Helpful Score: 7
The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns are two of my favorite books, so I was a bit hesitant to read And the Mountains Echoed; I was worried it wouldn't live up to the other two. But I enjoyed this book just as much as the others. Like Hosseini's other books, And the Mountains Echoed transports the reader flawlessly into the lives of the characters. I was immediately taken by the story and couldn't put it down. If you loved Hosseini's other books, I think you'll love this one too.
Helpful Score: 6
This book took my breath away as did A Thousand Splendid Sun's. It amaze's me how this author can introduce all of these characters and weave them together like a basket and actually pull it off. The most amazing thing to me about this book is how Dr. Hosseini ended this book and began this book...awesome literature here!! My only gripe is that I felt sometimes like I was reading a book of "long" short stories and felt there were a few pages that were not necessary...all of the characters yes..but the details..no.
I used more than 5 hankies here, but there were only 2 bouts of tears...near the end, when I realized how it would end (realizing how similar it was to the beginning) and at the last paragraph....but it was a river and so very powerful.
Awesome writing here Dr. Hosseini...please lets get started with another one, I want to read at least one more book written by you in my lifetime. In the meantime I will re-read the awesome 3 you have written.
I used more than 5 hankies here, but there were only 2 bouts of tears...near the end, when I realized how it would end (realizing how similar it was to the beginning) and at the last paragraph....but it was a river and so very powerful.
Awesome writing here Dr. Hosseini...please lets get started with another one, I want to read at least one more book written by you in my lifetime. In the meantime I will re-read the awesome 3 you have written.
Helpful Score: 3
There is really no central character in this book as Hosseini interweaves the history of several characters in this story. Every character is flawed but not necessarily unsympathetic which adds some authenticity to the story. Told from different points of view, the novel travels from decade to decade, skipping from both time and place. It was an ok story but I thought it bogged down in several spots and contained far too much navel-gazing. This book as not near as good as his first two. I really wanted to like it more than I did.
Helpful Score: 3
I loved the story of Saboor and his children, 11 year old Abdullah and 4 year old Pari. I was intrigued as they walked for days to reach Kabul, Saboor pulling Pari in a wagon when the little girl tired. The deep love between the brother and sister was touching and the heartbreak that befell them brought tears to my eyes. However, I was annoyed as Hosseini introduced different characters I felt was unnecessary instead of focusing on this one family. The story spanned a few generations and was quite confusing as it jumped from past to present. I wish he just stuck to the story of Abdullah, Pari, what happens to them and their families!
I was disappointed with this book, but the ending brought tears and a lump in my throat. It is certainly worth reading.
I was disappointed with this book, but the ending brought tears and a lump in my throat. It is certainly worth reading.
Helpful Score: 3
I think the reviews on this page sum up the story well, so I will try to add a different insight. Hosseini's writing continues to get better. Very few authors have one book that sells on the level of the Kite Runner, but I believe his next two surpass his first. I like his characterization, each character is separate and believable. As a mom to many, I especially appreciated the relationship of the big brother to his little sister. I also like the obvious love that the author has for his home country. He shows it in all of its war torn poverty with a very caring voice.
Helpful Score: 2
Having read three books by this author and while I appreciate his writing very much I have to say that this one is not as strong as The Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns. Yes, I liked it but for me it's not an outstanding read. As one who appreciates Hosseini's writing, I have to suggest that others to check it out for themselves. They may feel differently.
This is the story of two people, Pari and Abdullah, brother and sister, and their families. Some are quite successful and become wealthy, others live a decent life while still others find themselves as poor as can be. The author gives us a view of most of them as the book progresses. The novel does begin with Pari and Abdullah and end with them but to find out what, how and why, you must check it out for yourself.
This is the story of two people, Pari and Abdullah, brother and sister, and their families. Some are quite successful and become wealthy, others live a decent life while still others find themselves as poor as can be. The author gives us a view of most of them as the book progresses. The novel does begin with Pari and Abdullah and end with them but to find out what, how and why, you must check it out for yourself.
Helpful Score: 1
I thought it was beautifully written with wonderful connections made between the characters and great truths presented in a succinct manner. For example, "I suspect the truth is that we are waiting, all of us, against insurmountable odds, for something extraordinary to happen to us." Could his description of a doctor's children in the US be any more true? "their blithe ignorance of the arbitrary genetic lottery that has granted them their privileged lives."
Even when terrible or painful things happen to his characters, there is also an undercurrent of hope. "But even if the ground of her life was broken with a lie, what Pari has since planted in that ground stands as true and sturdy and unshakable as a giant oak."
