The Kite Runner
 | Riverhead Trade, 2004, Paperback Customer Rating: 2690 reviews Recommend |
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- ISBN13: 9781594480003
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
The timely and critically acclaimed debut novel that's becoming a word-of-mouth phenomenon...
In his debut novel, The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini accomplishes what very few contemporary novelists are able to do. He manages to provide an educational and eye-opening account of a country's political turmoil — in this case, Afghanistan — while also developing characters whose heartbreaking struggles and emotional triumphs resonate with readers long after the last page has been turned over. And he does this on his first try.
The Kite Runner follows the story of Amir, the privileged son of a wealthy businessman in Kabul, and Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant. As children in the relatively stable Afghanistan of the early 1970s, the boys are inseparable. They spend idyllic days running kites and telling stories of mystical places and powerful warriors until an unspeakable event changes the nature of their relationship forever, and eventually cements their bond in ways neither boy could have ever predicted. Even after Amir and his father flee to America, Amir remains haunted by his cowardly actions and disloyalty. In part, it is these demons and the sometimes impossible quest for forgiveness that bring him back to his war-torn native land after it comes under Taliban rule. ("...I wondered if that was how forgiveness budded, not with the fanfare of epiphany, but with pain gathering its things, packing up, and slipping away unannounced in the middle of the night.")
Some of the plot's turns and twists may be somewhat implausible, but Hosseini has created characters that seem so real that one almost forgets that The Kite Runner is a novel and not a memoir. At a time when Afghanistan has been thrust into the forefront of America's collective consciousness ("people sipping lattes at Starbucks were talking about the battle for Kunduz"), Hosseini offers an honest, sometimes tragic, sometimes funny, but always heartfelt view of a fascinating land. Perhaps the only true flaw in this extraordinary novel is that it ends all too soon. — Gisele Toueg
Title: The Kite Runner
Sales Rank: 886 in Books
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Publisher: Riverhead Trade, Later printing edition, 2004-04-27, Paperback, 400 pages, ISBN: 1594480001
Package Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches, 0.7 pounds
- Excellent and Informative
- I really enjoyed this book, for its value in learning a bit more about Afghanistan and its people as well as for the story. It is a very personal story about a wealthy Afghan boy, with intriguing characters that go through a disturbing chain of events along with their country. I highly recommend this book and I look forward to reading A Thousand Splendid Suns.
- Son spoiled by selfishness
- Eight years ago when I read The Kite Runner, I loved it, even after hearing a list of its flaws pointed out by my fellow book club members. After reading it now, eight years later, I still like it, but no so much. Biased at the start by certain knowledge I didn't have the first time and being the parent of a son near the… More reviews
- Wonderful isn't a strong enough word
- I absolutely loved this book from the first page to the last. It is beautifully written. I learned so much about a misunderstood country. I was haunted by the characters' trials. I was inspired by their choices. It is just a great read - A Thousand Splendid Suns is also great. I would give this book the edge between the two, but both are well worth your time.… More reviews
- Amazing!!
- I just found my favorite new author! This book is absolutely amazing!! The story is incredible and the writing is so well done that I literally couldn't put the book down, and when I did, I couldn't wait until I could pick it up again! The author paints such a clear picture of life in Afghanistan and the hardships and triumphs facing the characters.
- A Powerful, Heart-Wrenching Tale That You Cannot Miss!
- Wow. At first, this book made me feel really stupid. I knew very little about the different religious sects within the middle east. Honestly, I knew very little about the war between the Russians and Afghans.
I had to do a little research on the internet to understand some things. I have to say, I feel smarter for reading this book.… More reviews
