And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

From the New York Times:

"And so we finish this novel with an intimate understanding of who his characters are and how they’ve defined themselves over the years through the choices they have made between duty and freedom, familial responsibilities and independence, loyalty to home and exile abroad. All this, played out against the backdrop of Afghanistan’s tumultuous history — from the pre-Soviet era through the years of the mujahedeen’s fight against the Soviet Union, the rise of the Taliban and the American invasion after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11."

I couldn't have summarized any better.  

I enjoyed this novel more than Hosseini's previous one, 10,000 Splendid Suns.  Of course the setting is the same, and as with both his previous works, the challenges of life lived in Afghanistan since the 1950s is portrayed in heart-wrenching detail.  This book focuses on childhood relationships -- and there are multiple pairs of siblings and friends to keep track of throughout the story.  

In all three of his novels, Hosseini brings to light the plight of children living in that devastated country.  In this story, the relationships are tested by distance and jealousy.  But mostly, it is the story of how people grapple with survival amidst poverty, corruption, and physical hardships.  Hosseini's common theme is resilience.  Two specific examples of this in this current novel involve young girls with devastating facial injuries: one inflicted by her enraged step-father, the other by a step-father's favorite pet dog.  Of course, the implication here is the often cruel circumstance young girls and women find themselves enduring in this culture.  But Hosseini provides a counterpoint by portraying strong, dedicated and caring adults  who help these girls overcome their burdens to build successful lives. 

I feel like I've dived into the deep-end of Islamic culture with my reading of Radical, In the Light of What We Know, and now And the Mountains Echoed.  I'm glad I've read them as they have helped broaden my understanding of that complicated culture just a little! But I think I'm ready for something a bit more lighthearted!