Book Review: The Kite Runner
Very few times in my life has a book come along and changed me. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is one of those books. The Kite Runner is about a writer, Amir, who grows up in Afghanistan before the Taliban take over the country. Amir grows up with his servant’s son, Hassan. The two are as close as brothers until a devastating event destroys their friendship. Years later, Amir and his father, Baba, move to California once the Taliban take over Afghanistan. While in California, Amir is called back to Afghanistan to help his long-lost friend and redeem the terrible wrong that he committed against Hassan.
Afghanistan is not an interesting subject. For years the war in Afghanistan has raged and has not caught my attention. In America, we hear over and over again about Iraq, but rarely does Afghanistan’s struggle make front page news. I, like many other Americans, was not interested in a barren country whose atrocities seemed very similar to other countries repeated over and over again. However, like all good storytellers, Hosseini pulls the reader into the Afghan culture and soon the people in the novel become walking symbols of a country greatly unknown in America. For the first time, I could picture a Kabul that was modern and clean. For the first time, I imagined well-fed children playing in the streets with kites. For the first time, I imagined what it would have been like to lose it all to circumstances beyond your control. Through Amir, we see a country go from greatness to ruin.
The main overpowering theme in The Kite Runner is redemption. Amir is forced into a situation where he knows what the right thing to do is, but can’t bear to do it. Amir makes excuse after excuse as to why he didn’t do the right thing; all of which are valid, but in Amir’s heart, he knows that he did was wrong. He knows that his friend was hurt because he didn’t stand up and fight for him. The most endearing quality about Amir is his humanness. We understand why he didn’t do what was right, even though we screamed at him to do it. For Amir, doing the right thing will come years later. As an adult, he understands that in order to find any peace within himself that he would need to complete the task before him.
Khaled Hosseini is a master storyteller. He draws you into the story and does not let you go. Through Hosseini’s master storytelling ability, Afghanistan becomes a real place and not just a news story. Hosseini may tell the story a culture not readily understoon by many Americans, but Amir’s story is a human tale that crosses all races and cultural lines.
Learn More
PBS’ Frontline has been covering the Afghan War and has multiple stories on the progress that is being made. Most of their episodes are posted online and readily available to view. Watch The War Briefing – The latest story on what is happening in the war and what Barack Obama will face as the new president.
Khaled Hosseini’s own website covers different aspects of the Afghan War and also answers literary questions about his books through video.
Interested in helping? Relief International has news coverage, ways to help and accepts donations.
Other books by Khaled Hosseini: A Thousand Splendid Suns.
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