I love Khalad Hosseini novels, not only because of his skill and abilities to transport us so that we are face to face with the tragedy and injustice that occurs on a daily basis for many of our fellow human beings, but because of his seamless
and somehow upbuilding narrative.
His characters may inhabit different countries and live in varying cultures, but we recognise and share the same emotions and feelings that make us human. He is a weaver of words and language, presenting a rich fabric
of magic and wonder, magnifying simple things and events that enrich our lives, contrasting these against a dramatic and complex backdrop of history and events that shape of generations, often with devastating effect.
Regardless of seemingly hopelessness
and futility, he can show us the incredible resilience of individuals that refuse to give up and who doggedly survive, in spite of overwhelming odds.
A BRIEF PROFILE
Hosseini was born in 1965 into a Shia family in Kabul, Afghanistan.
He and his family moved to Iran in 1970 where his father worked for the Embassy of Afghanistan. He moved with his family to Paris, France where his father took up a new posting.
They were unable to return home due to the Saur Revolution (1978) in which
the communist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) overthrew the existing government with the aid of the Afghanistan Army.
The Hosseini family sought political asylum in 1980 and settled in California. Khalad studied medicine, graduating
in 1993 and practised medicine for over 10 years. He "had very fond memories of his childhood" in a peaceful pre-Soviet era Afghanistan as well as his personal experience with the Hazara people, Shia Muslims who are the third largest ethnic population in Afghanistan.
His connections with the Hazara people led to the writing of his first novel, the Kite Runner.
His latest bio notes tell us that he has sold over 38 million books, not counting sales of his latest, in over 70 countries.
The following is a brief summary of each of his 3 novels to date.
THE KITE RUNNER (2003)
The Kite Runner is set in Afghanistan in the 1970's. Twelve-year old Amir is desperate to win the local
kite-fighting tournament, with the aid of his young loyal friend, Hassan. Neither boys can imagine what will happen to Hassan that afternoon, something so awful it shatters their lives.
After the Russians invade and the family is forced to seek refuge
in America, Amir realises that he must return to Afghanistan now under Taliban rule to find the one thing that his new world experience can not hold out for him: redemption.
This book is gut-churning and yet so beautifully written and descriptive.
Again, the magic kites and their colourful movements, the intricacy of this simple activity that was central to the young boys is delightful to read and then Hosseini throws you headlong into the dark reality that so many of our young have to endure.
I
also loved the film of the book which captured the darkness and light of lives, and how one horrible personal event can have the ripple effect of changing other people's perception and realities for years.
A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS
(2007)
This wonderful novel is certainly a tribute to the resilience and fortitude of Afghanistan women. It narrates the story of Mariam who at only 15 years is sent to Kabul to marry Rasheed, a much older and unappealing man. Of course she
has no say in the matter and stoically goes ahead with the arrangement. He proves to be sort of reasonable in a gruff way, but the relationship is very much taken for granted and she just learns to accept it. He also turns quite violent and aggressive, especially
about her cooking, and she grows fearful and helpless
Then two decades later she develops a friendship with a local teenager, Laila, who she gravitates to, and treats as her own daughter. They form a beautiful bond with mutual love and respect. When
the Taliban take over, their lives become a desperate struggle against starvation,brutality and fear. Their story again shows the unexpectedness of events that can crush, and yet how some can overcome the most tragic and daunting events that reveal resilience
and heroism.
AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED (2013)
My new daughter-in-law gave me this book as a gift, not realising that I had already read his other two books. What a beautiful surprise!
His new book is another
masterpiece, so intricately woven that you wonder how he is going to stitch all its parts together, and yet he does so, over years, across countries and cultures. Starting with a strong emotional thread of a story, that highlights filial love and the
importance and pleasure of small things, Hosseini builds a blockbuster of a book that contains many characters and players of events that hold disparate people together. He once again demonstrates how often seemingly necessary decisions (a finger must be cut
off to save the hand) have tragic emotional and psychological impact not only on those who make them, but on all those around them, often in indirect yet powerful ways.
The book illustrates the common threads of immigrants, strangers in a strange land
may seem to adapt to their new homelands, but who are inextricably linked to their roots over generations. It is a book that both mourns and celebrates the lost and found, the small events that are embedded in the larger ones and most importantly, the universality
of emotions and the importance of knowing who you are.
I don't know how this epic could be held together in a film but would love to see it made into a six part series where you can follow each character, whose life experiences are as uniquely worthy
as any other to be included. It was a wonderful and sustaining read.