The Kite Runner

Posted 07/21/2006 at 10:43 am in Books

The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner
by Khaled Hosseini
Rating: 8 out of 10

I went into this book quite skeptical. It’s been circling many different book clubs for the past couple of years and so many people were recommending, I thought that I was bound to be the person who didn’t like it (I felt the same way about Beloved by Toni Morrisson…WEIRD book).

I actually started this book about a month ago (before Holy Blood, Holy Grail) but found it really difficult to get into. I got 4 chapters in and abandoned it for a while.

Four books later, I decided to come back to it and give it a second chance. I’m really glad that I did. Khaled Hosseini has given us a moving, but haunting portrait of the last 3 decades in Afghanistan through the eyes of a boy named Amir.

DISCLAIMER: Before you rush out to read this book, you must understand that it is, at times, extremely difficult, containing graphic scenes that you would not want to witness visually. I was moved by this book, but at times I felt very uncomfortable.

By the end of the book, however, the sorrow that you feel for many of the characters woven through the novel is overcome by the triumph of the human spirit, one that does not know boundaries or class or religion. It is that human spirit that ties us together and makes this book a success.

Tags: • •

4 Responses to “The Kite Runner”

  1. Alli

    - 11:59 am on 07/21/2006

    Well done! I know this was a tough one for you to get into but I saw that once you did, you finished it quickly. Julie, you should know that he values your opinion on books enough to give it a second chance. A round of applause to my two avid readers - you inspire me!

  2. Brian

    - 2:14 pm on 07/21/2006

    Good stuff. It’s not a project unless you have to work at it a little bit!
    This one’s also on my list for many of the same reasons you mentioned, so I may have to check it out sometime.

  3. Julie

    - 1:05 pm on 07/23/2006

    Shane, I am beyond proud of you for persevering through to the end of this book. The author’s first hand knowledge of a country that used to be beautiful and had a rich cultural life was so moving to me.

    Excellent job, my friend-reader. What’s next?

  4. Shane

    - 7:38 pm on 07/23/2006

    On the Road by Jack Kerouac

Trackbacks to “The Kite Runner”

Leave a Reply of Your Own