The Kite runner is a book that reveals about the peaceful laid back life in Afghanistan before the Russian incursion and the hell that happened after the Taliban’s took charge.
The book virtually leaves you in tears as the story unfurls, Khaleid Hosseini has told a gripping tale, even though it is his initial novel.The story set in Kabul revolves around Baba, a well to do Afghan Rug seller/Businessman in the 70’s having a palatial house with American cars, lots of servants,
good social life & partying.He vividly describes the rich landscape, the people, food fairs & of course The Kite festivals.
The father & son(Amir) bonding shows thru out the book & so is that of Hassen & Amir.Hassen is supposed to be a lowly caste Hazara boy.Amir is a gifted kite flyer and Hassen a gifted kite runner.Their bonding is great, even though Hassen works as a servant in their outhouse along with his father.
After the Russian incursion, they both get separated when Amir emigrates to US with Baba leaving Hassen behind.The father & son duo settle in America all the time wondering about the happenings back home to their people, property & self respect.
The later part shows how Baba and Amir go thru hell knowing how their revered land is ravished and raped by the Taliban’s, who literally turn Kabul into rubble and make beggars out of Professors.The story is heart wrenching when ultimately Amir bows to his conscience after prompting by Rahim Khan his fathers’, well wisher, goes thru hell and atlast fulfills his desire.
The book talks of a father yearning for a son he did not accept, and a friend yearning for a friend.
Hosseini shows you how greed, inhumanity war & religious fanaticism can rip a country and take it back to stone age!