The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (2004, Paperback, Reprint)

This is one of the most powerful books I've read in a while. Even after reading it earlier in the year the story still resonates with me. Observe the relationship, or lack thereof, between a father and son and how the son must struggle with youth and becoming a man. You will thoroughly enjoy this one.

I love this book. Once I opened it I couldn't stop reading it. I didn't want the book to end because I wanted to know more about thelives of the characters. It was a wonderful book and I have recommended it to everyone I know.

I really thought I wouldn't like this book at all by the title. But after getting through the first chapter I was hooked. I highly recommend this book because it gives you insight into a world beyond ours. I read this and passed it onto my brother and I usually hog all my books and put them on a shelf. This one I felt compelled to pass on. Since reading the book I notice all articles in the newspaper about the tradition in Afganistan of the kite runners and I understand now what I read in the paper. But the book is SO much more than that. Family, love, war... This is a must read. I read in US News that they may be making a movie from it. You should read the book before seeing the movie!!

"The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini is one of those marvelous books that opens up our hearts and minds. This book puts a name and face to the people we are helping to free. This is a book at once so magnificent,it is difficult to comprehend and describe. How could we be fighting for freedom in this far off land, Afghanistan, and not understand the people? This books will have you thinking after you beging reading. Be sure to read this book

This book was a great story about a young boy from the middle east and the challenges he faced. I don't really remember too much about it, but overall the book was pretty good and it's not too hard to read. The only difficulty in reading would be the middle eastern names of people, but that is a minor challenge. As for the plot itself, it is refreshing to see through the eyes of a young middle-eastern boy (Amir). He is often criticized by his father for not being "manly" and compared to his friend Hassan. I won't spoil the book anymore it's one that you have to read. There are a couple graphic scenes so I would suggest that the reader should be at least 13 or mature enough to understand the situations.

This book blew me away. I had to read it for a school assignment. The beginning felt slow, so I honestly didn't expect much out of the book - boy was I wrong. This book is amazing, and a must-read. Loved it 100% all the way through.

A friend recommended The Kite Runner after having purchased it in an airport bookstore. I was delighted to find it on eBay and consider it one of the best book purchases I have made. The writing style of Dr. Hosseini is that of an artist painting detailed landscapes of an unfamiliar (to me) setting and intricate lines on the faces of his characters. The near-poetic prose allows the reader to enter the heart and soul of Amir, the anxious child who became the haunted man. The reader steps into the hills and onto the rooftops of Afghanistan--somewhere I never aspired to be and yet lived joyfully until the plot turns angrily with the Russian invasion. Throughout the intriguing story of relationships lost and restored, there's a sense of dignity and triumph of human spirit. The book has given me more insight into the people and the modern history of Afghanistan, as well as a better understanding of the multitude of Afghanis who have established a community for themselves in the United States. There are some books that one can never erase from memory; this is one for me.

'The Kite Runner' provides excellent insight into the life of an Afghani-American and through his struggles in Afghanistan and America. For those who are culturally-challenged and seek to learn about another culture, this is a great book for you. I believe you owe it to yourself, whether you're interested or not, to read this in order to understand why we're lucky to be Americans.

Excellent book. You can't put it down. It is very insightful into
what the Afganistan culture is about. Why that part of the world
seems to not evolve and is always in conflict. You care about the
characters and want the main one to resolve his past. He seems to
have a chance finally, in america.

When I sat down to read this book, I was totally consumed by it! The story was just incredible! As soon as I finished this one, I had to go and get another book by him called "1000 Splendid Suns" (another great story!) Be sure to read the book BEFORE watching the movie, but also be sure you have plenty of uninterupted time for this book! What a great book!

This is definitely a wonderful piece of work. Everyone should read it at least once if not more. It really does tap on the inner soul of human beings...how selfish, loyal, loving, forgiving, evil people can be. How the decisions you made as a child can change the rest of your life and other people's lives. This story will stick with you for the rest of your life. Here's why hundreds of other people rated this book 5 out of 5 stars: http://www.buzzillions.com/prd-329133-cristal-d-arques-the-kite-runner-reviews/

After reading many reviews of this book, I decided to see what how good it was for myself. I thought it would be difficult to understand or relate to a book about Afghanistan, but I was wrong. This book is about human emotion and while some of it was predictable, the story was beautifully written and very touching. I am looking forward to reading the author's new book A Thousand Splendid Suns. It, too, has received high honors from readers around the world. Don't be scared away by the numerous references to foreign words and phrases, the author makes sure you know the definition and they do not interfere with the story. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a serious read.

I really enjoyed this book. It opened my eyes to another way of life set in the sixties in Afghanistan. It helped me to understand the atrocities the people there have been put through. It really enforced my love for life in our country. All that aside, it is a truly interesting book written in an almost prose like style that held me captivated and looking for another book by the same author as soon as I finished it.

I couldn't put this down-like a drink of cool water on a hot day, Hosseini's novel was refreshing. Only minimally aware of the geography, culture, traditions and customs of Afghanistan, I became intrigued and then captured by Khaled's story. The guilt he lives with, the discovery of his father's lie, and his journey to redeem himself with courage he never had before.

O M G, once you start this novel you can't stop till you have finished it, I got the book on CD, listening to it was riviting. I love the story line and how the characters developed into thier lives, some better than others and how living in Afghanistan, was great and then how it all turn horrible for those left behind. This story even though fictional, it a lot like a non-fiction book of how life is lived within Afghanistan, and how the relationships between the different classes are. I loved the novel and would recommend this to any person, who has any interest in how lives intertwien and are lived.

