The kite runner is a historical Fiction novel written by Khaled Hosseini in 2003. Set in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan, the kite runner tells a touching, yet harrowing story of friendship, love, betrayal and redemption.

About the book:

The kite runner is the 1st major novel published by the Afghani author: Khaled Hosseini, a man who has faced the harsh reality of living in Afghanistan when the soviets invaded in 1980. In 2003 however, he returned to Kabul and wrote “The Kite Runner.”  Since then, Khaled Hosseini has written 3 more novels: “A thousand splendid suns”, “And the mountains Echoed” as well as “Sea prayer”  with all of them being critically acclaimed.

 

“For you, A thousand times over”

 

The story:

Kabul 1975. We are introduced to Amir and his closest friend Hassan. However, in 1975 after the annual kite running Competition, an event takes place which destroys Hassan’s life forever, causing him to leave Kabul. 10 years later, we meet Amir who has it all. After moving to California in 1980, Amir is now happily married to the love of his life Soraya and is now a writer. However in 2001, Amir gets a call from Pakistan in which he is told that he has to save a little boy, who is under the capture of the vicious and brutal Taliban. Amir then sets out on an adventure, an extremely dangerous one, and one he might not even survive…

My review:

This book was one of the most beautiful and touching books I have ever read. Khaled Hosseini, a wonderful story teller, effortlessly weaves together a gripping storyline as well as teaching the readers about what it was like to live in Afghanistan. He has managed to create a story which was so masterfully crafted, that you will often feel that you are in the eyes of Amir.  However, I must say that this story can be a hard read at some points, with incredibly raw and harrowing descriptions. Some may find it hard to digest the events which take place.

However, overall I would definitely recommend people to read this book, a book which taught me many important messages about family, betrayal and most importantly: Redemption- sacrificing everything in order to atone for your previous sins.