I loved The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, but I think that I love this story even more.
It follows the lives of two Afghan women through decades of warfare and turmoil in that country. Each of them suffers horrible abuse and pain. And it shows how, through their unlikely friendship - the love (platonic!) that they learn to feel for each other helps them be prepared to face anything.
Mariam is the bastard daughter of a rich businessman. While still young and virginal, she is married off to a creepy man more than old enough to be her father.
Laila is the orphaned daughter of a middle class household. She has a choice to marry the creepy neighbor old enough to be her grandfather or sell her body on the streets after her family is killed.
The two - with Mariam old enough to be Laila's mother - end up as cowives to a cruel and horribly abusive man. The essential goodness of both women is shown in that they learn to love each other and the children very deeply. These women would die for each other or for the children of the family.
While the plight of Afghan women and children is heart and gut wrenching - the beauty and strength and goodness of those women shines through in this - at times difficult to read - but very moving story.
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