Books A Thousand Splendid Suns  by Khaled Hosseini

"A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini is set against the turbulent historical context of Afghanistan from the late 1960s through the early 2000s. The novel covers significant political and social upheavals, including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, the subsequent civil war, and the rise and fall of the Taliban regime.

The story illustrates how these historical events deeply impact the lives of ordinary Afghan people, especially women, whose freedoms and roles were severely constrained by the conservative and patriarchal cultural norms intensified under Taliban rule. Women faced strict dress codes, were often denied education and employment, and were victims of extreme oppression and violence. The novel follows the intertwined lives of two women, Mariam and Laila, who endure personal tragedies and hardships amidst this backdrop of war, displacement, and social repression.