Thursday, June 10, 2010

Reading and Beading

Yesterday I finished reading " A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini. I do not know how to say what I need to say completely yet, the thoughts have not formed into words, I guess; but one thing is certain - this book has given me an experience like no other. For the first time I have come across a story unravelling during my lifetime - one of the characters was born the same year I was... Mention of the more recent events - the war in Afganistan offering a different perspective... I remember reading Russian newspapers and listening to the news during the war in Afganistan - as a Russian; then, I remember George W. Bush's speech on TV and on the radio during the 9/11 attack - from the point of view of an American, I guess... Now I have had a chance to read about it coming from the Afgani, and it brought a new understanding to the situation... or, rather, reaffirmed the old understanding: wars get started by politicians, factions and governments, while regular people on all sides involved get scared, killed and left to figure out the "basic math" of survival... But that is just one thought of it; this book has left me thinking about many things - on many levels. For the first time I was reading of timeless values using something current. Read it when you have time - it is worth it. It was recommended on one of the Russian blogs I follow - and I am grateful.
Another thing is... ah, beading. I continue working on my Lady Summer, and the stitching is almost complete, so now it's time for beading. I never thought that beading could be relaxing, but it is. Needlework and beadwork helps me concentrate and gives me a chance to reflect on what I have read... So the two - reading and beading - go one after another. The added plus is - it's turning out pretty.
All right, enough rambling. Back to - beading...

2 comments:

  1. Hi Katya,

    I agree; A Thousand Splendid Suns is so powerful, so very tragic.

    I read it last year and thought about the story for weeks.

    That humans in their selfish nationalism, ethnocentrism, and religion cause such untold suffering is beyond understanding.

    Thankfully we can reach out to children in need and help them.
    Have you read Three Cups of Tea, also set in Afghanistan? What one person is doing to help not destroy.

    In the Light,

    Daniel

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  2. Hi Daniel,
    Thank you for your comment. I am still thinking about the story; it will take some time to think it through. Another idea that struck me - how dismissable and unimportant the rigid rules of society are in real life. I am thinking about Laila,when she chooses to marry Rasheed to save her unborn child:"...Laila already knew the sacrifices a mother had to make. Virtue was only the first." Often the right thing to do by society and the right thing to do by one's conscience contradict each other.
    Thank you for your response again, and for inspiring my mind this morning.

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