My highest recommendation as a Audio book, Paperback or hard cover. I believe this book would be a good high school read for our younger adults to know how others live and strive to have love and life.

In almost all of my review I don't get into the real details of the book, novel, movie, since I want you to get what I got from the characters, I feel if you explain to much then you might give something away.

IF YOU FOUND THIS HELPFUL THEN PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE!!!!!!!!!!

This book was very hard for me to put down.I learned more about Afghanistan culture reading this than on any news program.It was haunting and uplifting at the same time.I would recommend this book to everyone.

More Than Just A Good Read
Book Review
By James Myers
www.myspace.com/jameswmyers
http://www.morebeautifulwoman.com/more_than_a_good_read


THE KITE
RUNNER
#1 ON THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LIST
A SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
AN ENTERAINMENT WEEKLY TOP TEN FICTION PICK OF THE YEAR
AN AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION NOTABLE BOOK
RECIPIENT OF THE AMERICAN PLACE THEATRE’S LITERATURE TO LIFE AWARD
By Khaled Hosseini
Published by
River Books, Published by Penguin Books
ISBN 1-57322-245-3
371 Pages
www.riverheadbooks.com
www.penguin.com


“For kite runners, the most coveted prize was the last fallen kite of a winter tournament. It was a trophy of honor, something to be displayed on the mantle for guests to admire. When the sky cleared of kites and only the final two remained, every kite runner readied himself for the chance to land this prize. He positioned himself at a spot that he thought would give him a head start. Tense muscles readied themselves to uncoil. Necks craned. Eyes crinkled. Fights broke out. And when the last kite was out, all hell broke loose.”

“Over the years, I had seen a lot of guys run kites. But Hassan was by far the greatest kite runner I’d ever seen. It was downright eerie the way he always got to the spot the kite would land before the kite did, as if he had some sort of inner compass.”

Rating:
(Four Stars)


Khaled Hosseini first novel is a haunting and convincing study of modern day Afghanistan that will not be easily forgotten. Amir is the son of a rich and powerful merchant, Baba. Baba has a lifelong house servant, Ali, who has a son Hassan. Hassan and Amir are best of friends with Amir writing their names in a tree and reading to Hassan his favorite Afgan fairy tales. Amir and his father have an uneasy balance between them. Amir’s mother, Sofia died in childbirth, an act that the father considers as an unforgivable theft. Worse yet Baba is a physically strong businessman of action, while his quiet son is a young man of books and writing. Only family friend, Rahim Khan, and Hassan seems to appreciate Amir’s talents. Rahim tells him that some day he will write books for the whole world to read. Amir and Hassan are inseparable friends, and Hassan proves his loyalty to Amir when confronted by local bullies by saving his life. Hassan has one other talent, as a Kite Runner par excellence, a person who runs downs the losers destroyed kite in an annual winter kite flying contest. Amir has it turns out is a great kite flyer. His father has told him that you will win the event this winter. On a night when Amir can finally please his father, he does in fact win the kite flying contest and his loyal servant and friend, Hassan does recover the last kite shredded. But he fails to act when he can to save his good friend Hassan from harm, and this betrayal leads to their separation, guilt and despair. The theme of acting on loyalty is a major reoccurring theme is this book.

Years pass. Amir leaves war torn Afghanistan, reconciles with his father, moves to American, marries a beautiful, young, vibrant woman, and becomes the author he seems destined to become. He is comfortable and has every reason to be happy. But his failure to come to the aid of his friend and their separation continues to haunt him. All of this changes when his old friend, Rahim Khan contacts him and requests him to return to Taliban run, war-infested Afghanistan.

I bought this book because we were reading it in our church book club.
I really enjoyed reading it although parts of the plot were disturbing to me as a mother because it involved child molestation.
It was a well written book, easy to follow and wonderful. I would recommend this to anyone.

The book was great. I didn't think I would be interested in it, but it was a quick read and a great story about love, loss, and the human race.

There are books you read once and begin questioning yourself over why you even wasted your time on 'em.
And then there are books that you read once and then twice and you still feel thirsty for reading it yet again. Khalid Hosseini's 'Kite Runner' is one of those books that leave a lasting effect on the way you see the world. After reading it one realizes that inspite of thinking that we know so much about countries like Afghanistan and its people, say the Hazaras; we still know NOTHING, nothing at all.
A reminder that friendship and love know no boundaries, no colors, no race and certainly is bound to no religion...

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is one of those novels you can not get enough of. Hosseini fills the pages with a truth about the Afghanastan culture that will open our eyes to the reality of this world. If you are looking for a story that will ultimately change your life and the way you view the world around you, there is no more impressionable read the The Kite Runner. Five Stars all the way! Khaled Hosseini wrote an impressionable Brilliance.

This was a GREAT book. I could hardly put it down when I got started. The ONLY thing that I did not like about it was the use of some Afgan terms without an American definition to follow and it left me guessing.

There were times when I wanted to kill the author for the way he was acting in the book, it sure did have a suprise ending, I never expected that.

It is a must read for anyone, young and old, to learn some good lessons in life...

I highly recommend this book! I bought it because I heard from several family members that it was a good read. (it was on my nieces high school book list and my sister who is employed by the NJ board of Education)The book was well written in my humble opinion because reading it captivated various emotions and I just could not put the book down! I learned about other cultures and gained a sympathy for those living under oppression and in war.A++++++ Khaled Hosseini