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A Thousand Splendid Suns Hosseini, Khaled Alyssa Townend

It is amazing what goes on throughout the world and how most do not bother to care unless it directly involves them. While many live a content life, millions are mistreated and stripped of their dignity each day. Khaled Hosseini’s novel, //A Thousand Splendid Suns//, depicts and thoroughly explains this type of cruelty that has taken place in Afghanistan during the past thirty years. The main character Mariam, daughter of Jalil’s illegitimate wife Nana, faces many hardships throughout the novel. She barely sees her father, her mother hangs herself, and she is forced to marry Rasheed, a disgusting man who physically and verbally abuses her. Laila who later appears in the novel, satisfies Rasheed’s wants and is soon taken advantage of. She is left without a family, separates from the love of her life, and loses two of her best friends. Though Mariam is not fond of Laila as they first meet, the two share multiple similarities and become friends. Mariam remains close to Laila’s heart after she dies and will never be forgotten. These two women are extremely strong and despite their horrible lives, they believe hope still exists.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Lisa Lee Savanna Schweizer

In ancient Chinese culture, a laotong, or “old same”, would increase ones social status immensely. Many young women just had sworn sisters, but those who had exceptional compatibility with a girl of close age were granted the opportunity to have a laotong. Lisa Lee, author of //Snow Flower and the Secret Fan//, did an excellent job showcasing the rare, but magical event of two young girls uniting in sisterhood as laotongs forever. Snow Flower and Lily are the two fortunate girls who behold this attribute. They grow and prosper into young women together while learning all of the necessary tools to become a pleasing wife and mother. Their love for one another was tested when they married into families that were in opposing villages. In order to stay in touch, they decided to send a fan back and forth in which they inscribed passages in the secret women’s language of nu shu. Through out their lives, they suffered the loss of loved ones, betrayal of one another, and spurs of violence resulting in them fleeing their homes and taking refuge in the mountains for months. In the end, they had each other to lean on and that’s all that mattered.