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I have just finished A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (and it did not disappoint even after the amazing Kite Runner) and seeing as he has no more books (that I know of?!) I wondered if anyone could recommend any books in a similar vein?

Half of a Yellow Sun
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

You could try Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's acclaimed second novel, Half of a Yellow Sun. It is a powerful story set during the short existence of the breakaway country of Biafra. I've been recommending it to all my friends - wonderful book.

If you are interested in Afghanistan, then The Bookseller of Kabul is excellent.

Another novel set in modern Afghanistan is Yasmina Khadra's The Swallows of Kabul.

Bookseller of Kabul
Asne Seierstad

Although not a novel, The Bookseller of Kabul is an excellent read. It is the true story of various members of an Afghan family, seen through the eyes of a female journalist who lived among them for a few months after the fall of the Taliban. It was recommended to me, and after reading it, I have recommended it to two others who both loved it, but were also shocked at way of life led by people on the other side of this planet we all share.

Racists
Kunal Basu

Kunal Basu

Thanks everyone - some great recommendations here and I even have Half of a yellow sun - I just haven't read it yet. Keep them coming though.

I would second "Half of a Yellow Sun" x

hi Alison, i've just ordered thousand acres from you which i've been meaning to read for a while. I'll let you know how i get on. i hope you enjoy maps for lost lovers, it's a slow burner - stick with it its worth it. I see one of your favorite books is to kill a mockingbird, have you read the color purple by alice walker, also set in the deep south in the thirties. i would recommend it, wonderful book

God of Small Things
Arundhati Roy

I'd try The God of Small Things - a story of the caste system in India - it's a brilliant book!

Oooh 'God of Small Things' is an amazing book and I've met Arundhati Roy too - she was lovely and very humble. Think I am due to read it again,especially as I now have twins :)

God of Small Things is very very good.

Hungry Tide
Amitav Ghosh

I really enjoyed 'The Hungry Tide' by Amitav Ghosh The description of the river and the people connected with it was amazing. A really 'refreshing' read.

Ooh I hadn't been on the forum for a while what with a holiday and a trip south to our lovely capital and I am pleasantly surprised to find more new recommendations - great stuff! Although unfortunately I left a book I was really looking forwards to on the national express (diplomat's wife by Pam jenoff - if anyone sees it on the train...immaculate condition! Haha).

Sooz - glad you got your book and are happy with it - let me know what you think. Bizarrely enough I just bought the color purple before I went on holiday - I borrowed it years ago and never read it but have seen the film - looking forward to the book. I actually bought it as I'm considering taking a literature course through the open university for which it is the prescribed text (I can't stop myself studying!) - if anyone has done that course advice is welcomed!

Khaled Hosseini's are wonderful,
Bookseller of Kabul and the ones which followed are fantastic.
Most heart wrenching I read in similar veing was 'THE SEWING CIRCLES OF HERAT' by Christina Lamb. Paints a portrait with words.
on tghe topic, did anyone see the film of the kite runner and how does it compare? I'd love to see it but am wary for same reasons I did not enjoy Chocolat particularly on screen and haven't seen Geisha as yet!!!!

Hi, I went to see the kite runner at a small independent theatre near me (for some reason it wasnt showing in many places here...) and don't know if that influenced my experience but I genuinely liked the film. Some elements weren't given as much attention as in the book (for example the father/son relationship) but that is always the case with film adaptations I feel. However, it wasn't given the 'glossy' hollywood effect and felt really 'real' and independent. I, too, have yet to see geisha - I bought it fir a few pounds but havent yet watched it....

I watched the film of the kite runner shortly after reading it and really enjoyed it. I thought it was pretty much a faithful representation of the book. Until towards the end that is, when a big and quite moving part of the story wasn't included in the film. In a way I thought that the ending was a bit 'glossy' because it didn't include this particular part (trying not to give anything away!).

My OH enjoyed it and he usually can't be bothered with subtitled films. Though I did fill in abit of detail for him, mainly about the kite flying aspect of the story.

White Tiger - by Aravind Adiga. I was given it for Christmas and it kept me up all night!

A Quiet Belief in Angels

Lovely book, kept me turning pages (and I am a slow reader) and nearly as entranced as when I read A Thousand Splendid Suns!

Quoted from Mastercrank View Post

Kunal Basu

Quoted from wastenotwantnot View Post

A Quiet Belief in Angels Lovely book, kept me turning pages (and I am a slow reader) and nearly as entranced as when I read A Thousand Splendid Suns!

Quoted from Jo Carroll View Post

White Tiger - by Aravind Adiga. I was given it for Christmas and it kept me up all night!

