Book #3: And the Mountains Echoed

Khaled Hosseini is best known for this two prior books, “The Kite Runner” and “A Thousand Splendid Suns.” In his newest book, “And the Mountains Echoed,” he explores yet another piece of Afghan history that deals with changing governments and the intertwined qualities of being a family. The story is told chronologically from multiple perspectives and Hosseini does a great job of leaving the reader curious about how exactly one story relates to another.

The book starts with a parable about a monster that steals children from nearby Afghan villages. What is thought to be a terrifying monster is actually a generous being that provides for the children what their parents cannot. The story is told to Abdullah and Pari, the brother and sister whom the novel revolves around. Following the parable, Pari is sold to a wealthy family that cannot have children of their own and what ensues is stories told from every which perspective, making the reader wonder if these two separated siblings are ever reunited.

The stories told echo familiar themes within Hosseini’s work: class struggling, oppressive regimes, and the power of family. Hosseini has once again written a masterpiece that brings the history of Afghanistan to the attention of the reader.

http://www.andthemountainsechoed.com/