1. The novel begins with a tale of extraordinary sacrifice that has ramifications through the generations of families. What do you think of Saboor’s decision to let the adoption take place?

2. How are Nila and Nabi implicated in Saboor’s decision? What do you think of their motives?

3. Who do you think is the most pure or best intended of the three adults?

4. Do you think Pari would have had a happier life if she had stayed with her birth family?

5. The oak tree in Shadbagh plays an important role for many different characters. What is its significance in the story? What do its branches represent? Why do you think Saboor cuts it down? How does its stump come back as an important landmark later on?

6. And The Mountains Echoed begins in Afghanistan, moves to Europe and Greece, and ends in California, gradually widening its perspective. What do you think the author was trying to accomplish by including so many different settings and nationalities? What elements of characters’ different experiences would you say are universal?

7. What are your thoughts on the ending? Did it satisfy you? Were there any surprises in the ending? What would you change about it?

8. Which character do you think experienced the most significant personal growth throughout the story? What were the catalysts for this growth?

9. Discuss the theme of sacrifice that runs throughout the book. Which characters made the biggest sacrifices?

10. Which character did you find the most sympathetic? And the least?

11. In your opinion, what is the book “And The Mountains Echoed” about?

12. What do you think is the significance of the title?

13. Do you have a favorite line from the book? What is it?

14. “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, / there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” The author chose this 13th century Rumi poem as the epigraph for the book. Discuss the novel in light of this poem. What do you think is he saying about rightdoing and wrongdoing in the lives of his characters, or in the real world?