balladares's review against another edition
1.0
Cuánto quería que me gustara, siendo mi tercera novela de Khaled Hosseini tras dos que me cautivaron mucho, pero esta vez simplemente no hubo conexión alguna. Fallamos.
Y Las Montañas Hablaron es (o debería ser) la historia de dos hermanos afganos de nombres Abdulá y Pari que, debido a la pobreza y la amenaza del invierno avasallador, debieron ser separados cuando eran apenas unos niños para no volverse a ver nunca más. Ella, con la ventaja de encontrarse en una edad donde los recuerdos aún no se han asentado del todo y la suerte de ser adoptada por una buena familia que la salvará de un destino miserable; y él, con todo lo opuesto, condenado a extrañar a su hermanita por el resto de su vida.
Honestamente creo que esta es una novela muy mala. La sinopsis de arriba no es ni el 30% del contenido real del libro, que en realidad termina tratándose de cualquier otra cosa menos lo que promete. Te habla de los hijos del vecino. De la hija de la amiga de la mamá de un doctor. Todo con rigurosas descripciones visuales como el color de la camiseta que viste la chica que está tomando café en el local donde conversan los hijos del vecino. Todo es extremadamente aburrido y poco interesante. Esta es una novela que perfectamente pudo no haberse escrito jamás, y eso es una verdadera lástima, sobre todo viniendo de Hosseini.
Lo mejor de este libro es la carta que escribe el tío Nabi, desde ese punto en adelante todo es cuesta abajo en la colina más empinada (y somnífera) de la vida. Y esa carta termina en la página 130.
Nada es importante. Nada es memorable. Nada vale la pena. Ni siquiera el final.
Me vi tan estresado que cometí el mayor crímen de un lector: saltarse páginas, pero no me arrepiento, sino no hubiera terminado nunca esta porquería.
Esta frase sacada del mismo libro —irónicamente— lo resume muy bien:
Y Las Montañas Hablaron es (o debería ser) la historia de dos hermanos afganos de nombres Abdulá y Pari que, debido a la pobreza y la amenaza del invierno avasallador, debieron ser separados cuando eran apenas unos niños para no volverse a ver nunca más. Ella, con la ventaja de encontrarse en una edad donde los recuerdos aún no se han asentado del todo y la suerte de ser adoptada por una buena familia que la salvará de un destino miserable; y él, con todo lo opuesto, condenado a extrañar a su hermanita por el resto de su vida.
Honestamente creo que esta es una novela muy mala. La sinopsis de arriba no es ni el 30% del contenido real del libro, que en realidad termina tratándose de cualquier otra cosa menos lo que promete. Te habla de los hijos del vecino. De la hija de la amiga de la mamá de un doctor. Todo con rigurosas descripciones visuales como el color de la camiseta que viste la chica que está tomando café en el local donde conversan los hijos del vecino. Todo es extremadamente aburrido y poco interesante. Esta es una novela que perfectamente pudo no haberse escrito jamás, y eso es una verdadera lástima, sobre todo viniendo de Hosseini.
Lo mejor de este libro es la carta que escribe el tío Nabi, desde ese punto en adelante todo es cuesta abajo en la colina más empinada (y somnífera) de la vida. Y esa carta termina en la página 130.
Nada es importante. Nada es memorable. Nada vale la pena. Ni siquiera el final.
Spoiler
Para el final ocurre lo que hubiera esperado como "el gran reencuentro" entre los hermanos después de casi cincuenta años. Sin embargo, para este punto Abdulá ya se encuentra completamente ido por culpa del Alzheimer y Pari no logra recordar el detalle de las plumas que su hermano guardó toda su vida para ella. Un final que pudo haber sido desolador, pero que es arruinado por el enfoque que toma el autor al tratar de hacernos sentir algo por la hija de Abdulá (que entró en último momento y cuyo nombre ni recuerdo, pfff).Me vi tan estresado que cometí el mayor crímen de un lector: saltarse páginas, pero no me arrepiento, sino no hubiera terminado nunca esta porquería.
