5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning Book by a Brilliant Author

M.R. · 28 January 2022

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } “I opened my mouth, almost said something. Almost. The rest of my life might have turned out differently if I had. But I didn’t. I just watched. Paralysed”Five stars for a stunning book where remorse, guilt, injustice, prejudice, and forgiveness play a significant part in the heart-breaking stories of Amir, son of Baba, and Hassan, son of Rahim Aga, a loyal friend and servant to the Amir’s father, set against the backdrop of some of Afghanistan’s most turbulent years.'The Kite Runner' is an unforgettable story about two young boys whose lives are shaped by the regrettable decisions taken, inaction and cowardice that strains their relationship and ultimately tears them apart. It is also a story that signifies the power of voice and the devastating consequences of not using it when the time and cause requires it. Yet is also a tender story that demonstrates forgiveness, the power of love, and the importance of confronting the lies and injustices around us. A truly sensational story that is told with sentiment, honesty and with a powerful message.The PlotAmir and Hassan are friends, Amir “..was a Pashtun and Hassan was a Hazara, Amir was Sunni and he was Shi’a, and nothing was ever going to change that” However, the two boys shared a love of kite flying and won competitions and Hassan the title of best ‘Kite Runner’. Yet the two boys could not deny their racial differences as Hassan was forced to sit on the side lines while Amir played with other Sunni friends. Behind closed doors and away from probing eyes they were devoted friends until an evil act of depravity charts the boys on different courses.As Amir struggles to forgive himself for inaction and cowardice, he recalls “.. I had one last chance to make a decision. One. In the end, I ran. I ran because I was a coward”The story continues along two different paths until Amir, despite his successes in America, is forced to confront the ugly past with a twist that he could predict as the secrets hidden from him are revealed.Review and CommentsA heart felt and touching story that shines a light on the injustices, suffering, and racial disparities felt across the world, without being judgemental. A story that needed to be told and a book that should be read. However, it was the forgiveness in the book that pulled on my heart strings just as much.I love books that deliver strong messages but don’t lecture or patronise or seek to influence the reader politically or socially. It is up to the reader to take from these stories what they will and shape their own opinions. Yet they do help us understand different perspectives, the hardship of people displaced and suffering that comes with unrest and for that reason I adored ‘The Kite Runner’.The writing style is superb, and I particularly loved the words and teachings of the wise men, and there is no shortage of them in this narrative. One of my standout quotes from this beautiful book is“…there is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft. Do you understand that?” …. “When you kill a man, you steal a life,” Baba said. “You steal his wife’s right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone’s right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness. Do you see?”Sad, powerful, and poignant, yet beautiful and tender in parts as the power of voice reminds us of when we should use it. I would give this book 6 stars if I could. Sensational.

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully harrowing

J.F. · 21 August 2012

When I put The Kite Runner down (I'd finished reading or I'd still be clutching it), the overwhelming thought was simply wow. I fell in love with this book. I learned, I wept, I was utterly captivated. This is not the type of book I'm normally drawn to. I put off reading it because it seemed like it might be hard work. I wish I'd read it sooner.Khaled Hosseini writes so beautifully about such harrowing realities that you don't realise just what you're learning through his fiction until you pause to reflect for a moment. Fiction based in realities is often bleak and dreary. Not this. The warmth and colour seep from the pages and you take to heart the plight of a nation that has suffered so much in modern times.Afghanistan became a villain in the western world's pantomime with 9-11. But who has stopped to think about its people? The real people; not the extremist minority. They aren't perfect and Hosseini shows us a warts and all life through the eyes of Amir from childhood into his middle years. He also shows us that Afghanistan is full of humans; people who love, who strive and who suffer making them no different to any other country on earth.Through the memories and introspection of one man, we learn so much about the living, breathing culture and the struggles that so many have endured for so long. This is a story of growth, of love, of loss and endurance and the courage to do what is right against even one's own better judgement. What do kites have to do with it? Well, quite a lot in terms of significance and I'll say no more about it because you have to read this book.You'll even learn some linguistic lessons and I cannot fault Hosseini's method of delivery for this. A word in italics is quickly translated, denoted only by commas within the same flowing sentence. A lovely light touch that makes it a joy to take in. You will spot numerous words that are already part of English language and culture in some form. An effortless learning experience that leaves you in no need of a reminder when words recur.I can't do the story justice without pulling it apart to retell it in summary and really the best way to find out what The Kite Runner is all about is to read it. What a read it is too. I know I'll revisit this one more than once in years to come.