Quoted from Nicola View Post

I watched the film of the kite runner shortly after reading it and really enjoyed it. I thought it was pretty much a faithful representation of the book. Until towards the end that is, when a big and quite moving part of the story wasn't included in the film. In a way I thought that the ending was a bit 'glossy' because it didn't include this particular part (trying not to give anything away!). My OH enjoyed it and he usually can't be bothered with subtitled films. Though I did fill in abit of detail for him, mainly about the kite flying aspect of the story.

Quoted from LN View Post

I really enjoyed 'The Hungry Tide' by Amitav Ghosh The description of the river and the people connected with it was amazing. A really 'refreshing' read.

It's about a researcher who travels to study the river dolphins in the sundarbans in India. It combines love, history, myth and ecology with politics thrown in as well. It's been a couple of years since I read it, but there are a number of more detailed reviews on a certain well-known river-named website!

I really enjoyed the story told from different perspectives and the descriptions of the area and its people.

Not without my daughter

has been recommended by my mum who's read several of the above. Not sure of the author, sorry.

Betty Mahmoody - the film is worth a look too if you can find it - it stars Sally FIeld and Alfred Molina.
I have just read Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsaneh - a really interesting read about modern girls in Saudi.
My best recommendations though are either The Farming of Bones by Edwige Danticat or The Rice Mother by Rani Manicka - both were revelations and I am hunting out more of their books!

I loved the Rice Mother too, Treefrog1. I've also read Touching Earth by Rani Manicka, it's very different and I found it slightly disturbing. Think my copy is posted for sale but it is a hardback edition.

The Hungry Tide is an amazing read, as is The Glass Palace, also by Amitav Ghosh - both beautifully written. I loved The Rice Mother too.

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry is a fabulous novel. it's set in India (i think in mumbai) and follows 4 main characters. The book details the massive shifts in Indian society from independence in the 40s through to the emergency period in the 70s. it's quite shocking, and often very moving.

Super books I have read recently include The WHite Tiger by Aravind Adiga - a wonderfully original, witty but still shocking expose of modern India. Totally different but thought provoking is A Singular HOstage by Thalassa Ali - comparing and contrasting all the daft protocols and prejudices which meant that the British and the Indian monarchs never really effectively talked to one another. One wonders how history could have been different if someone had banged their heads together!!

Between the Assassinations
Aravind Adiga

I can also recommend Aravind Adiga's book 'Between the Assassinations' - again about India - it's excellent

Shalimar the Clown
Salman Rushdie

The story of a deep love gone fatally wrong, destroyed by a shallow affair, it is an epic narrative that moves from California to France, England, and above all, Kashmir: a ruined paradise, not so much lost as smashed.

Really recommend this.

Just finished reading the Guernsey literary and potato peel pie society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Burrows. Really lovely read centred around the German occupation of Guernsey during the war. Can imagine this being turned into a film one day, and it may inspire me to visit Guernsey.

Quoted from mabellucy View Post

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry is a fabulous novel. it's set in India (i think in mumbai) and follows 4 main characters. The book details the massive shifts in Indian society from independence in the 40s through to the emergency period in the 70s. it's quite shocking, and often very moving.

Try Niall Williams Four Letters of Love or alternatively As it is now. Brilliant. Beautiful writing and well crafted stories. Enjoy.

Another vote for A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. Best book I ever read! Truly wonderful.

Quoted from kyoto49 View Post

Another vote for A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. Best book I ever read! Truly wonderful.

Prisoner of Heaven
Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Just when you think an author can't get any better, he releases this! Exquisitely written, literally, it took my breath away in places. Couldn't wait to go back to it each time I had to put it down. Highly recommend it!
Description:
The third in the cycle of novels that began with THE SHADOW OF THE WIND and THE ANGEL'S GAME. THE PRISONER OF HEAVEN returns to the world of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books and the Sempere & Sons bookshop. It begins just before Christmas in Barcelona in 1957, one year after Daniel and Bea from THE SHADOW OF THE WIND have married. They now have a son, Julian, and are living with Daniel's father at Sempere & Sons. Fermin still works with them and is busy preparing for his wedding to Bernarda in the New Year. However something appears to be bothering him. Daniel is alone in the shop one morning when a mysterious figure with a pronounced limp enters. He spots one of their most precious volumes that is kept locked in a glass cabinet, a beautiful and unique illustrated edition of The Count of Monte Cristo. Despite the fact that the stranger seems to care little for books, he wants to buy this expensive edition. Then, to Daniel's surprise, the man inscribes the book with the words 'To Fermin Romero de Torres, who came back from the dead and who holds the key to the future'. This visit leads back to a story of imprisonment, betrayal and the return of a deadly rival.