Why A Thousand Splendid Suns?

The Common Reading Committee is pleased to announce Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns as our selection for 2009-2010.

Choosing the common reading is always difficult, and this year it was particularly so because of the nomination of many well-written and thought-provoking books.  Ultimately, however, we selected this work of fiction for its eloquent and moving examination of the political progression and the lives of women in Afghanistan, a country with which we are strongly connected through our military presence but of which most of us know very little.  The common reading should always challenge our students to move beyond their assumptions about an issue or a particular part of the world and to ask questions about how they might understand and engage with people and situations outside of their own experience.  Hosseini’s book stirs its readers to such engagement and presents a fine example of the way in which literature can instruct. 

Common Reading Committee:
Janet Warman, Chair
Steve Braye, Former Chair
Jean Schwind, ENG 110 Representative
Heidi Frontani, GST 110 Representative
Jason Springer, Elon 101 Representative
Betty Garrison, Library Representative
George Troxler, Cultural Programs Representative
Patti Gross, Cultural Programs Representative
Sara Baker, Student Representative