Thursday, March 13, 2008

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini



I have been wanting to read this book for some time now, but just recently snagged a copy from the library. Personally, I think that this is one to own, so I will be keeping my eye out for a good deal!

Just as a brief overview, here is the description of the book from Amazon . . .
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 wondered if that was how forgiveness budded, not with the fanfare of epiphany, but with pain gathering its things, packing up, and slipping away unannounced in the middle of the night.")

My personal opinion . . . this was an amazing novel -- an real eye-opener to me!! However, as a warning, there were many times that the book was difficult to read because of the violent subject matter. A few scenes were graphic, but also VERY pertinent to the book as a whole. It brought me a different perspective on Afghanistan and what it may have been like growing up there before and after the Taliban. It also gave me an idea of the Afghani customs and culture, something that I am always interested in learning about. I also felt that it gave me a good idea of what it would be like to come to America as an "outsider," to try to acclimate oneself to the American culture, and then to re-visit what one may once have called home. I have never really read anything quite like this before, but definitely will again. Hosseini really has a talent for bringing the reader into the story and becoming a part of it. I'm definitely adding A Thousand Splendid Suns to my must-read list!!

2 comments:

  1. Have you seen the preview for the movie yet?

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  2. I just went and watched one at http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount_vantage/thekiterunner/ . . . it looks really good and I will probably watch it because I really enjoyed the book so much. Though I am curious how certain portions of the book will be filmed . . .

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