89 of 94 people found the following review helpful:
At Times Heart-Warming, At Times Heart-Wrenching, But Always Riveting!,
When it was suggested that I read The Kite Runner, I put off doing so for a long time because I am primarily a "thriller/suspense/mystery" type-of-guy. That was a mistake that I'm glad I eventually corrected. The Kite Runner is an astonishing, powerful book that had me riveted from the first to the last page. It is a story of fierce cruelty and yet redeeming love, as well...
47 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
Boyhood betrayal, sacrifice and ultimate redemption
'The Kite Runner tells the story of boyhood betrayal, sacrifice and ultimate redemption set mainly in Afghanistan and the US. The main character, Amir grows up in a somewhat affluent area of Kabul with his father (Baba) and their servants Ali and Hassan. Amir and Hassan are boyhood companions who could have been friends but for their ethnic differences and, more...
When it was suggested that I read The Kite Runner, I put off doing so for a long time because I am primarily a "thriller/suspense/mystery" type-of-guy. That was a mistake that I'm glad I eventually corrected. The Kite Runner is an astonishing, powerful book that had me riveted from the first to the last page. It is a story of fierce cruelty and yet redeeming love, as well as of an intimate account of family and friendship. Both transform the life of Amir, the main character, who comes of age during the last peaceful days of the Afghani monarchy; just before Afghanistan's revolution and its invasion by Russian troops. Hosseini is a masterful writer whose prose and narrative style ooze emotion. If you have any hesitancy about reading this book, as I did, put your doubts aside and rush out to get yourself a copy of The Kite Runner. You'll be very glad you did. It is not only a book that will keep you from doing anything else but turning the pages, it is a book that will stay in your head and heart for years to come. It is that good!
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Other reviewers have discussed the plot, so there is no need for me to do likewise. All I can say is that this is one of the most beautiful and deeply moving works that I have read in a very long time.
Sometimes a book can move us, but by the following week we have more or less forgotten it. This one had me in tears, and it will stay with me for ever.
Khaled Hosseini - well done. And thank you.
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I usually read historical novels and sci-fi so this is a bit of a departure for me but well worth it. This is a story of friendship and redemption (but not in the obvious way..) set in the years before the Russian invasion of Afganistan and after the fall of the Taliban. The friendship of two boys (Amir and Hassan) is brought to life in the eraly part of the book and the under currents of the complex family realtionships that eventually give Amir the chance to correct what he regards as his cowardice.
I won't spoil the plot but the book by turns captures the innocence of childhood, how Amir finally grows up and his determination not to let his friend down - even if it through Hassans son and not Hassan. The book vividly captures the Afghan lifestyle both before Russia and after the Taliban takeover, it is in one moment a beautifully descriptive book and then wham ! a very brutal story
This is not one to dip into - you'll get caught in the story and I defy you not to be moved
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'The Kite Runner tells the story of boyhood betrayal, sacrifice and ultimate redemption set mainly in Afghanistan and the US. The main character, Amir grows up in a somewhat affluent area of Kabul with his father (Baba) and their servants Ali and Hassan. Amir and Hassan are boyhood companions who could have been friends but for their ethnic differences and, more importantly, Baba's seeming preference for Hassan. The early parts of the book mainly consider the relationships between these four characters amid the changing face of Afghanistan as revolutionary war tears the country apart.
Following the betrayal, Amir engineers the departure of Ali and Hassan and sometime later he and his father flee to the US in search of a better life. Amir grows up, enters a loving but childless marriage and following the death of his father, becomes a successful author before receiving the call to return to Afghanistan, right his wrongs and learn the truth about...(well that would spoil the story).
This is a beautifully written novel that captures the essence of pre-revolutionary Afghanistan, its descent into chaos and terror, the coming (and going) of the Russians and the rise of the Taliban. In fact this message is so powerful it is not always clear if Amir's story is used as a vehicle to highlight the plight of Afghanistan or the other way round. Does this matter? Maybe not, by the end of the book you feel a stronger affinity for Afghanistan than Amir.
Despite the quality of the writing, the plot itself reveals a number of weaknesses where events seem a little too contrived - a little too neat, and the section set in the US could have benefited from severe editing. Overall though, we liked this book mainly because of the vibrant style and the manner in which Afghanistan over the last quarter century is so convincingly presented.
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I think the first section of this book is the best I've read in years but when our hero moves to America the story goes flat, his relationship with the woman vague and not engaging. His return to Afghanistan is disappointing because there is no denouement between the two protagonists. Okay, it pulls at the heart strings and will make a brilliant film but I feel it needs some humour interspersed for light relief between the truly harrowing sections.
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So many have taken on this novel that it's a bit scary to think of what to say here. This is a large book--large on ideas, that is. It is the story of friendship and betrayel, and moves across the decades with a feeling unlike just about any other book. Also, some scenes are extremely graphic and as some have said, the rape scene is nothing to sneeze at. About the only thing more horrific is the scene from "Bark of the Dogwood" where something even worse happens. "Kite" will always be a book I'll keep on my shelf. I don't know if I'll read it twice, though.
