And the Mountains Echoed

By: Khaled Hosseini

Narrated by: Khaled Hosseini, Navid Negahban, Shohreh Aghdashloo

Length: 14 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

On May 21, 2013, the new novel from Khaled Hosseini: an unforgettable story about finding a lost piece of yourself in someone else.

Khaled Hosseini, the number-one New York Times best-selling 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 passing minute.

©2013 Khaled Hosseini (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Loved it

The author is a wonderful storyteller and I enjoyed the narration as well. I enjoyed this book as much as Hosseini's previous two books. His writing is so poetic and he is masterful at drawing you into each story that is told in this book. Truly enjoyable.

wonderful book!

Would you listen to And the Mountains Echoed again? Why?

This is one of those rare books that I may listen to a second time. The characters were unique and complex, and the story moved through time with a dreamlike quality. Yet it was one of the most grounded and realistic stories I have read in a long time. I loved Kite Runner, and I think this book shows new growth and maturity in Hosseini's writing.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I don't recall the names at the moment. Probably the little girl who was taken away, and grew up to be an academic.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Very good narration of both this and Kite Runner. I read the paper version of his second book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

it made me cry. and gasp in places.

Any additional comments?

most highly recommended!

Hosseini Delivers Another Beautifully Woven Tale

Would you listen to And the Mountains Echoed again? Why?

I have read Kite Runner and A Thousand Suns twice now, and have no doubt that I will come back to this listen to this book again.

What did you like best about this story?

It was a finally woven tale of how one decision made with good intentions leads to unrealized consequences that spans generations and countries. It's a tale of love, betrayal, loss, suffering, longing, secrets and how we can be connected to strangers in ways we never imagined. I also loved the historical context that Hosseini provides on the history of Afghanistan and its people and evolution of their culture.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Being able to listen to the narrators tell the story in their ethnic dialect was a whole new experience and extremely enjoyable! I am a Persian-American and to listen to the narrators tell the tale with accurate pronunciation was a fabulous experience, it made me feel as though I was experiencing the story first person.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A finally woven tale of how one decision made with good intentions leads to unrealized consequences that spans generations, connecting strangers in ways they never imagined.

Any additional comments?

Great book, great narration. I would highly recommend this audible book as a first time experience to those new to Audible!

Good Story horrible readers

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The story was great, but the readers were not clear english speaking readers. Therefore, I couldn't understand what they were reading most of the time.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The ending wasn't as suspenseful as I wanted it to be, but it was a sad and sweet ending.

Would you be willing to try another one of the narrators’s performances?

NO!

Hossieni NEVER disappoints!

I absolute LOVE this author! The intro is the absolute most attention grabbing hook I have ever experienced. HIGHLY recommend not only this book but this author. You will be so immersed in the experience that you will feel the emotions as the characters do. I have both read and listened to all of his books multiple times. This man is a story telling genius!

Side stories eventually come together

Listening was slightly difficult unless you can accomplish in an extended shorter time, long drive or flight. I was trying to listen with frequent interruptions and the way this story was delivered I was often confused as to which character I was following. Don’t get to attached to the side stories, but it was an interesting contribution to the overall development of the main story.

not sure what i just listened to

the first two chapters felt completely different from the test. the ending is so sad. i really don't know what to say or think about this book.

Amazing Book

I love all Khaled Hosseini books. I never forget the characters. They stay with you for many years. The accented audio added so much depth to the story! I didn't want the story to end!

Delivers from start to finish

I was captured and carried through a story that spans generations and told from multiple perspectives. loved it

Collection of interrelated short stories!

This book feels more like an anthology of the Afghani and Afghani diaspora experience. While all of the characters share connections, very few of the chapters overlap directly with one another and virtually all of them are told from different perspectives. It can feel disjointed (and soap-opera esque at times), but overall it is intriguing and worth a listen!
Performances:
Mr. Hosseini: 3.5/5 - knows the material best since he wrote it, but delivery can feel flat at times
Ms. Ashdaghloo. 5/5 - she is phenomenal and it is a pleasure to listen to all of her chapters. You feel like you know the character well when she is speaking
Mr. Negahban: 4/5 - does accents authentically for the characters, but overacts at times.