Reviews tagging 'War'

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

365 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

mauricekofi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

This book absolutely broke me and made me whole, over and over again. All I will say is I should have listened to my friend when she told me she cried as a child reading this book, it's not for the light of heart. Yet still, Hosseini impacts a critical understanding of life and consequences for those in the global south, through the lens of an Afghan boy, grown into a man, who lived in privilege before his country turned to ruin by the policies of European and Western powers. My review does not do justice for how wonderfully sad, informative, and foundational this book is. In a post-Afghanistan war America, I dearly wish more Americans and young students read this book, to ask themselves why we are taught the things we know about other countries and challenge when and where American "intervention" is needed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Torture, Toxic friendship, Terminal illness, and Suicide attempt

m_fayadk41's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, and Rape

Moderate: War

habibaa20's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Abandonment, Xenophobia, War, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Suicide attempt, and Grief

marieh_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Antisemitism and War

Minor: Cancer, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Genocide, Grief, and Infertility

zrazaq's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, War, and Pedophilia

_fathimanourin1234_'s review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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? N/A

5.0

This book gave me trauma. This book was very sad. I am madly mad with Amir. The world is filled with people like Amir. I loved and cried for hassan. Hassan deserves better.
"For you a thousand times over" - Hassan.
This line breaks my heart everytime I hear it or read it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Rape, Grief, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

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

roasted_bean's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, War, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Gun violence

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