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I have been reading novels for decades, but in all those years of reading, THE KITE RUNNER is possibly the best story I have read that has a non-western setting. An Afghan friend recommended this book to me, and of course I was skeptical at first. I never expected it to be such a powerful, deep moving, well-written and touching story that happened to be set in Afghanistan.
Set in Afghanistan, in Kabul in the 1970's, the Kite Runner moves to the U.S.A and back. It includes fascinating characters like Amir who lived a privileged life as the son of an affluent man, and Hassan the son of a poor servant who perks for Amir's privileged life. The two become good friends, a friendship which is tested when Hassan is raped, a scene witnessed by Amir who made no effort to come to his friend's rescue. Yet Amir is haunted by that moment of cowardice even as he leaves for the USA.
Even though it is a fiction, this haunting story with spectacular, yet uncomfortable scenes creates in the reader a sense of reality that is difficult not to believe. I easily felt like I was reading the real life story of a young boy, who grows up still haunted by his past cowardice. The characters are real and alive, the setting in Afghanistan and America is superb, the plot is outstanding and the pace of the novel is fast and captivating.. All in all, this emotionally gripping story provides an insight and understanding of the human tragedy in Afghanistan. The author successfully touched on human emotions, stirring guilt, sadness, anger, and happiness throughout the book.Reminds me of THE USURPER AND OTHERS, BOOKSELLER OF KABUL, UNION MOUJIK, CRY THE BELOVED COUNTRY, which are all titles with unique settings and gripping stories and characters
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I have been reading novels for decades, but in all those years of reading, THE KITE RUNNER is possibly the best story I have read that has a non-western setting. An Afghan friend recommended this book to me, and of course I was skeptical at first. I never expected it to be such a powerful, deep moving, well-written and touching story that happened to be set in Afghanistan.
Set in Afghanistan, in Kabul in the 1970's, the Kite Runner moves to the U.S.A and back. It includes fascinating characters like Amir who lived a privileged life as the son of an affluent man, and Hassan the son of a poor servant who perks for Amir's privileged life. The two become good friends, a friendship which is tested when Hassan is raped, a scene witnessed by Amir who made no effort to come to his friend's rescue. Yet Amir is haunted by that moment of cowardice even as he leaves for the USA.
Even though it is a fiction, this haunting story with spectacular, yet uncomfortable scenes creates in the reader a sense of reality that is difficult not to believe. I easily felt like I was reading the real life story of a young boy, who grows up still haunted by his past cowardice. The characters are real and alive, the setting in Afghanistan and America is superb, the plot is outstanding and the pace of the novel is fast and captivating.. All in all, this emotionally gripping story provides an insight and understanding of the human tragedy in Afghanistan. The author successfully touched on human emotions, stirring guilt, sadness, anger, and happiness throughout the book.Reminds me of THE USURPER AND OTHERS, BOOKSELLER OF KABUL, UNION MOUJIK, CRY THE BELOVED COUNTRY, which are all titles with unique settings and gripping stories and characters
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A fine book,capturing the recent history of Afghanistan through the eyes of a young man growing up through its turmoil. Difficult to put down at times, yet at the same time difficult to continue without reflecting on aspects of the senseless violence it portrays.
More than anything though, it is a story of how the people we befriend in our early years set the way we relate to others for the rest of our lives, set our sense of responsiblity and our sense of what is right.
The only flaw I found was that too many people introduced via chance meetings in the latter part of the book were connected directly or indirectly with those in earlier parts; which I found hard to believe. But otherwise, a very commendable read.
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The narrator, Amir, recalls his childhood in Afghanistan, where he lived in luxury with his father, a respected and powerful businessman. Their loyal servant Ali, and his son, Hassan, lived in a mud hut behind the big house. Despite their ethnic and economic differences, Amir and Hassan grew up as close companions and life was good.
Kite fighting was the favorite hobby for boys then; Hassan, who chased after and caught the fallen kites, was a "kite runner." Winning a big tournament at the age of twelve was the happiest day of Amir's life, but a moment of cowardice changed everything - his relationship with kind Hassan was destroyed and Amir's life was consumed with shame and sorrow.
Amir emigrated to America when he was eighteen. Years later, he returned to his country and experienced the brutality and horror of Afghan life under Taliban rule. He also found salvation and peace.
I listened to the audio cassette version, read by the author. He has a very flat reading voice which was hard to get used to, but I did, and the story was so touching and believable that I was sure it must be autobiographical. The story unfolds at a leisurely pace, giving the reader ample time to become familiar with the Afghan names, places, and customs, and to really care about Amir and Hassan. I enjoyed "The Kite Runner," was sometimes moved to tears, and learned a lot about the traditions of Afghanistan.
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