And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

This is a somewhat splintered collection of inter-related short stories set out in 9 chapters. Spanning from the 1950s to present day, each chapter is told from the point of view of a different, seemingly unrelated, character whose connection to the main thread of the story is then slowly unveiled. On reflection, I don’t believe it matters whether you read the chapters in sequence, though the starting point must be the parable in the first chapter, the tone of which is reflected throughout the entire novel. The point is, it is disjointed & jumbling up the chapters would not make it any more so.

The clear pervasive theme is of complicated familial relationships and the way past choices haunt the present, demonstrating the far-reaching ripple effect of these choices. What may seem like a good idea at the time is, in hindsight, very far from it. I particularly like an observation made by one of the characters about the perilously thin line between a visionary & a fool. But then again, it isn’t a new insight.

I confess I did not finish ‘The Kite Runner’ some years back, having set it aside halfway through after I could not stomach what I perceived to be bad writing about a string of contrived coincidences. And though this time I did finish ‘And the Mountains Echoed’, I cannot say that my opinion of this author has changed. I would sum up this book as time wasted. For me, that is, as a reader. But no doubt legions would disagree with me.

The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak

A heartbreaking tale of life for ordinary Germans in Nazi Germany during WWII. Ordinary Germans who were not card-carrying members of the Nazi party (although some were, as a mechanism for survival), nor did they feel love for the Führer or hate for the Jew. Just ordinary Germans trying to cope through tremendous hardships in their lives.

Extraordinarily though, it is narrated by the Grim Reaper. And with a difference, in that he's depicted as someone just doing a job. He's very matter of fact about it, death being part of the cycle of life & all that, but he can't help but feel concern about about some of his charges. Like those who he feels he's had to visit too early or the grief of those left behind after his visit. "It kills me sometimes, how people die." he laments.

He feels for humans - "Even death has a heart." he tells us. And perceiving  the human capacity to struggle onwards, he observes, "I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race - that rarely do I ever simply estimate it."

The protagonist is a young girl, given up to foster parents, who genuinely love her. She is a tenacious & spirited young girl, who will not be put down & fights all her own battles. Initially illiterate, her foster father teaches her to read & in books (and words), she finds solace & provides it to others. There are numerous sub-plots, which I won't go into, as that would be giving the story away.

And the narrator? In his own words, "I do not carry a sickle or scythe. I only wear a hooded black robe when it's cold. And I don't have those skull-like facial features you seem to enjoy pinning on me from a distance. You want to know what I truly look like? I'll help you out. Find yourself a mirror while I continue." And that, "I'm haunted by humans."

I did the audiobook version of this book & was in tears as it was ending. A really moving tale, although it's aimed at the Young Adult reader. Sadly, I hear from the reviews of the film adaptation that the movie has not measured up to the book. But then again, when has it ever?

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

771 pages. The length doesn’t bother me, so long as I’m engaged, a book can go on forever as far as I’m concerned. But when it’s 771 pages of meandering prose touching on everything in tremendous detail, it can get excruciating & sometimes desultory. TMI, as some would say.

Donna Tartt’s writing is beautiful and evocative and she seems knowledgeable in a myriad of subjects. If you love New York (as I do), her descriptions of Manhattan will take you right there. You’ll learn about Rembrandt & his students – most notably the artist who painted The Goldfinch (who, interestingly, existed) & whose fate is shared tragic comedy style with his painting. You’ll also learn about drugs (both illegal & prescription), alcohol & their dependencies, antique furniture & the painstaking steps in their restoration… you get the drift.

About 80% through, the ball falls for me. Everything was hollow & there's only so much that good writing can save. The protagonist seemed the most self-absorbed character I had come across in a long time. Although his childhood friend was previously an engaging & favourite character, his antics become increasingly implausible. Leaving me cold.

Even so, I kept willing for a rebound. There must be a reason for all the rave reviews it has received. I get it, it’s a Bildungsroman. But like the bird in The Goldfinch, he is forever chained to a single point in time. Life is hard, we all know that. But we get through & experience joy from outside ourselves. This seems impossible for the protagonist & in the final pages, he finally addresses us, the reader. A little too late though.

80% in was also the turning point at which I just wished for the end to come quickly. And now that I’ve come to the end, I can only say, it should have come sooner.

And this is The Goldfinch painted by Carel Fabritius, the painting that features prominently in the start & end of the book, just very cursorily in between.