Book Review: The Kite Runner – By Khaled Hosseini

I had been to the Crossword book store on Sunday with a couple of friends mainly to help one of them pick up some books. During our stint at the book store I saw Arun with a book in his hand and as an after thought I asked him to pick up the same book. The book was none other than “The Kite Runner” – By Khaled Hosseini. I had heard some good reviews on this book from a couple of my friends. It was more of an after thought because it not very often that I buy books and read. Today after I finished reading the book I am glad that the after thought did come and I picked up the book.

The book deals with a story of two friends Amir and Hassan and starts off in the back-drop of Afghanistan in the early 1970’s. I was astonished and surprised to read about how Afghanistan was during those days and how the Afghans had a life which was all for themselves and had there own theories and rules and were able to walk with their head held high in the land of their own. The book brings out the relationship between two boys Amir and Hassan – A Suni and a Shia.

Khaled very clearly brings out how the changes happen in the relationship between the two boys and he has blended this change with the changes happening to Afghanistan itself - the changes in power at the helm of affairs, the attack of the Russians, the take over by the Mujahhidiens and later by Taliban. He also shows how the lives of the Afghans changed over the years and how a country which had such a glorious past just became a land of poverty and violence.

Amir and Hassan have a very nice childhood. Amir longs for his father’s love and his aim in life is to win the prestigious kite competition in order to get his father love. Hassan is ready to do anything for his friend Amir. All goes on well until one day something very disturbing happens and the entire relationship changes.

All the time Amir finds ways to redeem himself from the past, but it just keeps coming back to haunt him. He flees to America along with his father when the Russians attack and this coincides with his want to go somewhere and start afresh as the past keeps taunting him. The emotions that Amir and Hassan go through and the changes happening in Afghanistan are brought out beautifully.

Amir returns to Afghanistan to redeem himself and finally does so. He gets to see how Afghanistan had changed under the hands of the Talib’s and the atrocity they commit. He finally is able to find some peace of mind. His final joyous moment in the book again clashes with the dethroning of the Taliban and the arrival of the Northern Alliance.

The book brings out a lot of emotions very well. There are many incidents in the book which make you feel very sad and nearly bring a lump in your throat. The author also brings out a subtle message that things happen for the good and one always gets a chance to redeem oneself. It left to the individual how he wants. One can visualise the characters very well.

Overall and very well written book and a must read for everyone.

About the author: Khaled Hosseini was born in Afghanistan and his father received political asylum in America in 1980. He is a doctor in California. His second novel is due in October 2006. For more information about the author please click on this link. Khaled Hosseini