The Kite Runner- a book review
Today I am going to share a review of my favorite book of all times. The name of the book is ‘The Kite Runner’. It is the debut book of an Afghani-American writer Khaled Hosseini and was released in the year 2003. This book has left an impression on my mind, one that I would not forget for a long time to come. It is the kind of book which is not only read but also felt by the readers. It is one of the best books of modern times as Hosseini has redefined the art of writing through his brilliant storytelling. This story is set in the turbulent years of Afghanistan. It starts with the monarchy in Afghanistan and the story goes ahead during the time of the Soviet invasion. The latter half of the story is set in the US.
Against the said backdrop, the kite runner takes us on a journey with 2 young boys, Amir and Hassan. As the story progresses, we see how this story of friendship unfolds and depicts different ways in which these 2 boys deem each other important. Various emotions are portrayed in this book: friendship, betrayal, guilt, loss, trauma, love, respect, and redemption. If we look at the trajectory of character development, we can see that it is done in the most humane way possible.
Hosseini has an excellent grasp of storytelling. The description of the events is so apt that it feels as if we are living the moment and are right there in person. We see how childhood friends Amir and Hassan go through certain traumatic events and their lives are changed forever. Amir is a well-off Pashtun boy who is rich and has a lavish, comfortable life. On the other hand, Hassan is a Hazara. Hazara is considered an inferior race to the Pashtuns. This often leads to Hassa being bullied and treated badly by a lot of people. Hassan is the son of Amir’s house servant. Both Amir and Hassan are completely different from each other.
Amir’s character as a child shows a void and a want for validation due to which he takes some wrong decisions. He has to live with the aftermath of decisions, but he has a chance to redeem his mistakes. The second half of the story is so hauntingly beautiful that one cannot really get over it even after the book is over. Amir might be the protagonist of this book, but Hassan steals the show, in my opinion. Hassan goes through such unspeakable ordeals to protect Amir and makes various sacrifices. Amir grows jealous of Hassan and plans something due to which Hassan and his father leave Amir’s house. Hassan might not be physically present with Amir but certain situations force Amir to rediscover his ties with Hassan.
The last part of the story is about Amir’s return to Afghanistan and the events that follow leave the readers quite shaken to the core. I remember reading this part while I was on a flight journey and I started crying in the middle of the flight. The writing strikes the right chords within the readers. The story really changes once he reaches Afghanistan. There are some shocking revelations about what happened after Amir had left. A lot of events unfold as the book progresses and Amir is eventually able to correct his past wrongdoings.
Here comes the reference to Kite flying. The title of the book is related to a kite-flying event in which Amir and Hassan used to participate as kids. It was considered to be an event of great honor. In the end, Amir is seen flying a kite and his last words are “For you, a thousand times over”. The story comes a full circle as Amir has finally sought redemption and runs wildly with the kite in his hands and towards a new beginning.
Long after the book ends, readers are left wanting more. So many questions came to my mind and I was desperate for an epilogue or a Part 2 of the book. But I realized that the true beauty of this book lies in the open end and leaves a lot of scope for assumption about the story that could have happened. This book is one of the finest pieces written. A must-read! So grab yourselves a copy of the book and fly high my dear friends 🪁 :)
