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Sparks Like Stars

A Novel

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Sparks Like Stars

Written by: Nadia Hashimi
Narrated by: Mozhan Marno
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About this listen

“Suspenseful…emotionally compelling. I found myself eagerly following in a way I hadn’t remembered for a long time, impatient for the next twist and turn of the story."—NPR

An Afghan American woman returns to Kabul to learn the truth about her family and the tragedy that destroyed their lives in this brilliant and compelling novel from the bestselling author of The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, The House Without Windows, and When the Moon Is Low.

Kabul, 1978: The daughter of a prominent family, Sitara Zamani lives a privileged life in Afghanistan’s thriving cosmopolitan capital. The 1970s are a time of remarkable promise under the leadership of people like Sardar Daoud, Afghanistan’s progressive president, and Sitara’s beloved father, his right-hand man. But the ten-year-old Sitara’s world is shattered when communists stage a coup, assassinating the president and Sitara’s entire family. Only she survives.

Smuggled out of the palace by a guard named Shair, Sitara finds her way to the home of a female American diplomat, who adopts her and raises her in America. In her new country, Sitara takes on a new name—Aryana Shepherd—and throws herself into her studies, eventually becoming a renowned surgeon. A survivor, Aryana has refused to look back, choosing instead to bury the trauma and devastating loss she endured.

New York, 2008: Thirty years after that fatal night in Kabul, Aryana’s world is rocked again when an elderly patient appears in her examination room—a man she never expected to see again. It is Shair, the soldier who saved her, yet may have murdered her entire family. Seeing him awakens Aryana’s fury and desire for answers—and, perhaps, revenge. Realizing that she cannot go on without finding the truth, Aryana embarks on a quest that takes her back to Kabul—a battleground between the corrupt government and the fundamentalist Taliban—and through shadowy memories of the world she loved and lost.

Bold, illuminating, heartbreaking, yet hopeful, Sparks Like Stars is a story of home—of America and Afghanistan, tragedy and survival, reinvention and remembrance, told in Nadia Hashimi’s singular voice.

©2021 Nadia Hashimi (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers
Coming of Age Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction World Literature Inspiring Tearjerking United States
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What listeners say about Sparks Like Stars

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Excellent storytelling

Nadia is a fantastic writer. As someone who enjoys books featuring Middle Eastern culture, this book did not disappoint. I appreciated the chance to see Afghanistan for the beautiful country that it was before it became war-torn.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Holds your interest

Enjoyed the overall story. Some parts went on too long for me (her childhood days) and others kind of stopped suddenly with what felt like not enough explanation or detail, but the story still flowed smoothly.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Consciousness raising

I devoured the story over a weekend and couldn’t put it down…that’s how compelling the story was and how well it was written to keep the compassion and curiosity flowing. Most importantly, it put Afghanistan on my must-visit-someday list.

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5 people found this helpful

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Beautiful writing, incredible story

I think this is my favourite so far from Nadia Hashimi. And that is saying a lot. All of her novels are 5 star to me. I would give this one 6 stars if possible.
With each book I learn a bit more about the history of Afghanistan and its people.

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6 people found this helpful