A Thousand Splendid Suns is the story of two girls, Miriam and Laila and the struggles they endure during their lives. The book takes place in modern day Afghanistan, focusing on Miriam. Miriam's mother commits suicide and Miriam has to live with a man named Jalil. Jalil comes off as a nice guy but ends up ruining her life. He forces her to get married to a shoe maker named Rasheed at the young age of 15. Miriam from the start is not fond of Rasheed and is actually frightened of him. throughout their marriage, Miriam ends up having six miscaridges, and it does not make Rasheed happy.
Laila is introduced as a young girl and develops a strong friendship with a boy named Tyrik. This friendship turns into something much more, and they are strongly in love. But Tyrik and his family run from Afghanistan because of the war. In the war the Taliban is taking over the country and enforcing strict sexist rules. In the midst of all this Laila's family is killed in the war by an airstrike/bomb, and Miriam and Rasheed take her in. Laila gets news that Tyrik has died, and she ends up marrying Rasheed. She insists on having relations as soon as she can, because she fears she is pregnant from Tyrik, and she does not want Rasheed to know. In the marriage Laila ends up having two children, a girl and a boy, named Aziza and Zalmai. Rasheed spoils Zalmai even when money is tight. Miriam and Laila and Aziza try to escape, but they are caught and turned back in to Rasheed where they are beaten and locked away for 3 days (this before Zalmai was born). After many years, Tyrik shows up at t5he door and Laila is so happy. The news they had gotten earlier was not true. Rasheed finds out about Tyrik and beats Laila to the point of near murder and Miriam kills him. She is accused and is shot for punishment. Laila and Tyrik and the children go off and live with Tryik for the rest of their days.
Laila is introduced as a young girl and develops a strong friendship with a boy named Tyrik. This friendship turns into something much more, and they are strongly in love. But Tyrik and his family run from Afghanistan because of the war. In the war the Taliban is taking over the country and enforcing strict sexist rules. In the midst of all this Laila's family is killed in the war by an airstrike/bomb, and Miriam and Rasheed take her in. Laila gets news that Tyrik has died, and she ends up marrying Rasheed. She insists on having relations as soon as she can, because she fears she is pregnant from Tyrik, and she does not want Rasheed to know. In the marriage Laila ends up having two children, a girl and a boy, named Aziza and Zalmai. Rasheed spoils Zalmai even when money is tight. Miriam and Laila and Aziza try to escape, but they are caught and turned back in to Rasheed where they are beaten and locked away for 3 days (this before Zalmai was born). After many years, Tyrik shows up at t5he door and Laila is so happy. The news they had gotten earlier was not true. Rasheed finds out about Tyrik and beats Laila to the point of near murder and Miriam kills him. She is accused and is shot for punishment. Laila and Tyrik and the children go off and live with Tryik for the rest of their days.