The Taliban forbid 'writing books, watching films, and painting pictures ' yet the film Titanic becomes a sensation on the black market.Why do the educated women of Kabul endure such treatment? Why are the Taliban accepted? When the Taliban first enter the city, Laila does not believe women will tolerate being forced out of jobs and treated with such indignity.Why do you think the quality of life deteriorated after the occupation rather than returning to the way it was in the pre-communist era? During the Soviet occupation, the people felt life would be better once the foreigners were defeated. Afghanistan changes rulers several times in the story.What is the significance of Laila's childhood trip to see the giant stone Buddhas above the Bamiyan Valley? Why did her father take her on this trip? How did his influence shape the way Laila would cope with her future?.In what way is their relationship like mother-daughter? How did their own relationships with their mothers shape how they treated each other and their family?

Several times Mariam passes herself off as Laila's mother.It’s all we have.' In what ways is this true? How do Mariam and Laila endure? How is their endurance different from the ways their mothers faced their trials? What did A Thousand Splendid Suns teach you about the history of Afghanistan? Did anything surprise you?.

A thousand splendid suns