Kite Runner

The - Khaled Hosseni

I had first heard about ’The Kite runner’ on our great site Mouthshut when one of our reviewers put up a fabulous review and influenced me a great deal. I had decided at that time that I would definitely give it a read whenever I would come across it. So aweek earlier, I was indulged into a good for nothing habit I have. I wasbrowsing through a variety of books in a book store located in a famous mall in Gurgaon when I came across this gem of a book.I picked it upand reflected upon the wonderful review I had read. At that time, I decided to give it a try. I didn’t regret it, four days after I finished it. In fact, I wonder why I hadn’t heard of it from any of my books obsessed friends.

The Kite Runner is a brilliantly written tale of redemption, hope and survival which transcends being a simple book of fiction. It tells so much in those 323 odd pages and gives rise to so many feelings all at once. It makes you smile, makes you feel disgusted, makes you shed tears and still at the end of it - it makes you believe in an unforeseen power that exists above us all - God. God neither exists in the idols that we worship nor outside us; it is in a form called conscience which guides us through thick and thin, shows us the direction in times of doubt, and helps us in being good.

The great thing about the book is that in spite of being a superbly paced tale of fiction, it never compromises on the literary quality it possesses. It talks about the socio-politic situation in Afghanistan at different times after the 70s. There was a time when Afghanistan was a monarchy, a place where people lived together with peace and no tensions, no wars and no violence, and people didn’t used to differentiate as such between people of high castes and low castes (known as Hazaras). But all that changed in the coming years. The Soviet Union took over the place and later it was the rule of Taliban. It was the worst thing to happen to the wonderland as the government was more wicked than an aristocratic rule and people were exploited, children and women were sexually abused, and there was absolute inhuman behavior in the name of justice towards those breaking the law.

Parallely, it tells about a selfless Hazara boy and his unconditional devotion and royalty towards his master and his son. Despite hisdevotion, his love is takenfor granted and he’s failed to be rescued when he is abused by the arrogant and snobbish Assef, who belongs to the upper caste of Pashutans and considers himself above all castes. He also possesses a strong disliking for those belonging to the low castes.

The characters are developed so flawlessly that each one’s point of view strikes you in spite of the wrongs they have done. Whether its Aamir or his father who though have committed wrongs in their lifetimes, you feel sympathetic towards them, even if the doings of the former made Hassan and his father stay away from his extended family after living together for 40 years.

Its a very hard hitting book. It shocks you in places. There are certain portions which are certain to depress you. Its brutally honest to the core with no qualms about it. Yet, its an eye opener in more ways than one; reflecting the true picture of a part of a world which is equivalent to staying in hell.

It is a surprise to see that this is Khaled Hosseni’s first book. The way he has brought the situations and places to life is magical to say the least. The characters are developed with utmost perfection, and emotions are created through the simplest yet the most effective of situations. Certainly a writer with a huge bundle of talent, he has now set huge standards for himself.

There’s so much the book says and the effect it had on me cannot be described in mere paragraphs. Yet, there are some major things which I have carried with me.

1) There is no greater virtue than loyalty and selflessness.

4) All are equal in the eyes of God.

Overall, a must read , not only for those who are looking for fast paced fiction but but also for the ones looking for some artistic, quality work. Hosseni has achieved the balance perfectly. Certainly one of the most readable books I have read in a long time.