Childhood regrets can weigh heavy on a person’s heart and haunt them for a long time. Overcoming them is not easy, and let’s be real, not everybody gets the chance to make everything right.
Well, if you have heard about the book The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, it takes this regret and guilt to a much deeper level and carries the readers on a journey they will hardly be able to forget.
The Kite Runner is a coming-of-age story that explores the bright and dark sides of childhood. It is about the friendship of two young boys, family, betrayal, and redemption. The story also recounts the tragic incidents that occurred when Afghanistan came under the control of the Soviets and Taliban.
The book grabbed me by the feels, shook me like a ragdoll, and left me pondering life’s complexities long after the last page.
So, if you’re looking for a book that will make you question your morals, punch you in the gut, and leave you yearning for a good redemption story, then this one is perfect.
I will be sharing my review of Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Read this review for a heads-up before grabbing the book!
My Ratings for the Book
Synopsis of The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Amir and Hassan live in the Wazir Akbar Khan district of Kabul, Afghanistan. Amir is the son of a respected and wealthy Pashtun businessman and Philanthropist, whereas Hassan is the son of Ali, the Hazara servant who has been serving Amir’s family for years.
Amir’s mother died during his birth, and Hassan’s mother left after giving birth to him. Both motherless kids grew up together and became inseparable friends.
Amir always craved his father’s love and affection, and this desperation strengthened his determination to win the kite-fighting tournament held every winter in all Kabul districts. Amir is best at flying kites, and Hassan is the best kite runner.
Both of their skills lead them to become champions, but Amir makes some terrible mistakes the very same day that alter everything: their friendship, their lives, and their feelings. Amir’s choices and cowardice leave him with guilt and regret for the rest of his life.
A few years later, when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, Amir and his Baba fled to America to start a new life, although Baba was miserable after leaving Kabul. Amir, on the other hand, was relieved to escape his past, though it never stopped haunting him.
Amir pursues writing as a career and gets married to an Afghani woman, but one phone call from Pakistan turns everything upside down.
Amir reluctantly visits Pakistan to confront his past life, and what he finds there breaks his heart and leaves him devastated. He gets one opportunity to make up for his past mistakes, but will the person who never stood up for himself be able to do something right by fighting and showing courage?
My Review of The Kite Runner
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini was an absolute tear-jerker and heart-wrenching book, yet it was such a wonderful story.
Oh, I adore this book and the author!
The book has received many positive reviews, but I did not expect it to be this good. The entire story is so beautifully written, with such deep emotions that it will make you feel every little thing that’s going on in the book.
Hosseini’s book uses a first-person narrative, and his writing style is simple and powerful. He brilliantly uses literary devices such as metaphor, symbolism, imagery, allusion, and foreshadowing. He did a commendable job with this story!
The author made it so easy for us to get engrossed in the story with his evocative writing. Although the story was about two friends, he narrated the tragic times when Afghanistan suffered due to the invasion of the Soviets and Taliban. It deeply saddened me to know about the history, and I cried so hard.
Now, if I talk about the characters, I despise the protagonist (narrator) of the story. I agree he was young and that people make mistakes at this age, but I cannot forgive him for his horrible deeds. He was a coward, selfish, egoistic, and unethical person. And I can never forget what he did to Hassan!
My heart shattered for Hassan throughout the story. He was the best character in the book, the kind, caring, and pure-hearted kid. His son, Sohrab, was indeed like his father!
The book will teach you that the world is both good and bad, and despite what you do, you cannot escape bad people or people who seem good but are bad.
”It may be unfair, but what happens in a few days, sometimes even a single day, can change the course of a whole lifetime.”
This quote from the book truthfully says that one wrong decision can change the entire course of your life and ruin everything.
The Kite Runner will shatter you but also have a great impact on your life. Your emotions will flow, your heart will beat multiple times, and you will be sitting on the edge of your seat—although it’s not a thriller book!
I strongly recommend everyone read this book. You will love it.
Wrap-Up
Kite Runner is a beautiful book that will touch your heart as well as break it into pieces. It will always have a special place in my heart. Khaled Hosseini is an incredible writer, and I love all his books. This was the first book I read by him.
I hope my Kite Runner review gave you an idea of the book. I highly suggest you read this book; you will have a great experience.
What are your thoughts about this book? Share your views in the comments below.