The Kite Runner

by Khaled Hosseini

Book Overview

The New York Times bestseller and international classic loved by millions of readers. The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1594480001
• ISBN13: 9781594480003
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Riverhead Books
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 0.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.1" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

An absolute must-read

The Kite Runner is a coming-of-age story based in pre-war Afghanistan to the modern-day US. The novel is rich in the Afghan perspective as well as universal themes we can all identify with -- childhood friendship, regret and redemption, father and son love. The ways Khaled Hosseini describes each setting and character is near perfect. There were times I couldn't put this book down. Pre and post-war Afghanistan is so perfectly described that I felt as if I was there. There is a rollercoaster of emotions in this book as it also deals with several dark themes such as betrayal, loss of innocence, and regret. It can be distressing in many parts, but the story redeems itself ultimately in the end. This novel is very beautiful and poetic. I applaud Hosseini for bringing in an Afghan perspective to the American mainstream. Each character and conflict brought to life and is a new perspective that hasn't been seen before. Also, Hosseini's use of foreshadowing and symbolism makes this book one that can be reread many times. There were times I flipped back to old chapters to understand the significance of certain elements. I cannot praise this book enough for its staying power in its readers' minds. 5/5. Khaled Hosseini's magnum opus of a novel. A story that will stay with you long after you have put down the novel. The film sucks, though.

A tea eye opener.

I must admit I didn’t know much about Afghanistan culture. This story was a real education. It’s difficult to believe it was the author’s first book because it was so beautifully written. Some of the content was upsetting but I guess it was needed to explain the society and the situations. I would definitely recommend this book

The Kite Runner

Fav book!!

I was told I would be getting a hardcover, which is what I paid for, but I was sent a paperback!

I was told I would be getting a hardcover, which is what I paid for, but I was sent a paperback!

Masterful storytelling and essential reading

One of the best books I’ve ever read! A great but heartbreaking story. Family, lies, forgiveness, and grief all wrapped up in a complex story. Hosseini’s writing really captivated the audience in feeling like you were in the moment of when things were happening. The way he delivered every emotional blow has left me in tears. Not many books get to me but this one did! I can not recommend this book enough! Learned some Afghan history too. Afghanistan was beautifully written even though that seems so foreign to so many people. Puts things into perspective for sure.

Wrong book twice now

Once I get the hard cover version of this title I will change my rating.

Amazing!

This book drew me in on every page while informing about an actual historical event. I felt the ups and downs with the characters and over all was left very touched by the novel.

Heartwrenching & Powerful

This was a book I had a hard time putting down. You'll be moved to tears by the emotion, storytelling, and imagery packed into every chapter. The characters are so well developed. Highly recommend!

Excellent Customer Service

I ordered the hard over and received the paperback. I emailed with this issue and it was almost immediately resolved. So happy with the customer service standards!

Eye opening and redemptive

This book display the reality of having grown up in a war-torn time and place as well as the struggles of immigration in a way that is difficult but healing.

Amazing story

Some parts are a little hard to read because of the subject matter but this was such a good book. I became so engrossed with the characters. The whole book was amazingly written from beginning to end. Such a page turner because you need to find out what happens next. The characters are so real. Such sadness but then redemption in the end. A tale of such harshness in the world and the complications of relationships. Definitely recommend!

Wonderful book

Bought this book for my husband after reading the English version. He loved it (and he doesn't read often! =) He will now be sending it to his father in Brazil.

Just Read It

I was stopped in the elevator the other day, clutching this book, and a woman peeked at it and inquired how it was. I said it was really good. (At the time I was a little over half way done with it.) She followed her question with another; asking me, "What is that about again? I forgot." I responded, quite succintly, that it's one person's perspective/experience of growing up and living in modern Afghanistan. She gave the polite, but not too terribly interested, "Oh. Yea. Thanks." And stepped out and on her way. I thought to myself, "Wait. It's much more that that." And so it is. Let's be painfully honest here. How much interest can a book about Afghanistan garner? (at least to Westerners) Really. When I first saw it at the airport here in Dallas, I overheard a person say to someone standing there, "Just read it." Good advice. Just read it. You'll laugh, you'll cry. You'll be upset and, at times, frustrated. But most of all, you'll be taken away. Do yourself a favor. Just read it.

Afghanistan, The Taliban, and Family Love

"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; their heritage, their land and what they lost?This book transports us to a very different time in the 1960's. Amir and Hassan, friends, raised in the same household, but in different worlds. Amir is the son of a wealthy businessman, and Hassan is the son of the servant, Hazara. There may be a difference in the lives they led, but they became fast friends. Amir would learn to read and Hassan would not. Amir would have the most beautiful toys and particularly kites, and Hassan would be able to help Amir play with the toys and run (fly) his kite. Amir was the spolied son, Hassan was the intelligent and intuitive servant's son. Their lives would intertwine even when separated.When the Russian army invaded, Amir and his father fled to the United States, California. Amir grew up in a different land, but with the same Afghanistan culture. He and his father became close. Amir married, went to college, all the while wondering what happened to his childhood friend, the one he betrayed. As time marched on, Amir lost his father to cancer and was summoned to Pakistan to meet with an old family friend. This turns out to be a life renewing event. Amir searches for news of his friend, Hassan. The search takes him back to Afghanistan, to an orphanage, a meeting with a member of the Taliban, a search for his lost city and culture and for a prize he will cherish, for the truth and for the life he regains. This is a gritty book, the beauty and violence of this country, Afghanistan, comes to life. The customs and food and smells of the city; the desolation of life and the loss of the country to madmen who are running it with only their imagined vulgar needs and wealth in mind that destroys a culture so varied and rich.We can imagine we are there, and we can share in the sights, the smells, the utter disregard for human life. But we can never know what these people have lost. A book, I will cherish, so will you. prisrob

Stunning, epic, extraordinary debut novel

I read 2-3 books a week, and this is without a doubt my favorite of this year. No, I'll go further: it's one of maybe 8-10 books I'd choose to take to a deserted isle. I've put The Kite Runner directly into the hands of perfect strangers in book stores and said, "Read this one." In a nutshell, Amir, the son of a well-to-do Afghani , has a best friend, Hassan, who is the illiterate child of Amir's father's long-time servant. Both children are motherless. A horrific event, a secret kept, the loss of personal honor, and a lie come between the boys. From that rift, the story moves forward as Amir and his father emigrate to California, where Amir matures, marries, and becomes a successful writer, but is still plagued by those old sins and lies. Then comes a revelation of still one more long-held secret that sets Amir on a return trip to Afghanistan (now under the worst years of Taliban dominance) to rescue Hassan's child. Author Hosseini doesn't shy from one iota of unpleasantness, and the result is a book with a perfect narrative arc, a sterling story line, unforgettable characters, and and and and... I had the opportunity to meet the author very briefly (just to shake his hand and gush a bit about his extraordinary book) at Books by the Bay in San Francisco and am delighted to report that he is charming, approachable, and thoroughly engaging. He deserves all the accolades that are coming his way.Buy The Kite Runner. Read it. Then go back to the store and buy 2 more signed 1st editions - one to keep as an investment and one to give to your best friend....what a fine book!