Reviews

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

catacombsaint's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

greenidmnstr's review against another edition

5.0

A frightening, touching, and eye-opening story of a young boy growing up in Afghanistan. It was almost impossible for me to put this book down. The writing and the story make it seem real and I had a hard time remembering that this is a work of fiction. I really enjoyed reading this story.

em_grubb's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

xuuus_corner's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

ihavealife's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

salmonator's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

ed_moore's review against another edition

challenging sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

(In starting another of Hosseini's works I have decided to take the opportunity to start trying to backlog relevant books I read pre-downloading storygraph)

I read 'The Kite Runner' a few years ago as I was studying it for A-Level and it is one of the best books I have ever studied. It was such an impactful and emotional bildungsroman tale of growing up within the racial prejudice of Afghanistan, and the political impact of the rise of the Taliban and their rule in the country. Seeing a first hand narrative account of how this devastated what was once a country so full of life was heartbreaking and truly eye opening.

I recall Hosseini's writing being so beautiful, his characters so vivid yet so painfully written and the narrative extremely engaging (especially the two sections set in Afghanistan exploring the political climate, I don't recall being enthralled by the America section.)

I am recalling from three years ago so my review is far more limited, but shall try add backlogs from time to time :) 

carlstark's review against another edition

challenging hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kingrando's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

midwifereading's review against another edition

5.0

By far, this is one of the heaviest books I have ever read. It's a story filled with deeply hard things from cover to cover, and no simple answers. Things I can never hope to understand, but only learn to see as clearly as I can.

The writing is strong, efficient, powerful, and vulnerable. It's raw and painful.

The characters are painted with layers of complexity you can only find in real humans. Very few people are either truly good or truly evil. Hassan and Assef certainly bring both good and evil to light vividly in contrast to Amir and his father, who are somewhere in the middle. Good people with major flaws and blind spots that mire them both in suffering.

The ending is appropriately mixed. Neither happy nor sad, but both. Human. Real. Intimate even, with notes of hope. I'm glad for that.

This glimpse into Afghanistan's modern history through the trials of one small family is devastating, but hopeful. It's amazing.