My husband and others warned me that this was sadder than The Kite Runner which scared me because I sobbed through The Kite Runner - but honestly it overall wasn't sadder in the way of making me cry more. Although I did absolutely break down in sobs last night reading the book and my husband was really concerned until he realized it was from the book (hah!). Anyways, Hosseini's writing is beautiful. He paints the story of Afghanistan so artfully, and I believe there is so much truth in his writing it's almost painful. Through his narratives I see through the eyes of a people I otherwise struggle to empathize with. He shows me a side of Afghanistan that is beautiful and tragic - not just the story we saw (and continue to see) on our TV screens. I also think this book is a good way for us to look at women's issues in muslim countries. The contrast of how Miriam (and later Aziza) uses Islam as a comfort, and yet it also was the source of a lot of pain in their lives (Shari'a). It gave me (a feminist) a new perspective on it, I think.

Read if you like: SAD STORIES, non-American setting, historical relevance, interest in middle eastern/islamic issues.