Title: The Kite Runner

Author: Khaled Hosseini

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Published: 2003

Language: English

Pages: 324

 

SUMMARY

  • Narration

It is narrated by Amir, the character of the novel itself, who is driven by feelings of guilt as he searches to find a way to redeem himself.

“It’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws it’s way out.

  • Plot

Amir, a twelve year old boy is desperate to win the local kite-fighting tournament and his loyal friend Hassan promises to help him. But they are unaware of the brutal situation they have to face that afternoon.

“It may be unfair, but what happens in a few days, sometimes even a single day, can the course of a whole lifetime….” 

After Russians invade and the family is forced to flee to America, Amir realises that one day he has to return to find that one thing that his new world cannot grant him: REDEMPTION.

  • Theme

There are various themes you will encounter while reading- friendship, love, betrayal, redemption and more.

“For you, a thousand times over.”

  • Author

Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and moved to United States in 1980. His novels The Kite Runner and Thousand Splendid Suns are international best sellers. In 2006, he was named a US goodwill envoy to the United Nations Refugee Agency.

His other work includes And The Mountains Echoed, A Thousand Splendid Suns

  • Setting

             The initial setting is in Afghanistan, 1975. Afterwards war comes to Afghanistan and the country becomes extremely dangerous. It is about Afghanistan from monarchy through Taliban.

“There are a lot of children in Afghanistan, but little childhood.”

  • Adaptation

The novel was adapted as  motion picture. It was released four years after the publication of the book with the same name. Directed by Marc Foster, the movie starred Khalid Abdalla as Amir and Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada as Hassan.

Evaluation

Critic reviews

“A gripping read and a haunting story of love, loss and betrayal. Guaranteed to move even the hardest heart.”- Independent

“Hosseini is a truly gifted teller of tales…he’s not afraid to pull every string in your heart to make it sing.”- The Times

“Devastating”-Daily Telegraph

“Heart breaking ”-The Times

I strongly recommend everybody to read this book. You will experience almost every emotion while reading it. The way he has written is commendable. Although he uses simple and clear language, but the way he portrays his characters is outstanding. You will be able to breathe his characters. You will live every moment which comes as you turn the pages. It will let you hold your book tightly and will not get bored. This is one novel you will recommend everybody as soon as you complete reading it. This novel stays with you days after reading it. It will be a treat to you reading this novel or any of his novel. Khaled Hosseini is a gifted one.

“Better to get hurt by the truth than comforted with a lie.”

Responses

  1. JYOTI S

    “The Kite Runner” is a heart-wrenching tale of friendship, betrayal, and redemption set in war-torn Afghanistan. Hosseini’s vivid descriptions transport the reader to a world that is both beautiful and brutal. The story follows the lives of two young boys, Amir and Hassan, who grow up together but are separated by class and ethnicity. When Amir betrays Hassan, he is haunted by his guilt and sets out to redeem himself. The novel explores themes of loyalty, forgiveness, and the power of redemption. Overall, “The Kite Runner” is a powerful and emotionally charged novel that will leave readers thinking about the characters and their struggles long after the last page is turned.