A Book Review of “And the Mountains Echoed”

Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you! This is my first post of 2014 and I’m starting it off with a review. You see, I received from Santa a new Kindle Fire and I’ve been putting it to good use. 😉 I’m going to read a little more this year because there are just so many darn good books out there and it’s a great way to relieve stress.

One of the first books I bought was “And the Mountains Echoed” by Khaled Hosseini.

Khaled Hosseini, the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, has written a new novel about how we love, how we take care of one another, and how the choices we make resonate through generations. In this tale revolving around not just parents and children but brothers and sisters, cousins and caretakers, Hosseini explores the many ways in which families nurture, wound, betray, honor, and sacrifice for one another; and how often we are surprised by the actions of those closest to us, at the times that matter most. Following its characters and the ramifications of their lives and choices and loves around the globe—from Kabul to Paris to San Francisco to the Greek island of Tinos—the story expands gradually outward, becoming more emotionally complex and powerful with each turning page.

My Thoughts:

I read his first two books and I must say I read both of them in one day. They were that good!

This third book I didn’t like as much and I think the reason is because it dealt with the separation of a brother and sister.  Now that I have kids, I’m very sensitive to anything that could disrupt a child’s life. I automatically imagine my boys in a similar situation and it upset me. My boys are so close that I know it would tear each of them apart to be separated like the siblings were in this story.

However, that being said, the story was well written. This author is very descriptive and I love his way with words. That hasn’t changed from his first two books.

The story evolves and illustrates the complex relationships within families. It reflects the complicated dynamics that evolve among the members and the choices that they make because of them. It’s a great story, well written and at times disturbing and emotional.

So if you’re looking for a good read on a snowy day. This one’s a good pick. If you haven’t read his other two books, “The Kite Runner” and “A Thousand Splendid Suns,” pick those up too. They’re even better! 🙂

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I hope you enjoyed my post. Leave a comment if you’d like to share your thoughts on any of the books  by Khaled Hosseini.

Let’s Thank our Troops

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you! The post today is short and sweet but it does come from the heart. 🙂  The Christmas season is upon us and it’s my favorite holiday! Even though the holidays are stressful, I love giving gifts and sending cards. The spirit of giving during this time of year is wonderful and it does a person good.

I see this spirit everywhere in the community, the Toys for Tots program, the Salvation Army, and even the schools are getting involved in giving to those who are in need.

This is one thing that I really love about the United States. I wouldn’t want to live in any other country. I know we have our problems, but let’s face it…it’s the best country to live in…especially for women.

I base the above comment on a book that I read a few years ago. I read it in one day. It’s a fictional story, but I believe the description of life for women in that country is accurate. I also feel the political unrest portrayed in the book is true to life. The book I’m talking about is titled “The Kite Runner”. I highly recommend it. It’s an eye opening experience and it made me appreciate the country where I reside.

To check out this book click on the link below:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Kite-Runner-ebook/dp/B000OCXGZA

So, now that the Christmas season is here and we’re thankful for all we have. Let’s remember the troops that keep our way of life safe for us. And even though we have problems, they are nothing compared to what the people in other countries suffer.

So take a moment and send a Thank you Note or a Christmas card to the troops who are stationed in Afghanistan. Here’s a link that will explain how to do that. 🙂

http://action.uso.org/action/thank-you-letter?sc=OM_Google-P_Afghanistan-C_AF-Hero-Military=www.ehow.com_thank&page=GG&donate=WW11VLP268&gclid=CNXijsrNg7QCFckWMgodiAEApw

The link above allows you to send our troops a Thank you e-mail. They also ask for a donation…but if you can’t spare a few dollars…don’t worry about it. The thank you message should be enough. 🙂

If you’d like to send a physical card or letter, you can drop it off at your local Red Cross location and they will send it for you.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post and if you could take a few minutes and send a thank you e-mail it would be greatly appreciated. The troops overseas won’t be able to see their families this Christmas…because they’re busy keeping our way of life safe for us. So send them a quick note! They’ll appreciate it!