Khaled Hosseini's debut novel is set in Kabul, Afghanistan and follows the life of Amir, a young boy from a wealthy Pashtun family. It searches his friendship with Hassan, their Hazara servant, and the challenges they face growing up in a war-torn society. The story allows the reader to compare life before and after the Taliban took over whilst exposing an Afghanistan I never knew existed, where kite flying was a favourite Afghan tradition and past-time. Amir goes on a journey to redemption throughout the Bildungsroman novel as a childhood event altered the boys' lives forever. Some events are shocking, others saddening, and there's even a tear-jerking moment in a well-crafted, thoughtful plot.
Khaled Hosseini comes across as a sophisticated writer and methodical in his style. I have yet to read his other two books (A Thousand Splendid Suns & And The Mountains Echoed) but they are on my ever-growing list - as you can probably relate to. I read The Kite Runner as part of my English Literature A level which I am glad about as I don't think it's a book I would have picked up otherwise.
The Kite Runner is an easy book to read but by no means boring. The characters feel very real and the historical context of the novel doesn't feel like history at all, with unrest (to put it lightly) still rife in Afghanistan. The ending provides an atmosphere of hope for the characters, albeit slightly cliche, but I would recommend this book to anyone for a good and insightful read.
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Adult
Published: 2002, Penguin
Pages: 371
My rating: ★★★★
Favourite quote: 'There are a lot of children in Afghanistan, but little childhood.'
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini on Goodreads
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