And The Mountains Echoed

Author: Khaled Hosseini
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 3 out of 5
Pages: 404
Date Started: 10 March 2024
Date Finished: 5 April 2024

"And the Mountains Echoed" takes readers on a poignant journey through Afghanistan in 1952, following the lives of Abdullah and his sister Pari in the village of Shadbagh. Through their struggles with poverty and harsh winters, their bond remains unbreakable, with Abdullah's deep love for Pari shining through every sacrifice he makes for her, even trading his only pair of shoes for a feather to add to her collection. Hosseini paints a vivid picture of their closeness, with touching scenes of them sleeping together, their heads touching, and their limbs tangled.

The story takes a dramatic turn when the siblings journey to Kabul with their father, unaware of the fate awaiting them. This event serves as a catalyst that tears their lives apart, illustrating the harsh realities of sacrifice and the unexpected consequences of our choices. As the narrative unfolds, Hosseini weaves together multiple lives and stories, from Kabul to Paris, San Francisco, and the Greek island of Tinos, showcasing the interconnectedness of humanity across generations and continents.

Central to the narrative are themes of love, sacrifice, and how our choices resonate through history. The pure love between Abdullah and Pari is contrasted with the forbidden relationship between Nabi and Wahdati, adding layers of complexity to the tale. Hosseini skillfully explores how people from diverse backgrounds and origins can impact each other's lives profoundly, despite their differences.

While the book begins with promise and creates an emotionally charged atmosphere, it eventually takes an unexpected turn that may leave some readers disappointed. As a fan of Hosseini's earlier works, I had high expectations for "And the Mountains Echoed" but found the narrative direction less satisfying than anticipated. However, the depth of insight, compassion, and wisdom in Hosseini's writing is undeniable, making this novel a thought-provoking exploration of the bonds that define us.

Favorite lines from the book:

• Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and right-doing, there is a field, I'll meet you there. - Rumi
• They say, Find purpose in your life and live it. But, sometimes, it is only after you have lived that you recognize your life had a purpose and likely one you never had in mind.
• The music was not Afghan but something Nila called Jazz, a kind of music that, I learned decades later as well, Mr Markos. To my ears, the random tinkling of the piano and the strange wailing of horns sounded inharmonious mess.
• Because even your graffiti artists spray Rumi on the walls.

The Pearl That Broke Its Shell

Author: Nadia Hashimi

Genre: Fiction

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Pages: 452

Date Started: 20 September 2022

Date Finished: 13 October 2022

Nadia Hashimi's "The Pearl That Broke Its Shell" is a deeply moving and thought-provoking novel that weaves together the stories of Shekiba and Rahima, two Afghan women from different generations who both experience the tradition of "bacha posh," a practice where a girl is dressed and raised as a boy when a family lacks sons. The narrative offers a powerful exploration of the challenges and resilience faced by Afghan women and the constraints imposed upon them by their society. Both Shekiba and Rahima are compelling characters, each navigating the complex realities of their times and standing as symbols of strength in the face of adversity. Rahima's courage in confronting societal norms and fighting for her own voice is a testament to the enduring spirit of Afghan women. The emotional roller coaster experienced throughout the story is a testament to the author's ability to connect readers with the characters and the harsh world they inhabit. The storytelling, which alternates between the past and present, provides a rich and multi-layered reading experience. The struggles and triumphs depicted in the narrative are poignant and timely, shining a light on the harsh realities faced by women in Afghanistan. Hashimi's narrative style keeps readers engaged and emotionally invested in the story, despite moments where the plot may feel a bit looser. "The Pearl That Broke Its Shell" serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggles of women around the world, highlighting the fight for basic rights and survival. The impact of war and societal norms on women is a central theme, and the novel succeeds in shedding light on these important issues. Overall, Nadia Hashimi's book is a powerful and emotionally resonant read that offers insight into the lives of Afghan women. It serves as a compelling narrative that invites readers to reflect on the challenges and triumphs of women in Afghanistan and beyond.

Favorite lines from the book:

• You're a fool to think these girls are better off rotting in this home instead of learning something in school.

• Madar-jan must have died looking at the face of God, Shekiba thought. Nothing else could have brought the look of peace so quickly.

• Why would Amrika be so upset after just one building was attacked? Half of our country had crumbled under Taliban. We are all thinking the same thing. If only Amrika would have been upset about that too.

• That is the problem with gifts, Madar-jan, they are always given away.

• People in our neighborhood weren’t starving but we all thought twice before throwing a scrap to a stray dog.

• Once married, girls no longer belonged to the families that raised them.

• I faintly remember her praying over me, mumbling something about my not having the same fate as her uncle's wives. I wonder if it was her prayers that protected me.

• Tell me this, how do you know what your naseeb is?

• The dress, the husband, the mother-in-law, I wishes I could toss them all aside.

• Naseeb. Was it really Jahangir’s destiny to be taken so young? Was it my naseeb never to see my son grow taller than me, to go to school, to help his father at work?

• I could hear them from down the hall and prayed along with them, hoping it did Jahangir some good. It did me none.

• Even a newborn can tell she is not wanted.

• I may have killed one of Abdul Khaliq’s children. But he had just killed another.

