(U-WIRE) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Riding on the wave of popularity set forth by national bestseller, and debut novel “The Kite Runner,” Hosseini brings the same sensibility to “A Thousand Splendid Suns.” Set in Afghanistan, the story spans three decades and illustrates how war, the rule of the Taliban and the destruction of a country affected individual families as well as the masses. Quite like “Kite Runner,” this novel conveys deep empathy for the characters as well as discloses the unspeakable oppression faced by women in Afghanistan for decades.

The story begins with Mariam, the illegitimate child of a wealthy businessman, who, at the young age of 15, is forced into marriage with a man more than 30 years her senior. She leads a dismal life of abuse and inescapable emptiness with her husband Rasheed.

Almost 20 years later, Rasheed takes another wife Laila, a 14-year-old victim of the violence and carnage of their war-torn nation. Hosseini cautiously takes you through the tribulations of the two women’s lives, filling the pages and your heart with compassion and sorrow.

This page-turner is so captivating, enthralling and satiated with emotion, and sincere heartache that it brings a human awareness not usually reached by most popular novels. It brings to light the notion, that we as a society take our given rights and freedoms such as speech and political thought and expression for granted. Other cultures have faced horrors beyond our comprehension as children have seen the face of evil in ruthless governments such as the Taliban.

Similar to its predecessor “Kite Runner,” the novel weaves a coming-of-age narrative with an inspiring tale of self-discovery and personal growth in the main characters Mariam and Laila. As the women are brought up in strife and constant subjugation, they both are able to emotionally grow and attempt to break through the stifling curtain of oppression.

Hosseini writes in such a demeanor so as to teach and inspire the reader in every aspect of the story. Lessons of love and kindness are as frequent as lessons of cultural awareness and understanding. You really don’t need to have thorough knowledge of the history of Afghanistan as Hosseini gives a brief rundown of the major political events as they occurred over three decades and how they affected the entire population, both culturally and socially.

As we are currently in a sticky political situation, so-to-speak, it is fascinating to see almost first hand through his perceptive and moving storytelling the destruction that a full-scale invasion has on a country and its people.

This is not only a beautifully written, interesting novel but has become (whether conscientiously or not) an educational tool.