Esta frase sacada del mismo libro —irónicamente— lo resume muy bien:
"En esa historia hay demasiados paralelismos que pueden resultar contraproducentes. Sería como leer en voz alta tu propia condena."
kellyldriver's review against another edition
5.0
This is a beautiful story with characters that touch your heart. The way the author ties all of the characters together is done so well and in a very interesting and compelling way.
soccerdog124's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
zaynabkom's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The least favorite khaled husseini book, I continued reading only because i like the author but the book kinda disappointed
cultbyproxy's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The rope that pulls you from the flood can become a noose around your neck.
and the mountains echoed tells the story of several families, all connected by afghanistan, over a period of 50 years. it starts with a folktale which can be seen as an allegory to the ways in which the lives of our characters will unfold. from the small fictional village of shadbagh, the lives of abdullah and pari unfold and spill into the lives of those as near as pakistan and as far as france and the united states. it is a story of descent, a story of effect and consequence, and ultimately a story of family (both the one we choose and the one we don’t). steeped in culture, i felt invited into a home unlike my own and made to feel welcome. enjoying the delicacies, language and customs unaccustomed to me. as a guest, i began my education, and as a friend i concluded it.
yes, this is the story of brother and sister, of parent and child, but it is so much more. it is love, and loss, and secrets, and friendship, and the attempt to reconcile the holes in our hearts that grow wider, and deeper, with age and experience.
yes, this is the story of brother and sister, of parent and child, but it is so much more. it is love, and loss, and secrets, and friendship, and the attempt to reconcile the holes in our hearts that grow wider, and deeper, with age and experience.
the characters were slightly disjointed to me in the beginning, with an array of characters that probably required a mind map to keep up with how each one is connected to the other. the ever-changing POVs make it a little difficult to really sink into each character; however, as the chapters continue they become more established and easier to decipher.
overall, definitely something to add to my frequently forgotten favourites list.
Out beyond ideas
of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field.
I’ll meet you there.
- Jelaluddin Rumi, 13th Century
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Abandonment, and Grief
Moderate: Suicide, Misogyny, and War
Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity
amyjsprinks's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
plisetskys's review against another edition
5.0
“they say, find a purpose in your life and live it. but, sometimes, it is only after you have lived that you recognize your life had a purpose, and likely one you never had in mind.”
jenmat1197's review against another edition
5.0
This is a story of several families in Afghanistan whose lives intertwine of the course of 50 years. It starts with a father telling a story to his two children. Little do the children know that this story he tells about an ogre that comes and takes children away would become a reality. The family is very poor, and the children's mother has died, and the father has remarried. They cannot afford to take care of all the children, and the father knows of a family in Kabul that is childless. They agree to take the little girl, much to the dismay of her older brother. What follows are stories that branch out from these two young children told through many different viewpoints and across many years. It shows how one decision can affect his descendents and even his acquaintances for years to come.
Khaled Hosseini has become my favorite author over the last few years. His writing is absolutely amazing, and his stories draw you in. You cannot book the book down. Most of his stories are full of heartache, and this one was no exception. I was two chapters in and already very sad. But I couldn't stop. I had to know what happened to the little girl who was taken away from the only family she knew at the age of 4. And what happened to her brother who was her most cherished one.
Run to get this book. Run to get any of Hosseini's books. He is exceptional.
Khaled Hosseini has become my favorite author over the last few years. His writing is absolutely amazing, and his stories draw you in. You cannot book the book down. Most of his stories are full of heartache, and this one was no exception. I was two chapters in and already very sad. But I couldn't stop. I had to know what happened to the little girl who was taken away from the only family she knew at the age of 4. And what happened to her brother who was her most cherished one.
Run to get this book. Run to get any of Hosseini's books. He is exceptional.
pandora_22's review against another edition
5.0
This book is just one of a kind. It's just amazing, heartbreaking, and much more.
Honestly, after reading the first two books, I didn't know what to expect from this book. It seemed like the first two books pretty much had me emotionally invested, and what more could this one do? But it is a Khaled Hosseini book so even if it's something predictable it would be good. At least that's what I thought as I picked it up to read.
'And the mountains echoed' is much more than a brother-sister bond. It focuses on the bigger picture with more characters and delimmas
Honestly, after reading the first two books, I didn't know what to expect from this book. It seemed like the first two books pretty much had me emotionally invested, and what more could this one do? But it is a Khaled Hosseini book so even if it's something predictable it would be good. At least that's what I thought as I picked it up to read.
'And the mountains echoed' is much more than a brother-sister bond. It focuses on the bigger picture with more characters and delimmas
hannah527's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0