A Thousand Splendid Suns

Recommendations

Info

"I swear-"He shook the rice angrily from his fingers and pushed the plate away,spilling sauce and rice on the sojrah. Mariam watched as he stormed outof the living room, then out of the house, slamming the door on his wayout.Mariam kneeled to the ground and tried to pick up the grains of riceand put them back on the plate, but her hands were shaking badly, andshe had to wait for them to stop. Dread pressed down on her chest. Shetried taking a few deep breaths. She caught her pale reflection in thedarkened living-room window and looked away.Then she heard the front door opening, and Rasheed was back in theliving room."Get up," he said. "Come here. Get up."it.He snatched her hand, opened it, and dropped a handful of pebbles into"Put these in your mouth." "What?""Put. These. In your mouth.""Stop it, Rasheed, I'm-"His powerful hands clasped her jaw. He shoved two fingers into hermouth and pried it open, then forced the cold, hard pebbles into it.Mariam struggled against him, mumbling, but he kept pushing thepebbles in, his upper lip curled in a sneer."Now chew," he said.
Through the mouthful of grit and pebbles, Mariam mumbled a plea.Tears were leaking out of the corners of her eyes."CHEW!" he bellowed. A gust of his smoky breath slammed against herface.Mariam chewed. Something in the back of her mouth cracked."Good," Rasheed said. His cheeks were quivering. "Now you know whatyour rice tastes like. Now you know what you've given me in thismarriage. Bad food, and nothing else."Then he was gone, leaving Mariam to spit out pebbles, blood, and thefragments of two broken molars.
Page 1 and 2:
www.intexblogger.com
Page 3 and 4:
Khour Rivekhead Booksa member of Pe
Page 5 and 6:
PART ONE1.Mariam was five years old
Page 7 and 8:
there once, to the tree. You were l
Page 9 and 10:
Jalil didn't have the dil either, N
Page 11 and 12:
center, in the shade of the willows
Page 13 and 14:
uneventful forty-year reign. She sa
Page 15 and 16:
"Well, one of," he said and smiled.
Page 17 and 18:
* * *In the mornings, they awoke to
Page 19 and 20:
He said they comforted him, eased h
Page 21 and 22:
Mariam did."Only one skill And it's
Page 23 and 24:
would squeal.Suspended in the air,
Page 25 and 26:
He was the one who told her in the
Page 27 and 28:
gone, he would surely take her with
Page 29 and 30:
Mariam remembered him telling her t
Page 31 and 32:
to the north of the city, Char-suq
Page 33 and 34:
She waited until her legs were stif
Page 35 and 36:
from hookahs.The old man turned ont
Page 37 and 38:
Mariam only looked at him."I'll tak
Page 39 and 40:
the cold leather of the backseat.*
Page 41 and 42:
It was when Mullah Faizullah's slig
Page 43 and 44:
chest with a flower vase on it. The
Page 45 and 46:
Mariam shrugged. She didn't say to
Page 47 and 48:
friend at the door, his white beard
Page 49 and 50:
1 hey sat across from her, Jalil an
Page 51 and 52:
Mariam fixed her eyes on Jalil, her
Page 53 and 54:
"He's so old and weak," Khadija eve
Page 55 and 56:
pair of matching sandals.She was ta
Page 57 and 58: "Mariam," Jalil whispered."Yes," sh
Page 59 and 60: Mariam could not bring herself to a
Page 61 and 62: "We're in Deh-Mazang," he said. The
Page 63 and 64: "What's this crying about?" Rasheed
Page 65 and 66: "Yes.""You can thank me then.""Than
Page 67 and 68: mother, feeling nauseated and homes
Page 69 and 70: say to you about the crying?"* * *T
Page 71 and 72: face. Her lips were much fuller tha
Page 73 and 74: again and running, bolting past the
Page 75 and 76: Mariam blinked."It's a joke. Of cou
Page 77 and 78: air smoky. The walls smelled faintl
Page 79 and 80: and kissed on the cheek, Mariam sto
Page 81 and 82: * * *That night, Rasheed visited he
Page 83 and 84: Except for a handful of days, Rashe
Page 85 and 86: out "Eidmubarak" to her as they pas
Page 87 and 88: On every page were women, beautiful
Page 89 and 90: unsettling about the way Rasheed se
Page 91 and 92: hammering- She wrapped a shawl arou
Page 93 and 94: Mariam stroked the softness of her
Page 95 and 96: "What kind of answer is that?" he s
Page 97 and 98: Other days, Mariam was besieged wit
Page 99 and 100: "Are you?"His eyes shifted to her.
