A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a fiction novel written by Khaled Hosseini an Afghan American writer and also author of The Kite Runner. The book takes place in Afghanistan and follows the story of Mariam, an illegitimate child of a wealthy businessman. She suffers humiliation because of her birth and abuses through her forced marriage. The book also follows the story of Laila who was born a generation after Mariam. She has a more privileged life compared to Mariam until their paths meet and Laila and is forcefully married to Rasheed, an abusive man who is also Mariam's husband. The book tells the life story of these two women and how their paths intersected and affected each other’s lives. The book captivates the struggle of women in Afghan society which personally leads to one of the saddest novels I have read. Overall this story left me shocked and depressed.

Sameer Khan

Josie and Jack by Kelly Braffet

I can say for sure that I have been waiting a few hours now to get all my thoughts on this book while I am still heated. I started and finished this book in less than three hours, completely and utterly consumed in it.

The stage set, siblings Josie and Jack, live together in a large house with a unloving, neglecting (slightly maniac) father, deprived of a mother, who has deep interest in the studies of science, and believes schools teach their children rubbish, therefore having them homeschooled. Josie and Jack, share the same dark, witty humour that sets them off from everybody in town, as they’re the only people who understand each other. After Josie has a falling out with their father, he leaves the house for several months only to come back and invite Josie along to their new destination: New York.

I grew faintly attached with Jack, Josie’s nineteen year old brother, who takes care of her with such care, in the midst of the book, I was suspecting a slight case of incest when he would kiss or caress her, pushing away several of her admirers, stating that he would be the only one to love her. Josie, must to my distaste, is greatly dependent, and almost cannot be without him, overall creating a weak female lead, made difficult to like.

It’s certainly a consuming book that leaves you thinking after the ending, wishing you’d gone back and read carefully so you wouldn’t miss a single word. Their dialogue and emotion put you right in the scene, a delightful, taboo romantic relationship between the two that will leave you breathless. I highly suggest this a quick read or something to dissect and interpret in your free time. A intelligent, tear-provoking book. I suggest it if you’re up for it.

Eman Fathala

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

How can something so wrong feel so right?
Forbidden written by Tabitha Suzuma and published in 2010, is another book I have read recently and felt the need to review once again. This book includes explicit and mature content, so a mere warning for those who are sensitive to topics including incest (in addition to foul language and graphic scenes)

It takes place in London, where a dysfunctional family of an alcoholic, neglecting mother, two lively younger siblings, a wicked troublemaker by the name of Kit, and the two oldest siblings, Maya and Lochan. With their mother constantly outside the house, Maya and Lochan are put in full responsibility of caring for the children, preparing their meals, driving them to school, and assisting them with their homework. Lochan, a witty but anti social outcast, suffers from a phobia of speaking to people and even speaking, only feeling comfortable at home. As him and Maya work together and grow closer, they are forced to battle and confront the feelings and they have built towards each other, their longing and aching desire for each other growing worse by each page. Their love turns to something they wish to keep in desperate secrecy till finally they are able to reach a conclusion.

Although the writing style not of something I would normally enjoy, slightly vague and lacking some detail, I was unable to put it down. The emotion and description were enough to keep me going and experiencing nearly the same joy, pain and aching desperation as the characters. It takes incest from a different point of view, much to my pleasure, and it somehow make this normally socially shunned subject slightly more...acceptable?

As much as I wish to spoil this, I cannot and will not. A heart wrenching, tragic tale, but highly suggested for a romance lover that loves a dare, a little more danger.

Eman Fathala