Book Review: And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

Book: And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

Genre: Literary Fiction

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

For: Fun

From: the library 

I've loved the last two books this author wrote and this book was no exception. It took me a few pages to get into it, but once there, I was totally invested and already I'm missing these characters.

This is one of those books where each section is from a different character's point of view. We also jump around in time and place. But it is obvious at the start of each section how that person is connected to the story. It is not hard to follow in the least.

The story starts out in the 50s when a young boy and his even younger sister are walking with their father from their village in Afghanistan to the big city of Kabul. When they get there, something terrible happens. The dad sells his daughter to a rich family and then they walk away and leave her. The brother, who has a special connection to his sister, is devastated. 

The rest of the book is how this one event touches the lives of so many people clear through the present day. We see what happens through the uncle, who lives at the rich house and facilitated this exchange, through the guy who ends up inheriting this house, through the kids who lived down the street, through the stepmother of theses two kids, through the girl herself after she was grown, through the daughter of the brother.. and several others. 

On my list of best
looking authors!
Agreed?

The story does have a bit of an agenda, making sure we see the trauma and devastation of what's happened to Afghanistan and its people. Much sadness as always. But it wasn't the main point and it wasn't in your voice. The feeling I walked away with instead is the strength of the bonds of family no matter our circumstances, no matter what life throws at us. It's a good message and I approve.

Bottom line: Beautiful writing, beautiful story. I loved it. This author has me. I will read anything he writes.

Other Reviews:

I fell in love with many of the characters in the novel, even though they each were incredibly flawed and some made horrible, unforgivable choices. From Book Addiction

I loved his language and the pictures, images and stories he creates with his words. Very powerful. From A Bookworm's World

It literally gave me goosebumps... something that has never happened while listening to an audiobook. From Lakeside Musing

I believe that Hosseini has proven his talent once again! From Tif Talks Books

Together these studies make up a linear tale involving love and loss, hope and despair. From Beth Fish Reads