My first time reading Khaled Hosseini’s. Needless to say much about his writing, the world already knows what a talented writer he is! Bought this book at Big Bad Wolf 2016 at only RM15.
The core story is about Abdullah, who had lost his sister when they were little. So the whole storyline revolves around people who is connected and related (direct and indirectly) to them both, in which some has played big role for their reunion. Although the reunion is not something that you would predict at all when you first reading it.
It jumps from one decade to another, and from one person to another. So full concentration is needed here, eheh. But of all stories, I like Markos Varvaris’ the most. I like his mother’s character who is courageous and bold to do what’s right and she has a heart of gold. And also Thalia, who’s super-smart and strong despite her misfortune.
Conclusion: Everyone has their own story. The good, the bad, the successful, the tormented ones. Every one. I believe this is what makes a co-incidence - when the stories of each of us intersected each other. Whatever story that we are in now, somehow it shapes us - our way of thinking and our direction, which eventually leads us into someone else's story. That’s when we become a part of someone else’s life.
If they make a movie out of this novel, it would be like Love Actually or New Year’s Eve or Valentine’s Day (haha, excuse my lame examples), only it’s going to be a heavy, conflicting and deep one. Nothing cheesy. At all.
Among the words that I love in this book:
"A thousand tragedies per square mile” *regarding Kabul, Afghanistan*
"The rope that pulls you from the flood can become a noose around your neck"
“Time is like charm. You never have as much as you think”
And this one touches me the most 😭:
“I should have been more kind. That is something a person will never regret. You will never say to yourself when you are old, Ah, I wish I was not good to that person. You will never think that”