If you read "Kite Runner" Read these two novels by Zia Ahmad

J.W. · 10 March 2024

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } I finished reading “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini a book chosen by our Book Club in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.Concurrently I have just read two novels by Zia Ahmad , “Finding Danyal - A love Story” and “The One Hundred.” I recommend these wonderful story experiences equally as good as "The Kite Runner"A most gratifying reading marathon of these three novels likened to my typical Netflix series binging where I resist ear marking the last page from being so engrossed in finding out what next. Especially during the fast pace of the disturbing scenes of conflict, torture and meanness inflicted on the principal characters contained in all three novels. I grew up with the influx of Pakistani refugees arriving in Toronto Canada in the early 60s, but I did not know anything of why or the scope of their plight or struggles. Zia Ahmad’s writing has inspired me to know more of political devastating disparities of the Anglo Afghanistan wars and Russian penetration.I must say reading these three books one after the other has heaped my head blending, overlapping each story’s’ similar conflicts, betrayals, and flirting friendships to the point of having difficulty keeping them distinct each to its own. Nevertheless, here at my desk writing, recalling, fiddling with the scenes they individually start to filter through.“Finding Danyal”, it was clear from first reading Zia Ahmad’s second published novel that yes, it is a love story. I cried at the end. An indication I felt the emotions the storyteller crafted. Characters evolve from plot twists and disturbing betrayals showing us a controversial unescapable gay love story. All at odds within religious and oppressive constraints of the Arab world in Lahore Pakistan. I relate to Zia’s writing. My own experience discovering love took place in Canada, a different supposedly more tolerant world. But I too struggled with self-identity and societal acceptance confronting the turbulences of coming of age as a gay man. The ending “Finding Danyal” was read causing a feel-good sensation still with me.“The One Hundred”, Zia Ahmad’s first published novel is a different story exposing a historical tragedy in such a way achieving Zia Ahmad’s objective of memorializing the one hundred victims showing a world tolerance and acceptance are human qualities we should honor. But the frantic pace of the scenes with violence, bullying, beating the characters to a pulp was frightening, very real, virtually wanting to cover my eyes. A challenge to read calmly. High drama ending in a tale to be told one “hundred times”. I can see where Zia Ahmad utilized this background to write his second novel “Finding Danyal” with a theme of love.“The Kite Runner”, chosen by our Book club which I read after those of Zia Ahmad. Another reading challenge to cope with the violence, the class conflicts, a brutal rape of a boy, the “running away” of Amir the protagonist, the contrast of righteous Hasan and Amir’s cowardice, test of loyalty and trust, the Taliban cruel enforcement, intense control throughout the story resulting in the blood bath of the Hazaras, - but redemption is achieved when Amir becomes in the end the kite runner. Many plot twists and surprises lead to an unexpected ending far from the outset of the principal characters. I can see why Zia Ahmad studied this book in preparation for his own writing.If you have enjoyed reading “The Kite Runner, I recommend you read Zia Ahmad’s two novels, “Finding Danyal- A love Story” and “The One Hundred”. Both authors equally provide an emotionally haunting, thought-provoking thrilling story experience producing as forceful a message of what it means to be human.I thoroughly enjoyed reading Zia Ahmad’s two novels He is an impressive competent talented writer with engaging story telling style and showing descriptive flow. I truly believe “Finding Danyal” is worthy of a Netflix movie. It is comparable if not better than some I have watched. Well done, Zia Ahmad!

