And the Mountains Echoed

Writer: Khaled Hosseini
Reviewed by: Mahan Baloch

And the Mountains Echoed is a famous and emotional novel written by Khaled Hosseini, who, with his beautiful soul, has a charismatic approach to portraying the shortcomings and weaknesses of society. However, his humanist approach has always proved to be powerful through the chambers of literature. Considering his literary works, he has devoted several books to the literary world, including “And the Mountains Echoed”, which has been reviewed.

The book was published in 2013 and revolves around love within a family, separation, sacrifice, as well as the hardships of life. The main characters are a brother and a sister named Abdullah and Pari, respectively.

The story begins in a small village in Afghanistan, where Abdullah and Pari live as siblings. Abdullah is a loving elder brother who takes great care of Pari. Their mother has died, while their father, Saboor, is a poor man.

Abdullah and Pari are deeply attached to each other. Abdullah even gives Pari his most precious feather to make her happy. They share a strong bond, and Abdullah cannot imagine life without his sister. One day, their father takes them to Kabul. Abdullah believes that they are going on a normal journey; however, he does not know that something very sad is about to happen.

Their father is poor and has many difficulties in feeding his children. Meanwhile, a wealthy couple in Kabul, Mr. and Mrs. Wahdati, want to adopt a child. Mrs. Wahdati does not  have children, so the family decides to give Pari to them.

Saboor is deeply hurt by this decision, but poverty and difficult circumstances force him to make this painful choice. He believes that Pari will have a better life with the wealthy family. When Pari is taken away, Abdullah is heartbroken. He cries and does not want to leave his sister. At the same time, he cannot understand why his father has separated them.

This is one of the saddest events in the novel.

Pari grows up in Kabul with the Wahdati family. She receives a comfortable life; nevertheless, she does not know much about her real family or her brother, Abdullah.

Mrs. Wahdati loves Pari but remains unhappy because of the loss of her previous loved ones. Mr. Wahdati, on the other hand, is a quiet and complicated man.

After some times, Mrs. Wahdati leaves the family. Consequently, Pari grows up without knowing the full truth aboput her separation. She often feels that something is missing from her life.

Meanwhile, Abdullah never forgets his sister. He remembers her throughout his life and continues to love her. He feels great pain because he has lost the person who was closest to him. His separation from Pari affects his entire life.

As Abdullah grows older, he moves to America. Even after many years, he still remembers Pari along with the happy days they spent together.

Furthermore, the novel does not tell only Abdullah and Pari’s story. It also follows the lives of many other people whose stories are connected in different ways. Through these characters, the novel explores love, separation, sacrifice, and the impact of difficult decisions on human lives.

We also learn about Nabi, who works for the Wahdati family. Nabi knows the truth about Pari’s adoption and carries this secret for many years.

Moreover, the story introduces other characters whose lives are affected by poverty, war, and difficult decisions.

Through these characters, the author shows that one decision can change the lives of many people, but love always remains. Eventually, Abdullah and Pari meet again after many years. However, their reunion is not simple. Abdullah has grown old and suffers from memory problems. He cannot remember Pari clearly. Pari, however, tries to discover the truth about her past and her family. She becomes emotional because she has finally found her brother. Their meeting is both beautiful and sad. Pari remembers the love they once shared, but Abdullah cannot fully recognize her.

This shows that time can change people; nevertheless, love and memories always remain important.

The central message reflected in this novel is that a person we truly love is never completely forgotten. Sometimes, the person we want most, leaves us, yet the memories of them never allow us to return completely to our former selves.

Our actions may belong to us, but their consequences can affect the lives of others. Love and sacrifice are important parts of life; sometimes, however, people find happiness only after facing great difficulties.

My obsession with this book is because it tells a heart touching story about a brother and a sister. The separation of Abdullah and Pari is a saddening story.

The novel also makes us think about how a single moment can change a person’s life within a minute.

It is obvious that difficult decisions sometimes have to be made. However, Khaled Hosseini, with his literary soul, describes these difficulties, hardships, and human emotions in a very powerful manner.

In a nutshell, “And the Mountains Echoed” is a beautiful and unforgettable novel worth reading. The story of Abdullah and Pari shows us that the love between brothers and sisters is precious beyond measure. Their separation changes their lives forever, but their love remains till the last breath.

Baloch Students Action Committee