A Thousand Splendid Suns / هزار خورشید تابان by Khaled Hosseini / خالد حسینی

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was looking for a fairly easy read that was emotionally gripping...I found it. I have read The Kite Runner so I knew what I was getting into. The story revolves around two girls with completely different backgrounds that are forced together by a culture that gave few if any options to women. As the horrors of their lives unfold so does the strength of their spirits. While the story and these women is a beautiful reminder of what what matters and what can sustain us in the face of almost unimaginable (at least to most in my little corner of the world) tragedies, I think the real value of the book is pointing out that those tragedies actually exist. While it is fiction - the social, political, economic backdrop is based on reality. Any book that might open the eyes of the average American to the overwhelming human suffering that goes on in the world, should be required reading.


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Elmer and the Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I just finished reading this to my boys and loved it. I had never heard of the My Father's Dragon series until it was recommended by a local librarian. (We had just finished the Magic Tree House series and I wasn't quite sure where to go next.) These fantasy/adventure books were first published around 1950 and are clever, fast paced and wholesome. Great for reading out loud to young children and simple enough that I can have my 6 year old read passages too. We are now enjoying the final book, The Dragons of Blueland. My only complaint is that there aren't more books in the series.


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