The Kite Runner, a book by Khaled Hosseini based in Afghanistan. The book can be divided into Friendship, Redemption and Hope and is based in the period when Afghanistan saw the Russian invasion followed by the Taliban rule. This book is about the friendship, redemption and hope during these times of destruction which affect the lives of proud Afghanis.
The story is about the friendship between Amir and Hassan. Amir is the son of a rich businessman in Afghanistan and Hassan is the son of their servant who also works in the house and is Amir’s friend and companion. Their friendship is based on the unquestionable loyalty of Hassan towards Amir. Amir in turn is apprehensive of his own relationship with his own father, who has been depicted as a man of very strong character. His fathers affection for Hassan also influences his outlook towards his friend. One day an ugly incident takes place which alters their relation ship and their own lives significantly. The Russian invasion follows and they are forced to go separate paths.
They grow up in distant lands but their lives are intertwined and a chance of redemption brings us back to Afghanistan during the Taliban rule. The story has several twists and turns and plots are uncovered which makes for a riveting story. The story is against the backdrop of the socio-economic conditions of Afghanistan following the Russian invasion and the Taliban rule. It describes the pitiable condition to which the proud Afghanis have been reduced to.
After the redemption comes the hope for a future. This last part of the story is slow as compared to the earlier sections but given the context of the situation is ok.
This is the Authors first book and is well written. He has a style of his own and has created the characters with a lot of emotion which certainly will appeal to the reader.
I have purposely not revealed the story but this book by Khaled Hosseini is a must read. The book has been made into a movie by the same name and is a must see. I saw the movie first and was so touched by it that that I read the book. (Incidentally, I downloaded from a site and is the first book – ebook, I read on the computer). Suggest the book is read first and then see the movie as the characters in the book are very well etched. Many a narrative is not there in the movie which has a constraint of time.
Awards won by The Kite Runner*
San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year
American Library Association Notable Book
Entertainment Weekly Top Ten Fiction Pick of the Year
Borders Orgininal Voices Award winner
Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book
Amazon.com Summer 2003 Breakout Book
Entertainment Weekly’s Best Book 2003
Book Sense Bestseller List Sensation
ALEX AWARD 2004 - Ten adult books that will appeal to teen readers have been selected to receive the 2004 Alex Awards. Titles were chosen by the Alex Award Committee of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).
Do Read
(Khaled Hosseini has written another book – “A Thousand Splendid Suns”, also based in Afghanistan, which is also a must read)