Proclaimer Blog
Summer reading review #3
And the mountains echoed is Khaled Hosseini's third novel – each of which is focused somehow on his native Afghanistan. The previous two (Kite Runner and A thousand splendid suns) are both moving and well written. This third is no exception. As with his previous two novels, I sometimes wonder if his early 20th Century view of Afghanistan is a bit too rosy, but who I am to say. In this novel, we find the harrowing story of a brother and sister split apart at birth and the tale of whether they will ever be reunited.
The writing is realistic without being sensationalist – good material for Christians in this sense. And the story is complex. It jumps around from person to person (with different voices narrating) and era to era. Within the main plot are a number of involving sub plots. Its testament to the writing of Hosseini that this doesn't distract from the book or reduce the enjoyment. On one level, this is a really good book.
But it is also (like his others) achingly and almost unbearably sad. It reduced me to tears and offered no real redemption. Even though there is a sort of reconciliation at the end, the circumstances surrounding it are so tinged with brokenness, that it ends up being a sad rather than uplifting experience. Like Kate Atkinson's book, here is a story that is longing for the redemptive power that only the gospel can bring. Although just a story, it leaves the reader in no doubt that unless there really is something better, life is pretty miserable.