Review : The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Title : The Kite Runner Author : Khaled Hosseini Reading Dates : 07 Sep - 11 Sep 2012 Total Pages : 340

From Amazon : The timely and critically acclaimed debut novel that's becoming a word-of-mouth phenomenon. An epic tale of fathers and sons, of friendship and betrayal, that takes us from Afghanistan in the final days of the monarchy to the atrocities of the present. The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption, and it is also about the power of fathers over sons-their love, their sacrifices, their lies. The first Afghan novel to be written in English, The Kite Runner tells a sweeping story of family, love, and friendship against a backdrop of history that has not been told in fiction before, bringing to mind the large canvases of the Russian writers of the nineteenth century. But just as it is old-fashioned in its narration, it is contemporary in its subject-the devastating history of Afghanistan over the last thirty years. As emotionally gripping as it is tender, The Kite Runner is an unusual and powerful debut.

Book Review of The Kite Runner.

The Kite Runner was another enjoyable and unexpectedly emotional read.

I should have disliked the protagonist for the betrayal he perpetrates on his supposed best friend. Yet, I couldn’t help sympathizing with his dilemma. What he does is undoubtedly wrong and just one of the many terrible mistakes he makes. But Khaled Hosseini makes Amir so real and human that it is difficult to judge him harshly. Its hard to condemn someone when you find yourself wondering if you would find the courage Amir couldn’t.

Amir’s redemption when it comes was most unexpected. And the irony doesn’t escape me that what his father failed to instill in him while he remained a hero in Amir’s eyes, he did when his human failings were revealed to Amir. The thought that something good can result from bad deeds is not something I’d like to contemplate. Still, I suppose that’s what second chances are about.

The ending for The Kite Runner was great too. Not a happy ending nor a sad one. Just enough to make me hope that the main characters in the tale find a measure of happiness in the future.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ?Yes.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series if there were one? Possibly.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Not really. These aren't my typical reads.
• Who would I recommend this too? Fiction readers looking for something with an emotional punch.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? I'd say borrow it first. This book isn't for all readers.

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Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge; What's In a Name 5 Reading Challenge; Eclectic Reader Challenge 2012