The Kite Runner

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.

A Summer Read

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han fits the bill as an ideal summer time read. I first read this book a few years ago yet I dig it out most summers to re-read. However for Isabel (Belly) this summer is different to all the rest - she turned pretty - aka grew out of the awkward teen pubescent phase that we can all relate to (clue is in the title). No doubt every young person has experienced the tense wait for the summer holidays to begin whilst the last few weeks of school drag, this book embodies that feeling.

Gone Girl

'What are you thinking? How are you feeling? What have we done to each other? What will we do?'