Even when terrible or painful things happen to his characters, there is also an undercurrent of hope. "But even if the ground of her life was broken with a lie, what Pari has since planted in that ground stands as true and sturdy and unshakable as a giant oak."
Helpful Score: 1
As was the case for other Khaled Hosseini fans, I was nervous to read this because I loved his first two books and I didn't know if he could pull it off a third time. Well have no fear - this book is just as hard to put down as the others!
He is such a master at weaving story lines together and connecting the characters with differing but equally engaging tales. Every story is connected to a fictional village named Shadbagh in Afghanistan. The 1st chapter begins in the fall of 1952 and the last chapter in the winter of 2010. In that span of nearly 60 years you will meet many people and revisit some in various stages of their lives - sometimes as told as a part of another person's tale.
This book is never slow and always hard to find a stopping point, but it is truly one of my newest favorites. Enjoy!
He is such a master at weaving story lines together and connecting the characters with differing but equally engaging tales. Every story is connected to a fictional village named Shadbagh in Afghanistan. The 1st chapter begins in the fall of 1952 and the last chapter in the winter of 2010. In that span of nearly 60 years you will meet many people and revisit some in various stages of their lives - sometimes as told as a part of another person's tale.
This book is never slow and always hard to find a stopping point, but it is truly one of my newest favorites. Enjoy!
Helpful Score: 1
It ended up being a five-tissue book. That's all I will say.
60 pages into this book, I still couldn't remember the names of the characters. I hope Dr. Hosseini has not let his medical license lapse. This one stinks like an old wound.
Hope someone else might like it. Good luck.
Hope someone else might like it. Good luck.
This author is an amazing story teller. This book is beautifully written and tells an amazing, epic story of a family. I enjoyed the book but at times it was difficult to keep track of who was narrating, as each chapter jumps around to a different person at a different point in time and a different place in the world. I felt like there were almost too many characters to keep track of. If you liked either of the author's previous novels, you will love this one as well. I found this to be the "easiest" of the three to read as it was less graphic/disturbing than the other two.
So many characters in this book, so many stories. I love they way they all wind together. Took me awhile to figure out what was what and who was who, but it is truly beautiful when it all comes together. Just like the two previous books, this is a gem.
At times it is a little hard to follow as the author jumps from family to family. However, there are many parts in the book when I'm captivated and can't put it down.
Enjoying this book...as with all of Kahled Hosseini's books.
Was a good read but did not compare to his first two...which were two of my all time favorites...
The book is about 2 children from Afghanistan. It tells you their life story through them and others.
I enjoyed the way the story of the Kite Runner was written, so I gave this book a try. I enjoyed this book and the characters but found it difficult if I put down and went back to it later. The book jumps character to character without acknowledging what character is telling the story. At times I was not sure who I was reading about till a couple pages in. The story jumps around places and times. You have to tie the stories together. I found many loose ends, this book does not have a bow on it. You will have to finish the stories of many on your own.
I enjoyed the way the story of the Kite Runner was written, so I gave this book a try. I enjoyed this book and the characters but found it difficult if I put down and went back to it later. The book jumps character to character without acknowledging what character is telling the story. At times I was not sure who I was reading about till a couple pages in. The story jumps around places and times. You have to tie the stories together. I found many loose ends, this book does not have a bow on it. You will have to finish the stories of many on your own.
I liked this book about family told from different points of view. I especially liked how the events in the past rippled into the future in unexpected ways.
AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED was the January 2014 pick in my online book club, The Reading Cove.
Unfortunately, I was very disappointed.
The narrative lacked the emotional resonance of his first two books, so I wasn't compelled by it. It felt like several short stories were forced to connect after they were written, and not by initial designed. The flow was muddled, anything but cohesive. And there were several boring passages, with a few touching moments throughout.
I can't give this one more than a C, but I'm still buying anything Khaled Hosseini writes -- still a huge fan and will look forward to what he does next!
Unfortunately, I was very disappointed.
The narrative lacked the emotional resonance of his first two books, so I wasn't compelled by it. It felt like several short stories were forced to connect after they were written, and not by initial designed. The flow was muddled, anything but cohesive. And there were several boring passages, with a few touching moments throughout.
I can't give this one more than a C, but I'm still buying anything Khaled Hosseini writes -- still a huge fan and will look forward to what he does next!
This is a good book, not as powerful as The Kite Runner, but better than his second book. Recommended.
As usual with this author, this was a sad, sad tale. At times difficult to follow, when he switches to completely different characters without transition, and you are left to keep reading to find out who the narrator is this time. However, each character is thoroughly covered by telling his own side of the events for the time frame, and eventually the facts of their lives are rounded out. D.
Loved it!
