Reviews tagging 'Classism'

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

70 reviews

sagelikesscats's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I thought this book was really good. It was mainly plot focused, and the the writing wasn't mind-blowing, but it was heartfelt, full of emotion, and makes me want to learn more about the history of Afganistan. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Toxic friendship, Violence, Religious bigotry, Cancer, Suicide attempt, Grief, and Rape

Moderate: Classism, Racial slurs, and Torture

Minor: Antisemitism

sadiaa's review against another edition

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Death, War, Grief, Xenophobia, Cancer, Genocide, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Murder, Alcohol, Deportation, Rape, Body shaming, Classism, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Medical content, Blood, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Suicide attempt

afroheaux's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

4.5

Like a lot of people, I first read this book in high school and I don't think I fully appreciated it at the time. I was caught up in the wind of my own traumas and had better things to do than to read a book for class. However, after reading a Thousand Splendid Suns again, I wanted to check out more of Hosseini's books, so I went back to the beginning. And wow, did this book rock me.

One thing I love about Hosseini's books is how honest he is about trauma and how it manifests in your life. The pain is so palpable that sometimes I had to put the book down, overwhelmed by the amount of emotion being threaded into the page. It carries a weight in your heart that's not easily dislodged. The choices that Amir makes throughout the book will leave you aggravated.

His treatment of Hassan throughout their children is despicable and I'm not even referencing their shared trauma of the gang rape. I understand that he felt lesser to Hassan because he felt like Hassan should've been where he stood. That was no excuse to take out his pain on him. Throughout the book he references how he snaps at him or does something nasty towards and he's like, "But Hassan always understood." The cruelty he showed towards him so that he could get rid of his own feelings of inadequacy pissed me off. Amir saw the kindness in which his father gained people's respect. How could he not do the same with his own best friend? The one who did everything for him? He was his personal assistant and maid wrapped under the guise of a best friend and he couldn't at least treat him with dignity? That's my only complaint about the book. Amir was just a little bit too self involved sometimes, but he's human, as we all are, so I can't blame him for that necessarily, but it was annoying to read someone berate someone who loved them so. 

The poison does drip through and affects its victims in different ways. The relationship at the heart of the book, Amir & Hassan, is such a beautiful portrayal of love between men in a platonic way that surpasses what is traditionally allowed in American contexts and it's incredible to watch. Hosseini does a wonderful job of transporting you into the streets of Afghanistan prior to the revolution that kicked off a series of war crimes and misfortunes that tore apart a country with a rich history and culture. He gives humanity to a section of the world that many have cast aside as filled with murderous religious extremists which is an ignorant oversimplification and bigoted statement. Reading his works have made me interested in the history of the region at that time and why the Middle East turned into a battleground for Western interests.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Rape

dawneelisabeth's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, War, and Classism

amabel_xo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Xenophobia

Moderate: Chronic illness, Alcohol, Death of parent, Death, Classism, Torture, Sexual violence, Self harm, Physical abuse, Infertility, Cancer, Blood, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, War, Violence, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Rape, Slavery, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Misogyny, Grief, Genocide, Sexual assault, Islamophobia, Infidelity, Hate crime, and Alcoholism

mirandyli's review

dark reflective sad 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

4.75

This is a beautifully written, devastatingly sad story that I remember reading and crying over in high school. Back then I probably would have given this book 5 stars. After reading some other reviews, however, I think it's prudent to amend that rating. To quote another person's review: "This is the sort of book White America reads to feel worldly."

I will say, however, that there is a reason that thousands of people have raved about this book. Khaled Hosseini writes gorgeously. I loved this book and his other books as well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Classism, Death, Pedophilia, Toxic friendship, War, Islamophobia, Abandonment, Death of parent, Grief, Rape, and Sexual assault

mitchell_1's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Blood, Colonisation, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Trafficking, War, Bullying, Child abuse, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Drug use, Hate crime, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Violence

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

Whew, this one is rough af, and absolutely not for anyone sensitive to anything assault-related. The writing style wasn't my fav, and I'm not sure if I loved the author narrating either. But it did give me some historical context, which was useful. Sometimes it feels a little like books that do really well are just extremely distressing, and folks mistake that for being enthralling. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Grief, Chronic illness, Death, Hate crime, Infertility, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Classism, Death of parent, Violence, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Toxic friendship, and War

Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Police brutality, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Excrement, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexism, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Murder, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, and Vomit

Minor: Antisemitism, Body shaming, Body horror, Torture, and Miscarriage

bigteo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-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

4.25

The first half was amazing and I was engaged throughout the whole book.  I  found myself frequently googling terms often. As it’s a culture I don’t have much exposure to, it was fascinating to read about the rich history, people, culture, etc,.

However, the last arc was a bit of a slog for me personally due to how depressing it was. Keep in mind I read the last half of the book in a single sitting tho. 

I actually did like how the protagonist was unlikeable because it’s not something I often see in books. The outrage at some of his actions means I was emotionally invested (even if it was through anger) with what the character would do next. 

But yeah would recommend it tbh just check trigger warnings because it gets very dark and heavy at parts.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Death, Gun violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Racial slurs, Death of parent, Blood, Cancer, Chronic illness, Pedophilia, Murder, War, Violence, Classism, Self harm, and Medical content

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Infertility, Miscarriage, Genocide, Hate crime, Infidelity, and Pregnancy

weepingstones's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Murder, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, War, Violence, Death, Torture, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Infidelity, Infertility, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, and Terminal illness

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, and Classism