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 globeโfrom Kabul to Paris to San Francisco to the Greek island of Tinosโthe 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 wasnโt there and I found myselfย 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 didnโt have the heart that usually comes from thisย 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.โ
– โIt blistered the eyes, beauty like hers.โ
– โAnd there wasnโt a toy on earth that could make up for his fatherโs absence.โ
– โJโaurais 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.โ
– โBeauty is an enormous, unmerited gift given randomly, stupidly.โ
-โIt’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.โ
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 โ from the author of The Laws of Human Nature. I... read more
Review:The Measure by Nikki Erlick was a book I waited far too long to read. I just couldnโt stomach the idea that everyone in the world would find out their relative life span. The whole idea of this scared me but when my book club chose to read it, I dug in with enthusiasm.Iโm so glad I did. This book is more about life and how we live it, rather than about dying. Itโs told by a cast of eight characters who are deeply affected by the strings they received. The length of the string parallels the length of your life. All the characters are struggling with their results because even if he or she gets a long string, there will still be people they know will be gone soon.How the world at large handles the strings was so well done. People are switching boxes hoping it could change their destiny. Support groups are offered. Protests occur. The world is in a very different place. Much of this book made me think about the differences between fate and destiny. This story offers many intertwined connections between the characters that makes for a powerful and meaningful ending. Iโm so looking forward to whatโs next from this author. @nikkierlick @williammorrowbooks William Morrow ๐ Would you open a box that told you how long your lifespan is?#themeasure #scifilight#bookreader #bookclubpick #goodbookfairy... 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.