The Kite Runner

Summary:

Amir is the son of a wealthy Kabul merchant, a member of the ruling caste of Pashtuns. Hassan, his servant and constant companion, is a Hazara, a despised and impoverished caste. Their uncommon bond is torn by Amir's choice to abandon his friend amidst the increasing ethnic, religious, and political tensions of the dying years of the Afghan monarchy, wrenching them far apart. But so strong is the bond between the two boys that Amir journeys back to a distant world, to try to right past wrongs against the only true friend he ever had.

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 an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

A sweeping story of family, love, and friendship told against the devastating backdrop of the history of Afghanistan over the last thirty years, The Kite Runner is an unusual and powerful novel that has become a beloved, one-of-a-kind classic.  (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

I found Hosseini a fantastic writer and if it wasn’t for that, I’m not sure that I would enjoy the book quite as much as I did.  The mission was bring the reader to Afghanistan and provide a glimpse into the country that we hear about on the news.  And in that, this book is powerful and extremely important to give a true sense of what life is like.   

As far as the story itself, I agree with some of the other reviewers in thinking the first half of the book was much stronger than the ending.  That being said, it is the second half of the book that shows just how much the protagonist has grown over the years and the changes that have been made so I have some mixed feelings.  I found the book powerful, and for that I highly recommend it.

Recently, there have been more and more books released that also provide a glimpse into Afghanistan, but this one will stand out as the most famous.

Warning: Contains sexual content without consent and violence.

Rating: 4 stars!

Who should read it? Anyone looking to learn more about Afghanistan or just wants some beautiful writing!