Posts
After I finished the book, I sat still for quite a long time, the book on my lap, a faint ghost of a smile on my lips. And I know we all love books that do that to us! To all those who love Khaled Hosseini, "we share an interesting quirk, c'mon, let's be friends" :)
Out of all the myriad quotes that describe the umpteen qualities that should adorn an author's creative paraphernalia, I love a simple one the best. He should "make 'em smile, make 'em cry, make 'em wait." And this man is best at this!
This latest from him will prove to be a good read to all Hosseini fans, and for me, this was the best of the three. The Bloomsbury guys have done a superb design job, the pages etched with imprints of feathers, which play an important part in the story. His language is precise, poetic and purrfect!
The novel opens with one of the lead characters narrating a fable, supposedly Afghan,but like all fables, an Indian or Malayalam version was already familiar to me. Unlike the previous novels, this presents a medley of characters and a number of locales ranging from Afghanistan, Greece and Paris.All Hosseini novels embody the fact that life is neither black nor white and this is no exception. I'm a person who has this tendency to flinch at overtly dramatic and cliched moments in a story. I'm afraid it takes much to convince me as far as drama is concerned. And this is exactly why I love his works.Most writers might tend to argue with me on this point on the inevitability of drama, but I think that drama has to be camouflaged at most occasions.when Hosseini says "this happened", you know that was bound to happen.You realize this is life.You feel and cry for characters.(caution: a major catharsis takes place.) You realize how fate can be blatantly cruel to people like Thalia and yet, you marvel at her strength.You realize you haven't gone through anything. You stop taking things for granted. You realize that life is drastically different from the soaps and Karan Johar films you see. You realize that the heroine doesn't slip on a banana skin and fall into the hero's outstretched arms. You know that they aren't exactly going to live happily ever after. You know that life isn't as simple as that.
At the same time you know that life isn't wailing in tears. You realize that life has got more issues than facing a demonish mother in law. You know life is difficult, and you know that you can pull through- with a smile on your face.Throw your self improvement guides to the winds and grab a copy of And the Mountains Echoed. Live life:)
Khaled Hosseini is the master of the art of smiling between tears.Heck, I love this guy!
Out of all the myriad quotes that describe the umpteen qualities that should adorn an author's creative paraphernalia, I love a simple one the best. He should "make 'em smile, make 'em cry, make 'em wait." And this man is best at this!
This latest from him will prove to be a good read to all Hosseini fans, and for me, this was the best of the three. The Bloomsbury guys have done a superb design job, the pages etched with imprints of feathers, which play an important part in the story. His language is precise, poetic and purrfect!
The novel opens with one of the lead characters narrating a fable, supposedly Afghan,but like all fables, an Indian or Malayalam version was already familiar to me. Unlike the previous novels, this presents a medley of characters and a number of locales ranging from Afghanistan, Greece and Paris.All Hosseini novels embody the fact that life is neither black nor white and this is no exception. I'm a person who has this tendency to flinch at overtly dramatic and cliched moments in a story. I'm afraid it takes much to convince me as far as drama is concerned. And this is exactly why I love his works.Most writers might tend to argue with me on this point on the inevitability of drama, but I think that drama has to be camouflaged at most occasions.when Hosseini says "this happened", you know that was bound to happen.You realize this is life.You feel and cry for characters.(caution: a major catharsis takes place.) You realize how fate can be blatantly cruel to people like Thalia and yet, you marvel at her strength.You realize you haven't gone through anything. You stop taking things for granted. You realize that life is drastically different from the soaps and Karan Johar films you see. You realize that the heroine doesn't slip on a banana skin and fall into the hero's outstretched arms. You know that they aren't exactly going to live happily ever after. You know that life isn't as simple as that.
At the same time you know that life isn't wailing in tears. You realize that life has got more issues than facing a demonish mother in law. You know life is difficult, and you know that you can pull through- with a smile on your face.Throw your self improvement guides to the winds and grab a copy of And the Mountains Echoed. Live life:)
Khaled Hosseini is the master of the art of smiling between tears.Heck, I love this guy!
