy shows mental hyperactivity that could even be construed as vast intellect. I am just bothered by the fact that he is able to use it to think circles around his Mother and Grandmother taking from them their authority as parental figures. Who then will raise him, but himself?

So by know you probably think I dislike the book. Nothing could be further from the truth. Please understand my critical review of the social inter workings of the book are simply my mind being excited by the “mental gymnastics” of the writing and using that excitement as a launching pad into further contemplation and understanding.

I also look forward to finding out where many of the little clues strewn throughout these pages lead. How will these curious events carve the path of the rest of the story?

“They are forever wary of the rustling sheets, the creaking beadsprings. But for Laila, being with Tariq is worth weathering these apprehensions. When they make love, Laila feels anchored, she feels sheltered. Her anxieties, that their life together is a temporary blessing, that soon it will come loose again in strips and tatters, are allayed. Her fears of separation vanish.”

I like how he uses the word “anchored” to describe the safety and security she feels with Tariq. I think it’s a beautiful way to describe the comfort of someone’s love and protection of you.

I think I also may have liked this better than The Kite Runner. I can’t wait to feel anchored again.

I think what I really enjoy about A Thousand Splendid Suns is the use of point of view throughout the novel. The way that these two women – Mariam and Laila – found their lives connected through tragedy. I have reached the point where Mariam no longer despises Laila nor begrudges her for providing a child for Rasheed when she could not.

These are two very different women who have found themselves in the same trap. Both of them suffered terrible losses and settled for the “security” that this controlling and abusive husband could provide. For Mariam, she went into the marriage almost optimistically, saying that they would make a good pair, the two of them. It was as though she felt she could almost love this man, who had suffered loss just as she had. For Laila, she really had no other option. Marrying Rasheed was a way to protect herself and her illegitimate child.

The big difference between the two of them is that Laila has a different plan, stealing a little bit of money every so often from Rasheed and hiding it into the lining of her coat. Mariam is only really concerned with losing everything that she has in this house and being replaced by Rasheed’s new wife.

The big turning point in their relationship was when Laila stood up for Mariam when Rasheed went on a rampage in her room. Laila literally threw herself on Rasheed in order to prevent him from hitting Mariam with his belt. I think that may have been the first time that Mariam had ever felt like someone stood up for her. It was a really touching scene, especially when Mariam then sewed new clothes for Aziza.

I am now at the point where Laila has invited Mariam to leave Rasheed with her and the baby. I am hopeful for them, but knowing Hosseini’s writing, I feel that more tragedy may be ahead.

This blog was created to serve as a discussion board of mine and my wife’s shared love of literature.

Enjoy.