The Kite Runner

Barbara's recommendations.

The story has so many ups and downs, and really it will grab your attention till the end. You will feel all emotions depicted in the story, and it's worth it.

Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner is a powerful and emotional story about friendship, guilt, and the chance to make things right. Set in Afghanistan and later in the United States, the novel follows Amir, a young boy from a wealthy family, and his loyal friend Hassan, the son of their servant. The two share a strong bond, flying kites and spending their childhood together. But one day, a terrible event changes everything, and Amir makes a choice that fills him with guilt for years. The story is told by Amir as he looks back on his childhood and the mistakes he made. Hosseini’s writing is simple yet deeply moving. He paints a clear picture of Afghanistan before and after war, and how the country’s pain mirrors the characters’ personal struggles. The emotions in this book are raw and real — love, shame, fear, and the deep need for forgiveness. What makes The Kite Runner special is how it shows that it’s never too late to do the right thing. Amir gets a second chance to fix the past, and though it’s not easy, he learns that true redemption requires courage. This book is about more than just personal regret; it’s also about how people survive, how they carry their memories, and how even in the darkest times, hope can still rise — like a kite in the sky. Whether you’ve experienced betrayal or simply love stories that touch the heart, The Kite Runner will leave a lasting impression. It reminds us all that, no matter how far we run from the past, it is always a part of us — and healing begins when we stop running. But I also think that the story is narrated by the villain . How muchwe say that he did redemption but he went to Kabul only after the forceful request of his uncle. So my takeaway from this book is that by only feeling or wishing things cannot be done right we have to show it or prove it also . Amir knew that he is doing wrong but only he felt he didn't showed it.

Afghanistan collapsed this week under the Taliban, so this was a very timely read. Published in 2003, the storyline covers several conflicts in the Afghan Republic throughout the 1970's. The narrator is Amir, and his father is Baba. They are Pashtuns, Sunni Muslims living in the Wazir Akban Khan district in northern Kabul. Their servants of many years are Hassan, who is a year younger than Amir, and Hassan's father, Ali, who are lower caste Hazara, Shias. Hassan and Ali live in separate quarters on Baba's property. Amir and Hassan are at the heart of the story. They were raised together and are best friends, albeit always mindful of their separate Pashtun/Hazara heritage. Both boys are motherless but were nursed by the same woman as infants. Amir has great respect for his gregarious father, Baba, and seeks his hard-earned approval throughout his life. The mild-mannered, subservient Hassan holds Amir in highest regard. A much-anticipated celebratory competition throughout Afghanistan was when young boys would fly kites through the city in an attempt to be the last one aloft. The captor of the last kite in the air wins the admiration and respect of everyone in their town. Hassan served as the kite runner for Amir, whose blue kite won the competition when they were 11 and 12 years old. Assef is the local bully, a Hitler supporter, and Pashtun supremacist. Sadly, Hassan fell victim to Asset's cruelty. Amir was not able to prevent it. He hid on the sidelines, unseen by Hassan. His reluctance to interfere haunted him for years afterward. His dear friend Rahim Khan wrote, "A man who has no conscience, no goodness, does not suffer." A thread of danger and tension travels with Amir from Kabul to Jahalabad to the United States and back again, on his mission "to be good again." With all other options exhausted, he survives a chilling interaction with a murderous Talib. There are several brutal scenes in the book. They serve as a counterbalance to the themes of hope and hard-earned redemption. (May the same be true for the trials the Afghans are enduring now). Author Hosseini gives the reader an inside look at the daily life and struggles of the Afghan people through these deftly written, flawed characters. A highly recommended book, especially now.

I don’t even know where to start with this book. It broke me, enraged me, comforted me, devastated me, and healed me. This book deserves every bit of praise it has received, yet it still deserves more. The early part of the book is set in Afghanistan before the wars and provides a glimpse into the everyday lives and culture of the people through the experiences of Amir and Hassan, who are childhood best friends. The story is narrated from Amir's perspective, and it's clear from the beginning that he is aware of his flaws, particularly when contrasted with Hassan's purity. Amir's trauma from witnessing a horrific incident as a child, combined with feelings of guilt and remorse for his inaction and betrayal of Hassan, continues to haunt him throughout the story. This singular experience disrupts their friendship and affects both of their lives, influencing their actions and relationships. The book also emphasizes the ethnic conflicts within Afghanistan and the war's impact on the nation and its people. We see the effects of displacement in characters like Baba and General Taheri, who struggle with feelings of nostalgia and the challenge of integrating into new societies. It is clear that The Kite Runner intricately portrays various forms of trauma, offering a deep reflection on personal, ethnic, and national suffering. This theme becomes even more evident in the later parts of the book, particularly through Sohrab's heartbreaking experiences. The best way I can describe the experience and the book is by quoting a passage from it: “If someone were to ask me today whether the story of Hassan, Sohrab, and me ends with happiness, I wouldn’t know what to say. Does anybody’s?”