How does eternal longing feel like?
Do we humans actually get to shape our destinies or are we mere puppets at the hand of fate?
If blood is thicker than water, why would familial relationships be tested by the challenges of life?
All these and so many more questions my mind asks me while I read through pages after pages; plots after plots of this absolutely intriguing novel by Khaled Hosseini.
The novel is an intricate piece of numerous sub-plots; like story of Saboor with his first wife and then with the second one; story of Parwana and Masooma; almost the main plot of Abdullah and his younger sister Pari; story of Suleiman Wahdati, his wife Nila Wahdati and Nabi; story of Nila and her family; story of Nila and Pari; story of the Bashiri brothers; story of Markos Varvaris, his mom and Thaliya; story of Mandeline and Thaliya; Story of Pari and Julien; Story of Pari and Julien and their children; Story of Iqbal and his family; Story of the Commander Sahib and Adel; story of Ms Amra and Roshana; story of Abdullah, his wife and Pari...so many convoluted but elaborate sub-plots connecting one to the other.
Each plot is abounding with the real emotions, the real expressions - all raw and profoundly consuming of life. Each character is portrayed in a way that beyond our liking leads us deep within the core of our being and mirrors every small fear, joy, exhilaration, pain, yearning, love, satisfaction, dissent, appraise and all of that that can be worded out.
The story unceasingly advances us to return and resound our thoughts and beliefs. Whether what we think is the best for all involved; does it pass the test of time and prove true or was it only a momentary good act which we thought was greater than life as a benefactor. The story beautifully sheds layers after layers of our boundless humane methods to love, care, support, help the other surfacing and questioning the legitimacy of our graciousness and benevolence.
To quote a few lines of the author himself:
"...I learned that the world didn't see the inside of you, that it didn't care a whit about the hopes and dreams, and sorrows, that lay masked by skin and bone. It was as simple, as absurd, and as cruel as that..."
"...it is that human behaviour is messy and unpredictable and unconcerned with convenient symmetries. But I find comfort in it, in the idea of a pattern, of a narrative of my life taking shape, like a photograph in a darkroom, a story that slowly emerges and affirms the good I have always wanted to see in myself. It sustains me, this story..."
Khaled is a master at his descriptions and his writing effortlessly peels and rips the abraded idiosyncrasies of human behaviour - which is by all means coarse, crude and rough but at all times blended with fondness and tenderness of our very being.
If you are someone who enjoys reading honest, authentic and substantial pieces of art, then And the Mountains Echoed is by all means what you must not miss. I've had a totally absorbing experience throughout my read of this intense novel.
Happy Reading until my next post:)
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