The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

What a book !! I really enjoyed reading it after a long time wait..Finally I finished it..:-)
"The Kite Runner" is the story of Amir and his loyal friend Hassan..Both grew up together in Kabul,Afghanistan..The protagonist Amir is a rich man's son while Hassan is his servent,Ali's son,a "Hazara" (a  shia muslim)..Amir's father treats Ali and Hassan as his own family..In Afghan sunny muslim population is more and hence the hazaras were treated badly in those times that is in 70's..Amir's father is a respectable person with good morals and very brave at heart..On the contrary Amir is a timid boy.This timidity becomes a stumbling block to gain his father's affection...He wants to win the Kite tournment with Hassan's help to win his father's heart.But after the tournment whatever happened shattered their lives forever.Amir could not stood up for Hassan even though he is the only eye witness for the sexual assault of Hassan by Aseef and his friends..This guilt drives him crazy and insomniac and he wants to bury the truth....After staying twenty years in USA,Amir returns to Afghanistan to find redemption..

Copy right A Homemaker's Utopia

Here are few lines from the book...

Baba's words,
"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."

War doesn't negate decency.It demands it,even more than in times of peace.

Rahim Khan's words,

Children aren't coloring books.You don't get to fill them with your favourite colors.

Coming to the characters of the novel, Baba is like a hero of the story..His death surely leaves the readers missing some prominent role in the story..The father-son relation and the relationship between Amir and Hassan were beautifully narrated..Rahim Khan's is a key role which unfolds the bitter truths in Amir's life..Hassan is surely a lovable and loyal friend..Amir's wife Soraya,The faithful Afghan guide Farid all are very nice roles..Shorab is a cute kid just like his dad Hassan who becomes centre of Amir's life..

The story set in early 70's Afghanistan and it describes the economic and social conditions in Afghan and the raise of the Taliban...The raise of republic government from monarchy..The best thing of the book is its narration itself..The narration is very simple and the author maintained a constant flow..It is a very heart touching story of normal lives with all their emotions and feelings..The readers have nicely introduced to Afghan culture and traditions.The book is a mirror of common Afghan man....


Afghans are an independent people.Afghans cherish custom but abhor rules..And so it was with kite fighting.The rules were simple:No rules.Fly your kite.Cut the opponents.Good luck.


I'm always afraid of picking a book that created much hype..But I can say this book surely reached its publicity standards..Its just amazing..Will not allow you to put it down..
Happy reading friends..:-)