And the Mountains Echoed

by Kajal Nair

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini in a Brief Read A Summary by Kajal Nair
Warning: This is not the actual book, And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini. This is A Brief Read of And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini, as summarized and interpreted by Kajal Nair.

A tale of hardships, impossible decisions, irrevocable loss, and strained relationships, And the Mountains Echoed is also a tale of enduring love within a family. This deeply moving novel gives the reader a peek into the lives of a number of individuals, all interconnected. We learn how some difficult decisions, once made, can have a lifelong impact, all while viewing poverty, relationships, and mistakes through a new lens.

A Brief Read – Books for Busy People

Genres: Novels, Fiction, Book Club

130 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 23, 2013

Reviews

[Jeannette]

I read this book two years ago and loved it. I was looking for my review and found I hadnt registered it or written anything to remind me about the book, so here is a brief memory. The book starts with a scary bedtime story told to children and that story reverberates throughout the book in a tense, yet gentle way. A child has to be sacrificed so the family can live. Which child? There are many tales like this, worldwide, about giving up one life so others can live theirs. In this book you follow the lives of the family wondering who is really the one who was/is the victim.... maybe none? Read it as it weaves through time and place, propelling you to a satisfying ending.

[JoyReaderGirl1]

Hosseini can spin a melodramatic tale and paint vivid descriptive imagery; however, this convoluted non-linear confusing saga is held together by only the barest connective threads of individual angst, torment and suffering with just the briefest blushes of too little, too late relief. Instead of this unwieldy 400+ page saga, Echoes would have made a marvelous children's pop-up book (about sacrifice). Now, that--succinct, powerful and brilliant!

[Marilyn]

Hosseini is a marvelous storyteller, and he weaves the threads of many different lives into a coherent thread. A book about Afghans, containing much of the pain of the country's recent history, but very much infused with love and caring. Not always easy to read, containing some characters that seemed particularly peripheral to me (Mr. Markos in particular), it nevertheless succeeds brilliantly as a terrific story.

[Mirjam]

It is a great story, like all the other books of Khaled Hosseini about the real life in Afghanistan. However, I liked the other books, written by Khaled Hosseini, more. Nevertheless, a fascinating story which made me think about the amazing possibilities we have here in the Western world

[Tucki Bailey]

Very well written. Enjoyed the story very much.
The main reason I enjoy his books is because all we get is American News. And these stories open us to the true worlds that exist in Afghanistan.

[Ellen]

Beautiful, lyrical, heartbreaking.

[Andrea]

#popsugarreadingchallenge
A book from a culture I am unfamiliar with

[Heidi Daniele]

Superb- Khalid Hosseini is a gifted author who captivates the reader starting on page one.

[Mahesh Narayanan]

Khaled Hosseini has traditionally been able usually been able to paint a mesmerizing and serene picture of Afghanistan in his other works, so much so that he makes you marvel its people and the country altogether. However, Hosseini seems to lose the art as we go deep into the story. One has to appreciate the easy-flowing nature of Hosseini's story-telling as he describes the delicate childhood days of the protagonist Pari and her elder brother, Abdullah. But it soon begins to spiral out of hand as the author attempts to introduce and describe new characters into the plot. Hosseini seems to get caught in his own web as he tries to dwell deep into other character such as Pari's uncle Nabi, his love ambition Nina Wahdati and others such as Markos, Thalia, etc leaving readers wanting about the details of their inter-connection. Overall, a good read but short of Hossaini's other efforts.

[belva hullp]

54. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini; (3 1/2*); kindle; library book; FICTION; Afganiston

My third novel by Hosseini & the first one I haven't five starred. I was expecting to love this one as well, but it left me confused and ill prepared to keep my head in the book from about the final third of it.
When the story came around to the latter part of our poet's life in France with her 'adoptive' daughter, Pari, I became almost disinterested. I continued the book because I am in love with this author's writing and I wanted to know what happened to all of the characters I fell in love with early on.
I so wish I could have remained in love with this novel.

[Robert]

Well, I'm up to p. 167 of 402, and it has felt like an uphill climb most of the way. I'm going to grit my teeth and finish this book, because that's simply how I'm wired and mainly because I trust my elder daughter, Sara, who liked the book. I am having a tough time, because nothing has captured me in the way of story, character, plot, or descriptively depcted settings. Sorry not to have anything better to say so far other than to whine about how I'd really rather be reading something else from my "To Read" list. I'm going to grit my teeth, suck it up and finish this book, if I have to keep falling asleep with it on my chest for the remainder of the year!

[Aditi]

When I took up this book, I was expecting an emotional roller coaster ride just like Hosseini's other books. To certain extent, I did get some of it through ATME. However, the book meandered from the main characters a lot and precious pages were spent on detailing the lives of side characters. This led to some sort of a lack of connect that you generally do not feel with the characters in Hoesseini's books. It appeared more of a collection of loosely connected short stories rather than one tightly knitted novel.

