Saturday, May 13, 2017

*Review* The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini


Genre: Literary Fiction
Published: May 29, 2003
Pages: 391

Synopsis

“It may be unfair, but what happens in a few days, sometimes even a single day, can change the course of a whole lifetime." 

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.

Review

This book has been on my TBR list for over a decade. I have also refused to watch the movie until I read the book. So I've spent the last 13 years living a but a half life, having neglected to partake in this fabulousness. My past self owes me an apology.


I only knew a bit about what I was getting into when I started this. Like I'd pointed out, I'd heard of this book a while ago and put it on the back burner. And then I heard there would be a movie and was still a lazy bum. I didn't really give it much thought after marking it as, "want to read" on Goodreads. That is, until I saw it was on my library's overdrive app.

So I put a hold on it. Last year. I'm hadn't really check out the synopsis or anything since then. And pretty much forgot about it again. The hold lasted over 6 months! So it was a surprise when it finally showed up on the app. And it just so happened to come on right before I had a long drive, so I got to put a lot of time into it that first day. And that pleased me.

This story is amazing and I absolutely loved it. I appreciate how Amir was not the perfect main character. He was deeply flawed and it made it easier to connect with him. And I especially appreciate how certain subjects were handled. It gives you time to let things sink in and experience them with a broader perspective. And you get to see the consequences of the different actions, which is something I really feel many stories I read lack (or gloss over).

It does help that this story expands over several decades. I also never felt like it was skipping scenes or jumping too fast. The pacing was pretty good.

Okay, I feel like I am repeating myself. But I'll say this... I can't believe I waited this long to read this book. I am kinda ashamed of myself. But I also recognize I would not have enjoyed it as much a decade ago (Not saying I wouldn't have liked it, but it would be different).

Anyway, if you haven't read this yet then what the frak are you doing with your life?! Go read it immediately. - Joood - Hooligan

Buy the Book


About the Author

Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and moved to the United States in 1980. His first novel, The Kite Runner, was an international bestseller, published in thirty-eight countries. In 2006 he was named a goodwill envoy to UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency. He lives in northern California.

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