With his debut novel, author Khaled Hosseini takes us to Afghanistan. An Afghanistan that was still untouched by the Taliban, where we weave through crowded streets, climb poplar trees, nibble on dried mulberries and walnuts and spend lazy holidays readings books with 12-year-old Amir and his servant boy and best friend, Hassan.
To gain the approval of his silently critical father, motherless- Amir is desperate to win a prestigious, local kite-flying tournament. Hassan loyally promises to help his friend, little knowing how this one day would change the course of both their lives forever.
‘The Kite Runner’ is about friendship and brotherhood and fathers and sons. Of relationships that strain against the boundaries of trust. Of circumstances and personal devils. Of unconditional love and unsullied trust. Of redemption and guilt and the power of freedom and forgiveness. Of the mistakes we make and the mistakes that make us.
A credible story that comes full circle across continents, from an unblemished Afghanistan to modern America and back to a war-torn, Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. A story that reminds you how one moment can change your entire life. The simplest writing that you can come across, which reminds you how difficult it is to write in simple words.
There are books that punch you violently and you are left reeling from the blow for a long, long time (The Fight Club-Chuck Palahniuk)
Books that impress you with exquisite language and minute detailing (Shantaram-Gregory David Roberts)
Classics that can be quoted by generation after generation (Gone with the wind-Margaret Mitchell)
A ‘bible’ like ‘The Godfather’ which is treasured like a family heirloom.
And sometimes there comes a book that quietly seeps into your being and stays there forever. A book that is so simply written, that it can only be felt. That book is, ‘The Kite Runner’.
I agree with your assessment of Kite Runner. It is one of the most uncomfortable books I’ve come across, and yet reading it has been one of the most intellectually satisfying experience. Brilliant, is how I would describe it.
Hey Ashish!:)
Welcome to the blog!:)
You found Kite Runner uncomfortable?Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.I wonder why?
I found it to be one of the most complete and brilliantly(agree with you on that) written books in a long, long time:)
M! Thanks for writing this review! Its done beautifully.
I agree, its quite an experience and one that prompts you to think, acknowledge and question your own actions and beliefs.
“A boy who wont stand up for himself becomes a man who can’t stand up for anything”.
“And thats the thing about people who mean everything they say. They think everyone else does too”
Both the statements hold so much of depth and summarize the two characters for me.
A very touching tale and not easy to let go……
Iris:)
Thank you:)
Glad you enjoyed reading it.
Both the statements that you mention, I belive in them too and they stayed in my mind, among the other wonderful observations, by the author.
It definitely was a touching story. I have also reviewed the book here: http://recommendbooks.blogspot.com/2009/07/kite-runner-by-khaled-hossieni.html
I did not like Hosseini's second book "A thousand splendid suns" too much.
I don’t remember crying buckets reading any other book, but this one ripped my heart apart. That winning kite competition, Hassan’s murder, his son trying to commit suicide or coming to US, it all felt like a pain I was myself put through.
You reviewed it nicely, Mayuri. I tried, but sadly, I couldn’t go through the pain of revisiting it. ‘For you a thousand times over!’
Thanks for reading, Varsha. I have read this book almost a dozen times, and I still cry buckets each time. My all time favorite book, ever.
A brilliant book that depicts the rich culture of Afghanistan. This is one of my treasures in by book collection.
The only thing that I did not like was the hurried end.