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waqar's review against another edition
5.0
It was a brilliant book. Though sometimes I got confused with so many character arcs but in the end it was a brilliantly told story. I must say that Khaled Hosseini is a magical storyteller.
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
This is another wonderful story from Hosseini. It's not as overtly tragic (and certainly not violent) as his other two works, but it's incredibly moving and sad and just beautiful to read.
Plot-wise it's hard to contain the novel in a few words. The book centres around one event that tears into the lives of Abdullah and his little sister Pari, poor Afghan children whose sibling love for each other remains, despite all that happens.
The structure of time is played with, and Abdullah and Pari's story sits on the periphery of an overarching tale of love, loss, parents, children, death, innocence lost, loyalty and friendship. We meet several connected characters in the book, at two central points in time. As one character eloquently describes this: "the years...are rapidly folding over one another again and again, time accordioning itself down". At times it's almost like a set of short stories connected by a few central characters and their stories. Each is beautiful, some very sad indeed. When halfway through one chapter a character you know appears, you see the links between their tales and a whole dot-to-dot of the overall picture begins to take shape.
There's no need to describe the plot in depth, it's a plot that you need to unravel for yourself. Each chapter is narrated by someone new, and each can take time to think through to work out just who is talking and how they relate to known characters. Hosseini makes you work to understand.
It's a very intelligent piece of writing. I am still debating with myself if it tops 'The Kite Runner' and in terms of style it just may do. If you've read his others, you'll not be disappointed with this long-awaited volume.
Plot-wise it's hard to contain the novel in a few words. The book centres around one event that tears into the lives of Abdullah and his little sister Pari, poor Afghan children whose sibling love for each other remains, despite all that happens.
The structure of time is played with, and Abdullah and Pari's story sits on the periphery of an overarching tale of love, loss, parents, children, death, innocence lost, loyalty and friendship. We meet several connected characters in the book, at two central points in time. As one character eloquently describes this: "the years...are rapidly folding over one another again and again, time accordioning itself down". At times it's almost like a set of short stories connected by a few central characters and their stories. Each is beautiful, some very sad indeed. When halfway through one chapter a character you know appears, you see the links between their tales and a whole dot-to-dot of the overall picture begins to take shape.
There's no need to describe the plot in depth, it's a plot that you need to unravel for yourself. Each chapter is narrated by someone new, and each can take time to think through to work out just who is talking and how they relate to known characters. Hosseini makes you work to understand.
It's a very intelligent piece of writing. I am still debating with myself if it tops 'The Kite Runner' and in terms of style it just may do. If you've read his others, you'll not be disappointed with this long-awaited volume.
bernie_e2001's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
shadow1127's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed the book and was very much involved in the story of Abdullah and Pari. I felt myself getting impatient reading the chapters about Dr. Marcos and Adel. They felt unnecessary and like they did not really connect to the brother and sister story that I was engrossed in.
bleumingpages's review against another edition
4.0
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm gonna have to say this; Khaled Hosseini is the GOAT storyteller. Period.
sarahthereadingaddict's review against another edition
5.0
It's true what the reviews say about Khaled Hosseini, the way the books are written is magical.
I felt like I was one of characters in the book, an onlooker.
I really loved the travel aspects of this book and the descriptions of the culture. I find all cultures so interesting, we're all so different but also so similar.
Cant wait to read more by Khaled.
I felt like I was one of characters in the book, an onlooker.
I really loved the travel aspects of this book and the descriptions of the culture. I find all cultures so interesting, we're all so different but also so similar.
Cant wait to read more by Khaled.
sampucca's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
suyagotz's review against another edition
3.0
i didn't really like the concept...
it felt like a collection of short stories, i would have preferred if the plot from the beginning had been the main focus. i eventually got tired of reading about new people all the time
it felt like a collection of short stories, i would have preferred if the plot from the beginning had been the main focus. i eventually got tired of reading about new people all the time