A Whirlwind of a novel
If you're wondering whether "And the Mountains Echoed" is as good as "The Kite Runner" or "A Thousand Splendid Suns" then the answer is no - it's better. A novel that spans generations from the 1950s to the early noughties and across continents from Afghanistan to Paris, this is truly a mammoth of a book. Hosseini delicately intertwines the stories of many characters together, giving vast details of the drama in their lives. The main characters of the book are Abdullah and his younger sister, Pari. Acting more as a parent than a sibling, Abdullah truly adores Pari and often fended for her when she was a baby, he also trades his shoes for a feather for her collection. Something happens - and I won't say what - that tears their lives apart forever. Their stories are at the beginning and end of the novel, with a hint of mention in the middle. Other stories include that of the Wahdatis and their driver, cook and housekeeper, Nabi, also that of two cousins, Timur and Idris, neighbours of the Wahdatis.
This novel is crafted masterfully with grace and elegance in the language, forming delicate but poignant imagery from descriptions of places, people and feelngs. Hosseini has really outdone himself when it comes to this novel and it was a very enjoyable read from start to finish. I can only hope that everyone else enjoys the novel as much as I did.