[Aisha Belisario]

I've always loved the books written by Khaled Hosseini and I was really looking forward to reading this new book he wrote. I was a bit disappointed because it wasn't as interesting as the last two books he wrote. Too many characters and stories that it was hard for me to connect to the characters. All in all, it was still a good book and I feel like it didn't waste my time reading it. I just wish the characters have longer stories. I also like that you still get to know about the culture in Afghanistan.

[Rahma Anees]

this is one amazing and a heck of a lengthy book but lts worth reading , i love the way he has told the story of each character and his past and about his feelings , its just great and i think khaled has a special magic regarding this thing,i really loved the story told at the very beginning , everything is just connected to each other in some way , he has definitely done a brilliant job , with this book . this is his third book which i have read so far , and im just waiting for him to write more.

[Ashwini Vaishali]

I was very impressed with khaled s previous two books and went on to read this book. But was disappointed with the storyline. I was expecting to read more about what happened to Abdullah and Park after they split. But very little was mentioned about that. There are few irrelevant stories in the book, it is more like a collection of short stories. When one character catches your attention, the story ends abruptly. Also disappointed with the climax. Overall a good one time read but not on the lines of Kite runner and thousand splendid suns

[Gaile]

I did not enjoy this novel as much as the first two by this author. He kept changing the scenery so to speak. In one chapter it would be about one character and just as you were getting interested in that character, he suddenly changes to another in another location. These changes went on all through the novel until sometimes I did not know where I was and how these people were all going to hook up in the end. The author managed to tie all the threads together by the end but I was one confused reader.

[Eve]

Romaani tegevus saab alguse 1952. aastal Afganistanis. Abdullah ja tema õde Pari elavad koos oma isa ja kasuemaga väikeses külas nimega Shadbagh. Kolmeaastase Pari silmis on tema suur vend Abdullah pigem ema kui vend. Ka kümneaastasele Abdullah’le on väike Pari kõik. Jälgides tegelaskujude elu ning valikute ja armastuse tagajärgi läbi põlvkondade ja üle maailma – Kabulist Pariisini, San Francisconi ja Tinose-nimelisele Kreeka saareni välja –, laieneb romaan järk-järgult väljapoole, muutudes iga leheküljega võimsamaks.

[Lysbeth Koster]

Very intriguing, and breath-taking story about how all the hurts and difficulties in the world, and across generations, can still kindle a little light. Every chapter tells a new story from a different personage. Although these stories are beautifully linked, I found it sometimes a bit difficult to get into the flow again and puzzle the pieces together. Still, absolutely beautiful and a little sad how the stories eventually intertwine.

[Naomi Guian]

A book that will never leave me for as long as i live.

This was the first book i read by him. After searching hopelessly for Kite Runner and Thousand Splendid Suns i fell upon this masterpiece.

For me, this was my first love book by him. this book is where i fell in love with his writing. His words, his world building, the love he expresses in every relationship he writes about.

I feel honored to have experienced his stories

[Lindalee]

This is the life story of a brother and sister who start their lives in Afghanistan, and whose lives often left them with wrenching losses. We see them, and the others in their lives, mostly doing the best they can as well-intentioned humans. My only reservation (which is minor) is that the transitions between characters and times are sometimes confusing. I found it a worthwhile book.

[Shahenda Kandil]

I love Khaled Hosseini, I love his writing and the way he makes you feel towards ideas you may not personally approve of... but I just feel there was too many stories to comprehend, and sometime I get to attached to the characters and I don't want to move on, I felt that some stories still needed more closure.
But I still recommend it greatly... Hosseini's books cannot be left unread.

[Lake Wales Public Library]

Overall, everyone thoroughly enjoyed "And the Mountains Echoed" by Khaled Hosseini. While the group found the story informative and engaging, the only minor criticism was an occasional confusion on the geographic location of the various inter-lapping stories. A definite recommendation.

[Jane]

THIS IS A WONDERFUL BOOK - and it's a good thing because, when it sounded familiar, I checked and found that I had another copy of it on my Kindle, and I had read it 7 months ago! But it is so wonderfully written, I just might read it again (but this time, I won't bother to repurchase!)

[Nathan Porter]

Ive read his other books and unfortunately, this one is not a page turner.. It's more an observation of a series of character's lives without a clear intent. Lacked punch and I found myself looking forward to the book ending.

[Nancy]

At least the characters were more multidimensional/nuanced than in "A Thousand Splendid Suns." Yet the multiple loosely connected plotlines were more disorienting than enthralling, and left me feeling none too much for any of the numerous scattered characters.

[Sallie Bedall]

Not as good as his other two.

[Anne]

Good story, but I liked the Kite Runner and a Thousand Splendid Suns much better. The stories within stories didn't hold my attention like the previous two books did.

[Jane]

I really only re-read And The Mountains Echoed but I wanted credit for reading it this year. Obviously I enjoyed this book.

[Stephanie Ritchie]

Wonderful story

[Janetandco]

mindy's pic, july discussion 2015