The Kite Runner

Title: The Kite Runner

Author: Khaled Hosseini

Genre: Literary, Historical

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published Date: 2018

Book Length: 368

Format: Paperback I purchased myself

Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend

About Book: Afghanistan, 1975: Twelve-year-old Amir is desperate to win the local kite-fighting tournament and his loyal friend Hassan promises to help him. But neither of the boys can foresee what will happen to Hassan that afternoon, an event that is to shatter their lives. After the Russians invade and the family is forced to flee to America, Amir realises that one day he must return to Afghanistan under Taliban rule to find the one thing that his new world cannot grant him: redemption.

My Thoughts: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is typically listed as literary fiction, but for me, it belongs equally in the realm of historical fiction, given its setting in 1970s Afghanistan. From the very beginning, I was struck by the beauty of Hosseini's writing. Even though the subject matter is often difficult, his prose is so eloquent that it feels like you're being gently guided through the story, no matter how painful or raw it gets.

What really captivated me was the relationship between Amir and Hassan. Hosseini's descriptions brought their world to life in a way that made me feel as if I was standing right beside them. You can almost feel the tension, the guilt, the jealousy, and above all, the deep friendship that threads through their lives. Every emotion seems to leap off the page, and I found myself becoming completely absorbed in their story.

This isn’t a book to rush through. I found myself savouring it like my favourite dessert, enjoying it piece by piece, page by page. The themes of lost friendship, guilt, and redemption really resonated with me, especially set against the backdrop of such a turbulent time in Afghanistan’s history.

As I kept reading, I noticed a steady build-up of anticipation. Each chapter felt like it was raising the stakes, drawing me in deeper and deeper. I couldn’t stop myself from turning the pages faster, eager to see what was coming next. By the end, I was so emotionally invested that I felt as though I’d been on the journey with Amir and Hassan.

The Kite Runner left me deeply moved. Hosseini has a way of crafting stories that stick with you long after you’ve turned the final page. For me, this was a gripping, heart-wrenching read that I won’t soon forget.