Twelve-year-old Amir is desperate to win the approval of his father and resolves to win the local kite-fighting toumament, to prove that he has the makings of a man. His loyal friend Hassan promises to help him? for he always helps Amir? but this is 1970s Afghanistan and Hassan is merely a low-caste servant who is jeered at in the street, although Amir still feels jealous of his natural courage and the place he holds in his father's heart. But neither of the boys could foresee what would happen to Hassan on the afternoon of the tournament, which was to shatter their lives. After the Russians invade and the family is forced to flee to America, Amir realises that one day he must return, to find the one thing that his new world cannot grant him: redemption.
About the Author
Khaled Hosseini was born in Afghanistan and his family received political asylum in the USA in 1980. He is a doctor and lives in California. The Kite Runner is his first novel.
Prizes
Longlisted for the 2005 IMPAC literary award
Reviews
'Hosseini's ability to reach the core of experiences of love and loss places him in the company of such fine chroniclers of the new America as Chang-rae Lee. The Kite Runner is a first novel of unusual generosity, honesty and compassion' Independent 'The shattering first novel by Khaled Hosseini... a rich and soul-searching narrative ... a sharp, unforgettable taste of the trauma and tumult experienced by Afghanis as their country buckled' Observer 'A devastating, masterful and painfully honest story ... it is a novel of great hidden intricacy and wisdom, like a timeless Eastern tale. It speaks the most harrowing truth about the power of evil' Daily Telegraph 'Unforgettable ... extraordinary. It is so powerful that for a long time after everything I read seemed bland' Isabel Allende
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Reviews
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The Kite Runner is a haunting tale of a boy's journey through the passage of time in tumultuous Afghanistan. The book exudes wisdom and insight, while being refreshingly honest. The author launches the reader into a world of unfamiliar territory with great guile and tenacity, creating characters which are harkingly realistic, yet still unofficious. Unspoken meaning seeps with astute acumen from every page. The tenacity of the tale will captivate even the most discerning reader.
The Kite Runner follows the story of Amir, the privileged son of a wealthy businessman in Kabul, and Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant. As children in the relatively stable Afghanistan of the early 1970s, the boys are inseparable. They spend idyllic days running kites and telling stories of mystical places and powerful warriors until an unspeakable event changes the nature of their relationship forever, and eventually cements their bond in ways neither boy could have ever predicted. Even after Amir and his father flee to America, Amir remains haunted by his cowardly actions and disloyalty. In part, it is these demons and the sometimes impossible quest for forgiveness that bring him back to his war-torn native land after it comes under Taliban rule.
I have just read this book for my book club, and what an excellent read it was! I found this book difficult to put down, the story was so engaging. A story of a betrayed friendship, and a life long search for redemption. Would recommend highly.
i quite enjoyed this book, i found the storyline interesting and compelling, and at the same time happy and enjoyable. i do not like to go into much detail, as it can spoil it for others who havnt read the book, but i can safely say that most people who read it will instantly fall in love with it, and it will stay in their minds as one of the best books of our time :)
What an amazing paradox - two children of one parent with very diferent life paths. The caste system is demonstrated here, and with a roller coaster ride of emotions propells the reader inot the lives of the characters. Great read
Pretty good read, was recommended by friends, and sat down over an afternoon and night to go through it, deals with some pretty rough emotions, wanting a fathers love/devotion, friendships between classes, and secrets and lies, as well as the 'beautiful' portrayal of 1970's Afghanistan at war and the hardhsips/atrocities associated with it. Be prepared for some squeamish scenes that are pretty brutal, but hit the issues home. Great read, well worth the time.
I bought this book as a gift for my mum and she's now a true blue fan of Khaled Hosseini.
The story is a moving tale of friendship and one man's flaws, all with a bittersweet ending. Tears inducing. Once you start, you really can't stop. The author seems to have a way with words and he can bring the reader into the story very well. Definitely recommended!
This story is based around guilt. Amir has guilt for the terrible thing he did when he was younger, the start to a chain of bad things he went on to do. His loyal friend "Hassan" is an Hazara, a nationality in Afghanistan which is not socially accepted, they are the slaves and servants of the pashtuns. Hassan is Amirs hazara, but he is also his friend. When a bully, Assef, who hates hazraras comes along everything changes, actions taken by Amir change the course of his life. Thankfully for Amir him and his father, Baba, leave Afghanistan before everything turns bad, they live in America with nice food, nice houses, nice people, nice environment and they form a life there. Amir forms a life there, he no longer looks back, he looks forward, but a loyal friend Rahim Khan calls and says he must return to Afghanistan. Will he find redemption for his bad doings? Will accept Rahim Khans dying wish? Will he succeed? This story is a difficult one to review. There are some bits in the book where you just put down the book and think, some are sad some are annoying but soon you'll want to read on, you'll want to know what follows. There are unexpected twists, but everything adds up. This book was great in a sad way the whole way through, instead of laying you sympathy with the main character you learn to sympathise with a lot of characters you learn harsh life and horrible treatment. You will read some of the nasty things the taliban do, or have done. This is just an amazing book, I had to read it for school and seriously every year we have had to read a book for school and this is the only book I have read because it's the only book I was interested in. It's written well, hard hitting and honest. A must read.
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