Book Review: The Kite Runner

Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. The Berkley Publishing Group: New York. 2003. (371 pages)

            My experience reading The Kite Runner was unlike anything I have ever had. I haven’t read a historical fiction novel yet this school year so I decided to give it a try. This book was recommended to me multiple times so I was excited to see what it was like. The Kite Runner was an extraordinary read; it consisted of action, violence, love, history, friendships, sorrow and drama. This ultimately was a combination that made an unforgettable story.

            There were many aspects of this novel that made it challenging and a new experience for me. I have never read a book that is set in places such as Afghanistan and Pakistan. As a result, I didn’t know anything about the politics, cultures, religions and lifestyle of these people.  Throughout the story, Hosseini describes many places, neighborhoods, towns, traditions and activities that are all in Pakistan and Afghanistan. These things were new to me and it was challenging to remember what was what because sometimes he would write them in the native language. I thought reading some phrases and words from these languages was really neat and added a unique element to the book.

            The fierce cruelty and violence that took place in The Kite Runner was challenging to read in itself. The dramatic political events and revolutions that took place in Afghanistan and Pakistan were vividly described and narrated as part of this story. As historical fiction, many of these events actually happened, which is really sad to imagine. Some of the imagery Hosseni used to portray his situation nearly made me sick because it was so upsetting. 

            As I mentioned, there were riveting and unexpected happenings throughout this novel. I loved how it was action-packed but still dealt with love, friendships, and sadness. There were multiple times I couldn’t put this book down because the haunting events and deep relationships were almost addicting. Hosseini also did a great job of linking past and present time periods and different locations. As the book took place over almost 30 years and on different continents, the clarity was needed and was well done. 

            I had a difficult time trying to come up with a book that I have read that is similar to this one. The Kite Runner is one of a kind in my opinion and there isn’t much else that is comparable. When I read The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks during first term, it was one of the first novels I had read that was narrated by a male. The Kite Runner would be the second book narrated by a male that I have really enjoyed. I like seeing things from a different perspective and a male narrator does just that. It’s probably a far stretch but in The Lucky One, Logan Thibault has vivid memories from his days fighting in the war. In The Kite Runner, there are a lot of powerful scenes from the impact of the revolutions in Afghanistan described by Amir. The violent, dirty, rugged and war-like components of these books are pretty similar. In conclusion, I would, without a doubt, recommend The Kite Runner to anyone who is looking for a moving and unforgettable book.