Great story !

春. · 10 February 2025

It's a pity in Japan both this book and the movie are not so popular! I understand because I myself was not quite interested even after I happened to read his second novel, but it turned out to be unputdownable! This book was definitely more heart moving than the second book. I just assume how many scenes should be based on his real experience revealing his mixed feeling about his homeland full of sweet and sour memories.And I really want to read it's sequel!

kite runner

j. · 3 March 2023

amazing book i wanted to die when i finished it

Great price and enjoyable story

f. · 25 September 2024

This is the best price I've found compared to other stores (around AED 35) and the product is in great condition. It arrived perfectly, and I'm really enjoying the story so far.

The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini has made me weep.

A.G. · 29 January 2021

For you, a thousand times over.Last year brought about changes that nobody had imagined would happen in their lifetimes. All the time everyone got at hand because of being locked inside their homes drove some crazy, and some shone brighter than ever. Other than these two, there was a third kind whose only struggle was to survive. Be it financial survival or mental, the demons weren’t physically visible to anyone else but the tormented, but their large presence was always felt by everyone around.I belonged to this third kind. I struggled with my mental demons for the larger part of the year gone by. Although I read more than I had in the last few years and read more books that challenged me to get out of my comfort zone, I was yet to encounter that one book which marks the distinct leap a reader takes. From a judgemental reader to an empathetic reader. From being critical to being appreciative. And this book, my leap book, came to me at the end of the year.The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini has made me weep. It has made me weep for Hassans all around the world and it has made me weep for Amirs. It has made me weep for loveless childhood and it has made me weep for troubled souls. It has made me weep for the human suffering and it has made me weep for humanity. And most of all, it made me weep with understanding.Amir and Hassan are inseparable, or as much they can be considering Amir is a Pashtun and Hassan, a Hazara. Like their fathers, they too are sharing their childhood. Unlike their fathers, they live in a time where one needs to save one’s neck all the time, especially if one is a subject of discrimination. But there is nothing Hassan wouldn’t do for Amir and there is nothing Amir wouldn’t do for his father’s love, who seems to have stopped loving him from the moment he was born and took away his beloved in the process.With Hassan’s loyalty to Amir as strong as the Hindu Kush and Amir’s friendship as dubious as the future of their homeland, will the two boys survive the test that has been set for them?Whatever I say, will not be enough. Lucid and quick, the writing takes over you like quicksand. Just a few pages in and you would know that this would be a masterpiece. No, not because others have said so, but because you will feel a pull that would make you read page after page after page until you come to the end and bawl your eyes out.Khalid Hosseini is an artist. An artist who knows his juxtaposition and uses it to enchant. Amir and Hassan. Surrounding the story by the rugged beauty of Afghan terrain he lays bare the atrocities of the war. In the age of information overdose, he presents a shameful eye. Loyalty and integrity. Atheism and faith. Racial discrimination and friendship. The dark side of evil and the goodness of light, and between them, the lingering grey. The topics he touches on are far-reaching. The unspoken love of a brave father, the delusional son, the loyal servant, the victimized friend, the sadist tormentor, the affectionate uncle, the compassionate partner, and the lost soul.As much as my heart aches for Hassan, I know he is a person one can hardly ever be in this world. And as much as I hate Amir for running away, I know most of us would have done the same. I thought I understand Hassan, but I recognize Amir. Being Amir is human, being Hassan is divine. Amir is me, you, and all of us. Hassan is what makes us human and keeps us on the right path of humanity.There is nothing more I can write which will show how much impact this book has had on me. This is probably the only book to date which I have read and I can’t bring myself to review it. Such books are written once and read thousand times over, with each reading unfolding a layer that seemed to have missed the eye before. Such books are meant to be read in intimacy and to understand their meaning is the biggest gift of all. Such books find you and not the other way around. If this book has found you already, will you let me know your thoughts? If it hasn’t found you yet, I hope it does so soon.