Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

148 reviews

squidlord23's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

This was a very good book that I'm glad I waited until I was older to take the time to digest and reflect. It is a very tough emotional read and Amir, especially as a child, you want to slap. He struggles with his father's approval but it was hard to digest how he treated Hassan. Overall the development of the characters as they grow, experience the changes of Afghanistan throughout the 60s/70s/80s to present day (2001) was a very interesting read. Half a star off because I felt that towards the end the last piece of trauma for the reader was unnecessary and the way some of the big events conclude in the way to benefit Amir were too obviously coincidental to help wrap a nice bow on the plot and just keep our emotions on a roller coaster we're ready to get off. I definitely recommend this book if you're interested in a small perspective on the Afghan family dynamic and some history of the country. This is not all encompassing and the history clearly is more complicated than this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Racism, War, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, and Child abuse

dearbhlanoonan's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring sad fast-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Medical content, Violence, Death of parent, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Religious bigotry, Racism, and Ableism

Moderate: Rape and Death

b3ttysbooks33's review against another edition

informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book is not only a relatable, emotional story about regret, but also a haunting and impactful insight into the tragic historical and ongoing conflict in Afghanistan.

note: some people criticize the depictions of religion and politics, but I feel that because most of these controversial opinions come from characters who is clearly deeply flawed, the author leaves room for such issues to be discussed rather than dictating a specific narrative.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, War, Child death, Classism, Colonisation, Genocide, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Infertility, Islamophobia, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Death, and Suicide attempt

hedyharper's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Death, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Rape, Toxic friendship, Trafficking, Cancer, Racism, Infertility, Death of parent, Medical content, Xenophobia, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Ableism, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Violence, Vomit, and War

Moderate: Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Infertility, Islamophobia, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Gun violence, Misogyny, and Ableism

Minor: Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Miscarriage, Confinement, Vomit, and Pregnancy

oliviajjones's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense slow-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Violence, Sexual violence, Racism, Vomit, Rape, Murder, Gun violence, War, and Genocide

drashti_444's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, War, Trafficking, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Racism, Cancer, Murder, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide attempt, and Sexual violence

ainoiisa's review against another edition

dark

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide attempt, and Racism

quinn24's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

This was a painful read, and I mean that as big compliment. I really don’t know much at all about Afghanistan’s history or culture and I think I learnt a lot from this, and am interested in learning more, which I really love when a book does that for me. The characters all feel very human, and complex. Amir is an interesting protagonist, he makes some really bad decisions that hurt people in a terrible way but I also feel the need to defend him, and I think his arc was very well done. This novel is imbued with a deep sense of grief. Grief of a childhood, of innocence, of loved ones, and of a homeland. It’s emotional whiplash tied up in beautiful writing and narrative structure. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Death, Sexual assault, Blood, Bullying, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Cancer, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, Classism, Murder, and Pedophilia

Minor: Genocide, Alcohol, Cursing, Suicide, and War

alex_nicole's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Mass/school shootings, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Grief, Violence, Sexual violence, Slavery, Racism, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Infertility, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Murder, Rape, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Death of parent

kibiiiariii's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Violence, Hate crime, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Grief, Racial slurs, War, Infertility, Police brutality, Torture, Bullying, Death of parent, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Blood, Islamophobia, Domestic abuse, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Death, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Xenophobia