Chris and Marissa

I have finally read and finished this novel by Hosseini. It such a startling depiction of the life many families lead and especially women suffer through in Afghanistan. It serves as a great eye opener for me and I can not think of any trial in my own life similar or on the same level as the characters in this book. I have never known war, I have never known an abusive member of my family, and I have never know everyday suffering like the women in this book. I enjoyed Hosseini's first novel The Kite Runner because it introduced to me one aspect of the Middle Eastern culture that is rich in heritage. But this book shook me to my core. The lives of the characters first seem so opposite, but are entwined into each other at the end of the novel. I have never witnessed the sacrifice for another's happiness and welfare that take place in this book in the real world. However, I see a mother's love and sacrifice in my Mom's own life story. She gave up her happiness for mine and I will always love her for it.

I still do not know the hardship that face many women in the world today but this book will serve as one of the foundations to my future knowledge. A woman from Utah can't do everything but I hope to find a way to help in the future, perhaps I will be able to touch someone's life in my future teaching. Each day that I go to another ESL class I am surprised by the plight immigrant children have in our own country. America might be blessed with its freedom, but the intolerance that is just below the surface in its citizens can be our own doom.