In this tale revolving around not just parents and children but brothers and sisters, cousins and caretakers, Hosseini explores the many ways in which families nurture, wound, betray, honor, and sacrifice for one another; and how often we are surprised by the actions of those closest to us, at the times that matter most.
Following its characters and the ramifications of their lives and choices and loves around the globe—from Kabul to Paris to San Francisco to the Greek island of Tinos—the story expands gradually outward, becoming more emotionally complex and powerful with each turning page.
And The Mountains Echoed is a historical fiction work about family that surrounds the globe. The first third of this book was by far the best, sucking you into the story just like the fable that author Hosseini starts with. By the middle of the book, there are so many characters with different story lines that I became confused, yet I also knew they would somehow connect. Sadly the flow and commitment to these characters wasn’t there and I found myself hurrying to find out what happened to the original characters Abdullah and Pari from the first part of the book. Thankfully, he wraps up with that story but for me, this book didn’t have the heart that usually comes from this amazing author, known for his earlier work, The Kite Runner, which is one of my all time favorite books.
Quotes I liked:
I now know that some people feel unhappiness the way others love: privately, intensely, and without recourse.”
– “It blistered the eyes, beauty like hers.”
– “And there wasn’t a toy on earth that could make up for his father’s absence.”
– “J’aurais du etre plus gentille-I should have been more kind. This is something a person will never regret. You will never say to yourself when you are old, Ah, I wish I was not good to that person. You will never think like that.”
– “Beauty is an enormous, unmerited gift given randomly, stupidly.”
-“It’s a funny thing… but people mostly have it backward. They think they live by what they want. But really, what guides them is what they’re afraid of. What they don’t want.”
Too bad to hear that this one isn’t quite as powerful as his others. I am still interested in giving it a try, but on the whole I haven’t heard as many good things as I did with his other two.
I know… I think after a mega hit like the Kite Runner nothing he writes will compare! He’s still a poetic writer and you should still read his latest book.
Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this multi-million-copy New York Times bestseller is the definitive manual for anyone interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control – from the author of The Laws of Human Nature. I... read more
Review:Drive Me Crazy by Carly Robyn blew me away with its humor, heart, and heat. I’m newer to rom-com (Romantic Comedy) and after reading quite a few of them, I totally think that this one shines above.Full disclosure, I know the author quite well. She’s my daughter; but it’s the honest truth when I say I loved the heck out of this book. I was literally laughing out loud at some points and fell hard in love with Blake, the broody Brit, and Ella, the relatable journalist who could be my BFF.The pacing of the story was spot on as I fell into the fast-paced life of an F1 driver, and the toll racing takes on both their minds and bodies. I appreciated the slow burn to the ultimately spicy and steamy romance. It made the wait and tension totally worth the wait! For me, smart conversation and good banter can make or break a book. This one had so much wit and humor that I’d be happy with that alone.The settings in this book take the reader all around Europe which makes for great escapes. Ella, who hails from Chicago before moving to New York, offers many local references which I loved.On top of the heart, humor and heat, there are also some serious issues woven through the book such a loss of a parent, mental illness, and sexual abuse. These issues are presented with sensitivity and care.Bottom line, if you’re looking for a book to make you laugh with a good dollop of spice, pick this one up. Readers are all saying they can’t wait for the second in the series.@carlyrobynauthor 📘Have you ever watched an Formula One race? OR Favorite trope in rom-coms? ... See MoreSee Less
Too bad to hear that this one isn’t quite as powerful as his others. I am still interested in giving it a try, but on the whole I haven’t heard as many good things as I did with his other two.
I know… I think after a mega hit like the Kite Runner nothing he writes will compare! He’s still a poetic writer and you should still read his latest book.