| The reader is first introduced to Pari, a very young girl who has a love for bird feathers and her brother, Abdullah, who feels very protective of his sister since their mother died. The young siblings from Afghanistan are soon going to be separated due to circumstances beyond their control. Their father, Saboor, has tried to help Abdullah understand why this must be by telling him a folktale on the eve of the sibling's separation that somewhat mirrors what is about to transpire the following morning. The love these siblings have for each other makes the reader want to know what happens once they are separated; however, what Hosseini does is take us down another path, an offshoot of sorts, from what Saboor's decision does for generations to come, and we go on to meet a fascinating cast of characters, including Parwana, Nabi, Suleimon Wahdati, Idris, Roshi, and so many others with page-turning tales.
There are hints of more unrest about to occur in this volatile country and how the wars it must wage effects people who simply want to love, live and find some sense of peace in their lives. The author, who is originally from Kabul, has a magical way with words, as he proved with his first two bestselling novels. The story begins in the year 1952 and concludes by the time Abdullah and Pari have reached old age. Hosseini does not give in to fluff or feel a need to neatly tie all the loose ends in the well-developed lives of his characters, so some readers may be somewhat disappointed when they reach the last page; however, that device reflects life and will give book groups something to discuss for years to come. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book? - depressed Time/era of story - 1960's-1970's Ethnic/Regional/Religion Other aspects: Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Ethnic/regional/gender life Yes Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Nationality Setting Desert? Yes Desert: - hostile arabs Writing Style Sex in book? Yes Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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