Page 101 and 102: On April 17,1978, the year Mariam t
Page 103 and 104: apologies and sometimes not.In the
Page 105 and 106: salty or too bland for his taste. T
Page 107: yellow, an exhausted Fariba had pro
Page 111 and 112: parents were fighting. Again. Laila
Page 113 and 114: go to war-Mammy too had thought Bab
Page 115 and 116: pulled tightly back and tied in a b
Page 117 and 118: with her books pressed to her chest
Page 119 and 120: "Beans, girls," Hasina said. "You r
Page 121 and 122: understand it-couldn't quite pictur
Page 123 and 124: the conversation, as the women talk
Page 125 and 126: * * *Mammy had pulled the yellowish
Page 127 and 128: "The usual.""Did you eat?""I did.""
Page 129 and 130: "Of course you do. Shut the curtain
Page 131 and 132: "What did you do 1 ?" she exclaimed
Page 133 and 134: thanks to God.""Heart attack. His s
Page 135 and 136: it's nonsense-and very dangerous no
Page 137 and 138: "Your masculine smarts? Really? Tel
Page 139 and 140: himself more upright, taking on a s
Page 141 and 142: reasons people out there took up ar
Page 143 and 144: duties."It's under control. You go
Page 145 and 146: But the feeling didn't last. It was
Page 147 and 148: would obliterate her in death. Mamm
Page 149 and 150: to be there when it happens, when A
Page 151 and 152: * * *Half an hour later, the driver
Page 153 and 154: ditches, on the banks of which tiny
Page 155 and 156: physically. He planted a brisk kiss
Page 157 and 158: * * *Later, after they'd eaten a lu
Page 159 and 160:
22.January 1989One cold, overcast d
Page 161 and 162:
They "went to Cinema Park later tha
Page 163 and 164:
Three years passed.In that time, Ta
Page 165 and 166:
thoughtful face, eyebrow cocked and
Page 167 and 168:
"I see you want to," Laila said, ir
Page 169 and 170:
that some, if not most, of the neig
Page 171 and 172:
"Oh, he has the most handsome smile
Page 173 and 174:
off his newly muscular arms-complim
Page 175 and 176:
repertoire of poses: back to the wa
Page 177 and 178:
precisely at the midpoint between m
Page 179 and 180:
And when the rockets began to rain
Page 181 and 182:
"I don't like it," she said. "Guns
Page 183 and 184:
In June of that yeah, 1992, there w
Page 185 and 186:
One daY that same month of June, Gi
Page 187 and 188:
"And my mother is not a young woman
Page 189 and 190:
"Let me marry you, Laila. Today. We
Page 191 and 192:
Laila couldn't decide which he had
Page 193 and 194:
stood by the front gates, leaning a
Page 195 and 196:
wedding band-and most of her old cl
Page 197 and 198:
She thought suddenly of her dream.
Page 199 and 200:
Somewhere, an accordion playing.Mer
Page 201 and 202:
she had to retch."How long is she s
Page 203 and 204:
at the girl, at her blond curls, he
Page 205 and 206:
names added to theshaheed list. Nor
Page 207 and 208:
an image of Tariq's parents present
Page 209 and 210:
bleeping, syringes all over the gro
Page 211 and 212:
the guns the CIA handed him in the
Page 213 and 214:
it was as thick and coarse as ever.
Page 215 and 216:
But this is for the best. You'll se
Page 217 and 218:
Not with this daily retching.This n
Page 219 and 220:
31.MadamIn the daytime, the girl wa
Page 221 and 222:
"No matter. The point is, I am your
Page 223 and 224:
could hear the creaking of its hing
Page 225 and 226:
"You can imagine the rest. The boy
Page 227 and 228:
he's siding with Massoud. And Hekma
Page 229 and 230:
imagined. He had her sit behind his
Page 231 and 232:
Jbarly one morning the next spring,
Page 233 and 234:
"Not yet, Rasheed. No. Let go. Come
Page 235 and 236:
"I was listening to the radio the o
Page 237 and 238:
anything.In the end, Mariam knew th
Page 239 and 240:
Mariam pulled her finger free. The
Page 241 and 242:
"Which was it?""He was like both.""
