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fbroom's review
2.0
I don't know how to rate this one!
It isn't bad but I was bored halfway through. Every time I get attached to a character the story ends and moves on to a completely different character and context. Maybe because the stories were so good and I was upset that they just end and the author completely begins a new thing. It is all over the place. Maybe I should've know ahead of time that it is more like a collection of short stories and maybe I shouldn't have expected something like his first two novels. It is certainly different and maybe later I would realize that it was good but not for now.
It isn't bad but I was bored halfway through. Every time I get attached to a character the story ends and moves on to a completely different character and context. Maybe because the stories were so good and I was upset that they just end and the author completely begins a new thing. It is all over the place. Maybe I should've know ahead of time that it is more like a collection of short stories and maybe I shouldn't have expected something like his first two novels. It is certainly different and maybe later I would realize that it was good but not for now.
johanna24's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.5
sprainedbrain'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
4.5
chloeab's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
readingpisces's review
3.0
What did I think about this book I don't really know. I have read "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini and I loved it. He is an amazing writer. The words just flow like a river. But this book wasn't really for me and sadly I couldn't being myself to finishing it. I would have loved to know of the siblings find each other again and how the reunion would be like. (If someone would want to tell me I'd be grateful)
The problem I had with the book as it seems is one many people already talked about. At times I found myself wondering why he introduced some of the characters. There were so many and non of them really had a complete ending. But I did like the book signing part very much. With all that I kept confusing characters because of the 1st person.
Like I said, Khaled Hosseini is still a wonderful author and I can't wait to pick up "The Kite Runner" since so many people loved it.
I hope you understand me and what I meant to say. It was really difficult with this one.
The problem I had with the book as it seems is one many people already talked about. At times I found myself wondering why he introduced some of the characters. There were so many and non of them really had a complete ending. But I did like the book signing part very much. With all that I kept confusing characters because of the 1st person.
Like I said, Khaled Hosseini is still a wonderful author and I can't wait to pick up "The Kite Runner" since so many people loved it.
I hope you understand me and what I meant to say. It was really difficult with this one.
lexlux's review
5.0
The book deceptively meanders around many different plotlines and then shatters your heart with one all-inclusive and redeeming conclusion. I literally had tears in my eyes. The author weaves magic with with his words.
waqar's review
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.