Regina L reviewed a book.
And the Mountains Echoed
““Adel was not too naïve to know that the world was a fundamentally unfair place; he only had to gaze out the window of his bedroom.” (pg 204)
Hosseini opens with a story, told by a father to his two children, that portends the tragic fate of these two siblings in the years ahead. Rather than...”
““Adel was not too naïve to know that the world was a fundamentally unfair place; he only had to gaze out the window of his bedroom.” (pg 204)
Hosseini opens with a story, told by a father to his two children, that portends the tragic fate of these two siblings in the years ahead. Rather than a linear narrative, this ambitious effort structures the tale through various point of views, each chapter serving as a short story for a character whose life intersects at varying degrees along the continuum to weave together 60 years after which the original story finally comes full circle.
Okay – After waiting painstakingly for four long years for another Hosseini nove,l I went to be early the night of the 20th and woke up at midnight to download it as soon as the calendar changed to May 21st to get started. My rule for a favorite author is to have read at least three of his/her works and to adore all of them. Hosseini has now officially passed the threshold for me. But, I think the reviews will be mixed for his latest work. There seems to be an interesting evolution in his work, or maybe it is in him as an author. His first two works could only take place within the context of Afghanistan’s history. With the Kite Runner it seemed Hosseini felt a need to relate the country’s history both the beauty of the country pre-Russian invasion and the devastation thereafter, while A Thousand Splendid Suns dealt with a more current climate even though both were done so through well drawn characters in complex relationships. In his latest work, focused on sibling relationships, the setting, while some interesting historical nuggets are mentioned, is really irrelevant. It is completely reliant upon the characters and the relationships. In my opinion, it is evidence that Hosseini is an author that is, hopefully, here to stay. So, I would caution the reader against the temptation to compare it to his previous works. That is not to say you won't Hosseini within. With Hosseini you know you are going to have your heart broken, and it will be broken multiple times here. You also know that, while you may have resolution, you will not have neatly tied up happily ever after endings. If you loved his previous work for his ability to paint a picture with words and his ability to speak universally to human emotion and shortcomings you will not be disappointed here.
Some favorite passages:
“I proceeded with a mostly clean conscience, and with the conviction that my proposal was born of goodwill and honest intentions. Something that, though painful in the short term, would lead to a greater long-term good for all involved. But I had less honorable, self-serving motives as well.” (pg 83)
“For the first time, Adel felt truly aware of the broader movements that had always governed his life. And of the wildly conflicting truths that resided within a person. Not just in his father, or his mother, or Kabir. But within himself too.” (pg 209)
“I suspect the truth is that we are waiting, all of us, against insurmountable odds, for something extraordinary to happen to us.” (pg. 86)
“One thing I have come to see is that one is well served by a degree of both humility and charity when judging the inner workings of another person’s heart.” (pg. 89)
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