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A review by hardkaapi
And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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? No
4.5
“We are waiting, all of us, against insurmountable odds, for something extraordinary to happen to us."
After I finished this book, I was speechless. I still am. Hosseini’s ability to make such overwhelming emotions accessible to readers is insane. This particular book at its core is about siblings, Abdullah and Pari, and ends up becoming a multi-generational tale set in Paris, Greece, America and of course, Kabul. This style of deeply exploring so many characters was new for me, as this is not the case in Thousand Splendid Suns or even Kite Runner, making this my #1 Hosseini. His characters are well thought out, lovable and relatable. Their journeys deal with themes known to most of us, disappointment, helplessness, finding a purpose, love, grief, dislocation, loneliness, and most of all, family. The sacrifices we make, both big and small for the ones we love. I cannot explain what makes this book special, but I cannot stop thinking about it.
The characters in And the Mountains Echoed are unforgettable. The care with which Hosseini treats them all is commendable and brings the stories alive. One of the most notable characters is Nabi, the enamoured. Being the sole breadwinner in the family, with 2 siblings- Masooma, the cursed beauty and Parwana, the afterthought, he starts out as a simple chauffeur of the Wahdati house but ends up sacrificing so much for the one he loves, the guilt of it having never left. His role in the Wahdati household becomes more vital as time passes and he finds a lifelong companion in the form of Suleiman, the prisoner. The presence of Nila in this story is so important, she represents everyone who has wanted to break free, to have ambition, to rebel. She brings with her the fury of a girl, scorned by her father, her family and her religion. Her teenage self found solace in poems that were considered disgusting by one and impressive by another, the difference lying in the soil she stood on. Her decision to ensure a better life for Pari came with a price. Pari, the innocent one, named after a fairy, shares a tumultuous relationship with Nila as she realizes she will never be enough for her. This insecurity planted by her mother seeps into other relationships as well. Her life after marriage is narrated very hurriedly, with years passing between sentences. Meanwhile, in Kabul, the dynamic between Idris and Timur is smartly written. Timur has the ability to talk his way out of any situation, provide help to anyone who is willing to be indebted to him. Being recognized as the “good guy” is what keeps him going. Idris’ insight into his cousin’s behaviours is one known to most of us, the feeling of seeing through the act but being unable to do something about it. Idris bonds with Roshi, the abandoned and tries to help her before dissolving into his original life as most people with privilege do; it only bothers you when you come in contact with it.
We see the polar opposite in the form of Markos, the one in the endless pursuit of a purpose, and Thalia, the specimen for most. Every encounter between them as children is rife with the saddening reality of the world today. Hosseini could have easily changed Thalia’s appearance by bringing her character and Markos’ surgery skills together but the line “This is who I am, Markos” is perfect and brought me to tears. (“Beauty is an enormous, unmerited gift given randomly, stupidly.”) Thalia finds lifelong allies in Markos and his mom, and them in her. Markos’ upbringing in Tinos is a scenically as well as emotionally rich one. His mother, Odelia, is described as a hard woman but as the layers of her life unfold along with Markos’, much more is revealed.
Something I really liked about this book was how it handles the idea of moving on. There are many different examples of it, be it Pari’s constant sense of a faceless presence around her, Abdullah’s grief fading as he moved to another country and started a business, Adel’s slow emotional retreat from his father, Gholam’s fury subsiding into harmless chides, Idris’ hypocrisy, Roshi’s courage in letting her experiences out in the open, Thalia’s acceptance, Nabi’s final letter, Suleiman’s request, Parwana’s new life, Masooma’s last wishes, Saboor becoming quiet or even Nila’s descent until her end. The book comes full circle with Abdullah and Pari being reunited, trying to make up for lost time, whatever little they have left. They meet each other after so long, having touched so many lives, some unknown to them and their interaction is everything you want and more. This book is a perfect amalgamation of the past, present and future.
We see the polar opposite in the form of Markos, the one in the endless pursuit of a purpose, and Thalia, the specimen for most. Every encounter between them as children is rife with the saddening reality of the world today. Hosseini could have easily changed Thalia’s appearance by bringing her character and Markos’ surgery skills together but the line “This is who I am, Markos” is perfect and brought me to tears. (“Beauty is an enormous, unmerited gift given randomly, stupidly.”) Thalia finds lifelong allies in Markos and his mom, and them in her. Markos’ upbringing in Tinos is a scenically as well as emotionally rich one. His mother, Odelia, is described as a hard woman but as the layers of her life unfold along with Markos’, much more is revealed.
Something I really liked about this book was how it handles the idea of moving on. There are many different examples of it, be it Pari’s constant sense of a faceless presence around her, Abdullah’s grief fading as he moved to another country and started a business, Adel’s slow emotional retreat from his father, Gholam’s fury subsiding into harmless chides, Idris’ hypocrisy, Roshi’s courage in letting her experiences out in the open, Thalia’s acceptance, Nabi’s final letter, Suleiman’s request, Parwana’s new life, Masooma’s last wishes, Saboor becoming quiet or even Nila’s descent until her end. The book comes full circle with Abdullah and Pari being reunited, trying to make up for lost time, whatever little they have left. They meet each other after so long, having touched so many lives, some unknown to them and their interaction is everything you want and more. This book is a perfect amalgamation of the past, present and future.