Daren
The form of this novel is a series of interconnected short stories from three generations of an Afghan family, plus some bystanders! Separated at a young age brother and sister Abdullah and Pari go on to live very different lives, and their stories are told in both their own sections of the book and those of others.
Each of the stories have overlapping timelines, flashbacks and some non-linear sections. They vary slightly within their format for each character, but are largely able to be followed as one section leads to the next. The author does have some fun with starting a section vague and not sharing who the character is for the first few pages.
Based initially in Afghanistan, the story is sad and often the circumstances grim. Later the story moves to other settings, Paris, the Greek island of Tinos and San Francisco.
Hosseini is a great storyteller, but the multiple point of view format didn't work as well as the dual narrative in his earlier books. It was still an enjoyable enough read, but on the basis it was just less satisfying that his others, this sits at 3.5 stars.
The form of this novel is a series of interconnected short stories from three generations of an Afghan family, plus some bystanders! Separated at a young age brother and sister Abdullah and Pari go on to live very different lives, and their stories are told in both their own sections of the book and those of others.
Each of the stories have overlapping timelines, flashbacks and some non-linear sections. They vary slightly within their format for each character, but are largely able to be followed as one section leads to the next. The author does have some fun with starting a section vague and not sharing who the character is for the first few pages.
Based initially in Afghanistan, the story is sad and often the circumstances grim. Later the story moves to other settings, Paris, the Greek island of Tinos and San Francisco.
Hosseini is a great storyteller, but the multiple point of view format didn't work as well as the dual narrative in his earlier books. It was still an enjoyable enough read, but on the basis it was just less satisfying that his others, this sits at 3.5 stars.