The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner is Khaled Hosseini’s first novel. Khaled lives in California, where he has lived since 1980, after having been from Afghanistan.

The Kite Runner is the story of a boy named Amir who is growing up in Afghanistan before the fall of the monarchy and right up to the Soviet war’s involvement in Afghanistan.

Amir and his friend, Hassan, ran kites together. Hassan is the son of Ali, Amir’s father’s servant. One day, Hassan’s and Amir’s relationship is broken by a devastating act by some neighbourhood bullies.

Some 20 years later, Amir is living in the United States and he returns to Afghanistan and Pakistan and ends up confronting his past in an Afghanistan now terrorized by the Taliban.

The Kite Runner is an incredible, beautiful story and it is very tragic. It was one of those books that got sad, and ended sad. There was this sort of high note where you’re left with the idea that everyone involved will be able to recover someday, but maybe not.

The Kite Runner is one of those books that has been receiving praise for years. Now that I have read it, I must say that is is very much deserved. Afghanistan has such a tumultous history and a rich culture, both which Khaled highlighted wonderfully. It is one of those books that everyone should read at least once in their life time.