The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini

fiction

by admin | on April 23rd, 2012 | 3 comments

By By Khaled Hosseini

Easily one of the most memorable books I’ve read recently. This beautifully written first novel by Hosseini presents a glimpse of life in Afghanistan before the Russian invasion and introduces richly drawn, memorable characters.

Quiet, intellectual Amir craves the attention of his father, a wealthy Kabul businessman. Kind and self-confident Hassan is the son of Amir’s father’s servant. The motherless boys play together daily, and when Amir wins the annual kite contest, Hassan offers to track down the opponent’s runaway kite as a prize. When he finds it, the neighborhood bullies trap and rape him, as Amir stands by too terrified to help. Their lives and their friendship are forever changed, and the memory of his cowardice haunts Amir as he grows into manhood.

Hassan and his father return to the village of their ancestors, and later Amir and his father flee to Los Angeles to avoid political persecution. Amir attends college, marries, and fulfills his dream of becoming a writer. When Amir receives word of his former friend’s death under the Taliban, he returns to Kabul to learn the fate of Hassan’s son.

It does take a despairing note in between, but what I loved most is the way it ended.

In hope.

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Comments (3)

Notabookwormbut... Sunday - 24 / 06 / 2012 Reply

I watched a bit of 'The Kite Runner' but then I was very young to understand all the politics and other things in the film. Reading the book might be different, hopefully. Good Review though, it summarises the story well
gill Tuesday - 20 / 11 / 2012 Reply

It was a heart touching expierience and I wouldn't say it one of the most beautiful,rather i would like to declare it as the most beautiful novel I have ever read in my life.......all i can say after reading this novel is that i have become a big fan of Khaled Hosseni and definitely I'm gonna read his another one too.........!!!!!
Soumi Thursday - 18 / 04 / 2013 Reply

One of my first venture into reading real good novels (previously I used to read Sidney Sheldon's novels, I used to think I have grown up a lot! :P ) However, the best part of reading this book was that through Amir and Hassan's eyes I saw the beautiful Afghanistan which up till now was an alien land to me, to be hated because everybody there is a Taliban. After reading this book, I delved into Afghanistan's political history and came to know that common people like us had undergone so much persecutions and pain! I have started respecting Afghanistan. And kudos to Hosseini! Reading every page made me to imagine the scenes coming up alive in front of my eyes. Especially read the description of the orphanage where Amir goes to find Sohrab (Hassan's son).