• But sometimes you have to act out of line, I suppose. Sometimes you have to take a chance if you want something badly enough.

• This life is difficult. We lose fathers, brothers, mothers, songbirds and pieces of ourselves. Whips strike the innocent, honors go to the guilty, and there is too much loneliness. I would be a fool to pray for my children to escape all of that. Ask for too much and it might actually turn out worse. But I can pray for small things, like fertile fields, a mother’s love, a child’s smile—a life that’s less bitter than sweet.

Sparks Like Stars

Author: Nadia Hashimi

Genre: Fiction

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Date Started: 15 July 2021

Date Finished: 21 July 2021

This is my second book by Nadia Hashmi, after 'A House Without Windows'. I bumped into this book in one of the Instagram accounts I follow, and the storyline sounded interesting. I also like the writing style of the author. Seems like I like to read stories of survival in both fiction and non-fiction genres. Khaled Hosseini is another favorite author of mine who writes about Afghanistan and its beauty.

The story starts with a ten-year-old girl Sitara Zamani, who is the daughter of the advisor for President Daoud Khan. The story starts in 1978, which is the pre-war, a golden era for Afghanistan. The grandchildren of President Daoud Khan and Sitara's family are close-knit and Sitara talks about how privileged she was while growing up, until the night, a military coup kills her entire family. A soldier who she recognizes as Shair takes her t his house who she thinks has killed her family.

Shair keeps Sitara with his family to protect her and during an argument with Sitara, he takes her and drops her off with an American woman. Antonia (Nia) Shepherd is an American diplomat working for the US Embassy in Kabul, who lives with her mother Tilly. Nia is determined to save Sitara and tries everything possible to get her to the United States. Sitara takes her sister's name Aryana Zamani, who was born in America and died two years later.

Sitara is smuggled into Pakistan by Tilly and some American hitchhikers, who are hiking through the hippie route. Sitara, now Aryana is a witness to the attack on US Embassy in November 1979. Aryana along with Tilly flies to the USA and is placed in a foster home, where the parents are abusive. Antonia adopts Aryana, which changes her name to Aryana Shepherd.

Aryana is a surgeon in New York and one day she meets a patient, Abdul Shair Nabi, almost thirty years after that unfortunate night. He was the same Shair, who had saved her and according to Aryana, had killed her family. The author then talks about how her memories of that night come back, and she presses Shair for the truth of her family's murder and looks for closure. The book also talks about how her past affects her relationships and the way she views the world. Aryana decides to visit Kabul to find the graves of her family and to give them a proper burial.

My favorite character was Sitara. Her will to survive, find closure, and overcome the trauma was compelling. Even though Aryana was traumatized at a very young age, she was resilient, and pursued her way to become a doctor, as her father had wished. The character of Antonia is well written too. Antonia had her own way of living and her own trauma and emotional baggage. But she had decided to save Sitara from war-torn Afghanistan and give her a chance at a good life.

This book was a roller coaster ride of 452 pages. There were many pages where I had blurred vision and wet cheeks! The story although swirled around Sitara or Aryana, it was a gripping story, and I could not have imagined the end. I felt that a girl who goes through seeing her family murdered to escaping the country with someone else's name escaping an abusive home to becoming a surgeon is a huge feat. I could see how the trauma of her past affected her relationships and the trigger situations. Sometimes I felt that she went through the survivor's guilt.

Aryana compares herself to Anastasia Romanov, who was the youngest daughter of Russian Tsar Nicholas II, whose entire family was executed. Aryana feels that Anastasia and herself are the same - trying to survive the murder of the family. Aryana holds a lot of hope that Anastasia was still alive for a long since her body was not found. Aryana is heartbroken when the archeologists find the body of Anastasia, which she feels was the defeat of her struggle to survive.

Favorite lines from the book:

• While Neelab was mesmerized by the gold and the stones, I was stunned by the ring's ability to outlive anyone who had worn it.

• The will to live is strongest in those who have a reason to live, something to save.

• Sometimes it's when people are silent that you hear them most clearly.

• You need no one to confirm you. You are everything you believe yourself to be.

• People are God's cruelest creations. They'll step on the smallest of backs to feel an inch taller.

• Whether by blood, by fire, or by default, to become a mother is no easy feat.

• Had Anastasia lived, would she have wished that she hadn't?

• Grief starts before anyone has gone missing.

• All I want is an accurate record of history. I want a truthful account of that night. I want something to mark the graves of my family so that the world can know that they lived and died. Truth matters.

• "Heaven and hell," Shair scoffs. "As if those are two separate places. As if you and I have not stood in both."

• Necessity isn't just the mother of invention. She's the mother of faith too.

• Shiva has powers of destruction, but re-creation as well, as one cannot happen without the other.

• I remember my father once telling me that whether prayers were made on a gold-threaded rug or on a straw mat, they carried the same weight with God.

• Prayer is you talking to God. But meditation is God talking to you.

• You know, we're so damned afraid that talking about the ones we've lost will hurt us as much as losing them did. So we just stop talking about them. But that's when we truly lose them.

• People have an easier time kissing their elbows than believing war touches kids.

• People keep living and growing and changing and dying whether we're here or not.