A review by henrytinker
And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I didn't like this as much as Kite Runner or ATSS. It started strong, and I was really hoping that the engagement with Afghan folklore would continue. Unfortunately, it felt very disconnected, and was more like a short story collection than a novel. There were stories that I didn't really understand why they were there (Parwana's and Markos's), and then omissions such as Paris' return to Shadbagh, which should be a huge emotional moment, just being a brief mention by Markos. 

I rated this so low because as a disabled person, I really hated how the author wrote about disability. I'm confused why he decided to write about so many types of disability, and yet still made all the depictions offensive stereotypes. Two of the characters are euthanasised after consistently being portrayed as burdens to their loves ones, this is a dangerous stereotype to perpetuate. 
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