Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

443 reviews

brookiet1220's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

4.0

This novel is driven by the complexities of father-son relationships and seeking forgiveness for wrongs you commit against those closest to you. The secret that Rahim Khan, Baba’s former business partner, reveals to Amir is one that would shake anybody to their core. Although phrases such as the socially legitimate half are harsh and degrading, it provides clarity to the culture and time the novel was set in. Amir’s crusade for forgiveness does at times come off as bing self-centered and savior-complex like. By the end of the novel, he realizes that forgiveness is not always about fanfare. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Trafficking

clelejaleo's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

3.75

Dieses Buch ist extrem gut geschrieben und unglaublich schön erzählt. Es erzählt eine ernste und teilweise sehr schwer zu ertragende Geschichte, in der nur ab und zu kleine Lichtblicke zu erkennen sind.

Da ich mich persönlich aber ziemlich schwer damit getan und mich teils sehr zum Weiterhören motivieren musste, gebe ich dem Buch nun dennoch nur 3.75 Sterne, obwohl ich es prinzipiell sehr gut geschrieben finde.

Anfangs hatte ich persönlich Probleme damit, dass der Protagonist zwar eine komplex geschriebene Figur ist und das sehr bewundernswert ist, ich ihn als Kind aber gleichzeitig auch unglaublich unsympathisch fand. Danach ist die Stimmung des Buches konstant sehr drückend und ich habe sehr mit den Figuren mitgelitten. Gut geschrieben, tolle Geschichte, aber für mich persönlich ein wenig anstrengend.

Vielleicht wäre es mir aber auch anders gegangen, hätte ich es selbst gelesen und nicht als Hörbuch gehört, da ich dies eigentlich eher selten tue.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Violence, Rape, War, Sexual assault, and Injury/Injury detail

tkivinen'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Read this in under 3 days. A very captivating story, although some parts of the story felt a bit overly coincidental or tragic.

Hosseini is an amazing storyteller and although I've never visited the Middle East he managed to paint a lively picture of past and present Afghanistan.

Will definitely read his other books too.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Self harm, and Rape

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Infertility, Chronic illness, Xenophobia, Blood, Violence, Child death, Vomit, Sexism, Cancer, Pedophilia, Animal cruelty, Alcohol, Terminal illness, Racism, Mass/school shootings, Genocide, Child abuse, Addiction, Racial slurs, War, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Grief, Animal death, Gun violence, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Torture

ralexalex's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Violence, Sexual violence, Child abuse, War, Suicide attempt, Rape, Sexual assault, and Self harm

elizlizabeth's review against another edition

dark hopeful tense medium-paced

3.0

This started great but then it became so melodramatic for no reason. I ended up hating Amir and his plot armor; everyone around him keeps suffering so that he can learn "a lesson" and yet he never does!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: War

charlize_anderson's review against another edition

dark informative inspiring 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Gun violence, War, Violence, and Sexual violence

sowall's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

Rating this book was a bit difficult. 

On the one hand, Amir is a fairly static character who is also a little bit of a shithead.

On the other hand, maybe that’s the point. 

Aside from my qualms about Amir as a character, I loved this book. The first third wasn’t very engaging, but the rest? I was hooked.

Hosseini paints a picture of Afghanistan like we’ve never seen before, and he deepens the reader’s understanding of the ongoing humanitarian crisis there.

This is a wonderful book, it really is. Heartbreaking and devastating, but wonderful. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt and War

Moderate: Murder, Rape, Violence, and Sexual assault

astronautin's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Medical content

Moderate: War, Torture, Terminal illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, Pedophilia, Cancer, Child abuse, Genocide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Miscarriage and Drug use

themirrorball's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective 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? Yes

4.25

this book had incredible complex characters, a heartbreaking storyline, and a writing style that touched my heart in every way possible. the development of the themes of redemption, family, and what makes a good person were explored expertly. this is a book i think would get better and better after each reread, simply because there is so much to unpack. the only reason I haven’t rated it higher is because the middle (when Amir is in America) dragged far too much for me. while it was necessary to the story, I think it could have been condensed or written differently. as is it took away from the overall reading experience. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Infertility, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Rape

Moderate: Murder and War

Minor: Cannibalism

anastasia_okodure's review against another edition

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? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is certainly up there among the best books I have read this year, and I am beyond grateful to have picked it up as a way to close 2023. The author has a magnificent way with words, invoking a multitude of emotions simultaneously.  A thought-provoking read with many profound quotations.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death, Murder, Suicide attempt, War, Violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Infertility, Genocide, and Pedophilia