A Book Review: And The Mountains Echoed

I have read both 'The Kite Runner' and 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' by Khaled Hosseini. I read the former first. There was plenty of hype surrounding the book at that time, and when I finally finished it, I thought that the hype was completely justified. The prose was rich and readable, the characters and setting was interesting, and as strange as it might sound, the whole book felt very fearless. Though my recollection of the actual plot has become diminished, as it happens with all books, I still remember moments from the book which hit me really hard.

When I started on 'A Thousand Splendid Suns', my expectations were high. I dived into the book with gusto...only to find myself bored, listless, skipping whole passages, waiting for something interesting to happen. Perhaps it's because the subject matter was different, or perhaps the author just couldn't pull everything together. The second book was a thoroughly forgettable affair.

When 'And The Mountains Echoed' hit the bookstores, I was immediately excited, and then crestfallen, and finally, hopeful and filled with unfounded optimism. I got myself a copy and started reading in earnest. I'm glad to say that I wasn't disappointed.

'And The Mountains Echoed' follows the lives of an Afghan boy, Abdullah, and his sister, Pari, who are forcefully separated, their relationship pried apart by the harsh circumstances of life in Afghanistan, in the 1930s. The book begins with this, and then it rockets off to all sorts of fascinating tangents. True to its name, the book functions like an echo, where at the end, you get something which faintly resembles what you started off with in the first place - something which has been distorted by time and circumstance.

Each chapter features a different character, and tells his or her story from their point of view. One of the more exciting aspects of the book comes from trying to guess which character will be featured next, and what new perspective he or she will bring. This form of story-telling also allows us to see the difference between how a character views himself, and how another person might view him. Khaled Hosseni does really well in juggling the characters - he's able to give them just the right amount of personality, voice and story, such that no chapter is quite like the other.

In addition to the unique story-telling, the book is also written in flowing, readable prose, and covers a whole range of topics from feminism to filial piety, and from closeted homosexuality to the true meaning of beauty. I guess you can think of this book as a collection of short stories, which unfold over time, and are linked by the sibling's relationship. To say that it is about one particular thing is difficult...to put it simply, it's a book about life, and where life will and can take you.

If I had a gripe about the book, I would say that all the characters are written a bit too perfectly. Everyone's very talented in their field, and somehow, everyone succeeds. It's all too neat for my sadist self, and it's just simply too unbelievable. 

Now should you read the book? Mmmm, if you have the time, and are looking for something to help you pass it, then do read this book. It's interesting, well-written, and poignant. It's a master-class level of work...but it doesn't have the same gravitas that "The Kite Runner" had. It paints a very rich tapestry of life...but it's like eating a meat platter, I guess. You get bits and pieces of everything without tasting the whole steak. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Choice Quote: Beauty is an enormous, unmerited gift, given randomly, stupidly.