so

i finished the book. (despite some minor stomach heaving.)

my gut reaction: oh my. oh my oh my. and i cried.

my reaction a few days afterward: it all (and forgive how snotty this will sound) seemed so contrived. the pieces all added up a little too perfectly for me---the "you will lose your left eye" bit, the infertility, the quote from amir's dad about lying, the bad guy from the alley doing the same bad things to hassan's son, etc. i read a review that called it a modern day allegory, which made it a little easier to swallow, but still... i don't want to be force fed my poison. i was also put off by the random switches in tone---like when amir is in the hospital "fading out." gag. really. he couldn't think of a less cliche way of describing that scene?

anyway, i suppose for a first novel from a doctor, it's brilliant. but i wouldn't read it again. and i won't remember it fondly.

on to the next book, sarajane?