Page 243 and 244:
Laila sat in a comer and draped her
Page 245 and 246:
Mariam gave a half smile. "It's a g
Page 247 and 248:
* * *Early the following yeah, in J
Page 249 and 250:
loaded gun near Aziza.One day that
Page 251 and 252:
azan rang out, and then the morning
Page 253 and 254:
Mariam shifted Aziza in her arms. "
Page 255 and 256:
Laila gave him their names, and he
Page 257 and 258:
"You're not going to get on this bu
Page 259 and 260:
died. Sometimes they're telling the
Page 261 and 262:
to go-"Laila didn't see the punch c
Page 263 and 264:
"Soon." Laila kissed her daughter,
Page 265 and 266:
country that will hold me accountab
Page 267 and 268:
They "went our that day, the four o
Page 269 and 270:
Shar-e-Nau, in Karteh-Parwan, in Wa
Page 271 and 272:
Ever cared to visit the real Afghan
Page 273 and 274:
punishment. Then, on Fridays, he we
Page 275 and 276:
to guide the spoke, if indeed she c
Page 277 and 278:
Before the registration window was
Page 279 and 280:
aluminum table. The top shelf had a
Page 281 and 282:
you'll find yourself in a bidding w
Page 283 and 284:
behind their parched lands, selling
Page 285 and 286:
with Laila. He had bought him a new
Page 287 and 288:
were inseparable now. Of late, with
Page 289 and 290:
sound like dropping a rice bag to t
Page 291 and 292:
their livestock. When they found ne
Page 293 and 294:
few toys Laila had fought Rasheed t
Page 295 and 296:
of her children. She had saved the
Page 297 and 298:
"What's taking him so long?" Mariam
Page 299 and 300:
lived in Shar-e-Nau and owned the c
Page 301 and 302:
the ragged net lying limply in the
Page 303 and 304:
On the way to Karteh-Seh, Zalmai bo
Page 305 and 306:
you won't go hungry. They have rice
Page 307 and 308:
Next to Laila, Aziza snorted.Zaman
Page 309 and 310:
bless you, brother."***But "when th
Page 311 and 312:
warn you.""I'm coming with you," Ma
Page 313 and 314:
"They're fractures along the earth'
Page 315 and 316:
transpiration.More than once, Laila
Page 317 and 318:
bewildered, almost harmless. Like s
Page 319 and 320:
perfectly still and looked at Tariq
Page 321 and 322:
LailaIariq said that one of the men
Page 323 and 324:
"I'm so sorry.""Well. Yes. Me too.
Page 325 and 326:
"I don't recognize Kabul.""Neither
Page 327 and 328:
long to see the doctor, Tariq said.
Page 329 and 330:
"He was only visiting," Mariam said
Page 331 and 332:
guilty to feel that about Zalmai, w
Page 333 and 334:
new leg. Tariq said he'd wept at th
Page 335 and 336:
"I'll count the minutes."Almost ten
Page 337 and 338:
"And then…Idon't know. I have to
Page 339 and 340:
touched her fingers to her temple,
Page 341 and 342:
Mariam clawed at him. She beat at h
Page 343 and 344:
LailaLaila was aware of the face ov
Page 345 and 346:
say anything for a long time.Laila'
Page 347 and 348:
"Somewhere with trees," she said. "
Page 349 and 350:
"I don't know, my love."When was he
Page 351 and 352:
a while, wait for things to calm do
Page 353 and 354:
awaited planting and chickens that
Page 355 and 356:
glass. There were no curtains eithe
Page 357 and 358:
It was just as well, she said, her
Page 359 and 360:
"Well, then." He threw up his hands
Page 361 and 362:
walls. She watched the winds stir m
Page 363 and 364:
A lump closed off her throat. In a
Page 365 and 366:
her eyes, it was not regret any lon
Page 367 and 368:
It was Sayeecl who summoned a frien
Page 369 and 370:
tags along, a mop in one hand, the
Page 371 and 372:
delivered again.At some point, Lail
Page 373 and 374:
"Did you hear?" he says, panting a
Page 375 and 376:
In less than two hours, both towers
Page 377 and 378:
But it rankles Laila, what Tariq is
Page 379 and 380:
precisely the sort of life she used
Page 381 and 382:
"I am happy," Laila says. "Of cours
Page 383 and 384:
As she leans back and watches Sayee
Page 385 and 386:
is a painting of the poet Khaja Abd
Page 387 and 388:
she is alive and sitting in this ta
Page 389 and 390:
the wall They sit by the open windo
Page 391 and 392:
mosquitoes hovering in front of her
Page 393 and 394:
summon Mariam behind the lids of he
Page 395 and 396:
"Let's go back," he says. Then, "I
Page 397 and 398:
* * *Tariq and the children come ba
Page 399 and 400:
deserved you. Now all I can do is a
Page 401 and 402:
Zalmai's new goat. Laila watched th
Page 403 and 404:
Laila yanks her children back onto
Page 405 and 406:
calling after her, Aziza screaming
Page 407 and 408:
blankets that keep the children war
Page 409 and 410:
AcknowledgmentsA few clarifications
show all

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?