Mille splendidi soli

In Afghanistan, Mariam is an illegitimate daughter raised outside Herat, who at fifteen is sent to Kabul to marry Rasheed, a shoemaker in his forties. Years later, young Laila, orphaned by a rocket, is taken in by Rasheed and forced to become his second wife. The women's early hostility gives way to friendship as they cope with his cruelty, the Soviet occupation, the warlord fighting and the Taliban's restrictions. Laila's love for Tariq and the arrival of children bring hope.

A book for readers who want historical fiction with emotional weight and a close focus on friendship between women. It leaves a lasting impression of courage under oppression.

Inward-looking and contemplative; a moderate read.

Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?