Reviews

I loved this book, in fact I was practically crying by the time I finished it.

This book is difficult, it asks its reader to keep moving forward even though things keep getting more and more difficult, and darkness seems endless. What is truly heartbreaking is to think that this story is very real in many ways. When reading the book, I felt so connected to the characters. I was disappointed by Amir's cowardice and cruelty, the ultimate anti-hero, never deserving of Hassan's friendship and loyalty, yet always getting it and taking it for granted. I felt touched by the losses, the deaths, the injustices.

This book is important. I did not know about the history of Afghanistan in such detail before reading The Kite Runner. It took me to this sunny place, described so well you can almost smell the kebab, feel the heat on your skin, the thrill of the kite runners. And then, just like that all was destroyed. Through this book I caught a small glimpse of the unspeakable violence of war, the one we choose not to see when we turn on the news, or see yet another newspaper headline.

This book is hard to review, it really moved me, I can only recommend it... a thousand times over.

hy1536's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.5

rberdan's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful sad slow-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

4.5

The Kite Runner is devastating and beautifully written. There are many content warnings to heed. I had to take breaks because of the heaviness, but that speaks also to how rich the storytelling was. Set in Afghanistan and the United States, this is a story of family trauma and secrets, betrayal, redemption, unconditional love, friendship, war, violence, class, power, and immigration. Yes, it’s a lot, and woven together artfully.

From the joy of kite running to graphic abuse to the complexities of relationship, I felt so much of this book deeply. I’m a white woman from the Global North, so there are many aspects of this book that are far from my own lived experiences, and yet the desire to undo regret and redeem oneself, to simply be loved by those we admire most, and to get away from kindness that feels undeserved… these are things I can relate to. While I know conceptually of the history of the Taliban and of issues with immigration, there is an immersive reality in the storytelling that allowed me to understand in a different way. There is a recurring theme of shame and being loved anyway that is truly beautiful and touching.

Amir’s own self loathing is so beautifully captured that I found myself struggling to like him much. Seeing his family and Hassan through his eyes was so interesting as I got to love them along with him. I ultimately could feel compassion for him as he found his way to loving others. I struggled to forgive him as he struggled to forgive himself, even though his greatest regret was still something he did (or didn’t do) as a child.

All of that said, I also felt that there was almost too much “other people are good and I’m bad” in the story. I get that it’s Amir’s point of view, and I also feel that there’s more nuance than this in who we are as humans.

In the end, I absolutely adored Sohrab and my heart broke for all that he’d endured at such a young age. I ended the book with so much hope for what could be on the other side of his early days.

Content Warnings

ktomkie's review against another edition

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4.0

This book is all about its characters. It's a family love story, told during very troubling times. It taught me a lot about how to craft a character--how to make them human, make them a protagonist with flaws.
A thoroughly enjoyable work, followed by a second great read, TSS. Definately worth a go.

sushcore's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

wcl1's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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

5.0

literarylattes's review against another edition

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5.0

I am blown away and completely speechless by the raw and honest way Hoeseini has written this book. I wouldn't believe it for a second if he himself told me that this was his first novel. He was born to write this story.

Although, fiction, it's as true and real as the history that was alive in those pages. I will forever look at Afghanastan in a whole different light.

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