Scan barcode
geck_grl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Blood
yannea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a story that deserves 5 stars but it took me three months to actually finish the book. It's a heavy and painful read but it shouldn't come as a surprise when the cover has words like "devastating" and "haunting" written on it.
There were three things that pulled the rating down for me. First of all, I couldn't understand why the main character had to a writer. It depicted a very naive American dream because a 22-years-old immediately getting a book deal that pays all of his bills sounds too far-fetched. Maybe I missed something but I just couldn't see how it played any part in the plot.
Secondly, the "face" of the evil was a blonde, blue-eyed sociopath who worshipped Hitler and wore dark round sunglasses like John Lennon. His description made him a cliché cardboard character. Him being born a sociopath felt such a simple explanation of why someone would support Taliban. It's like someone told you to draw a human shaped monster and this is what you draw. It would be much harder to explain why normal common people do evil things. And normal common people have done a great deal of horrible things.
Lastly, it's written in first person with main character that is not very likeable so sitting so many hours with his regret and insecurity is very difficult. It's a spiral - you think something is bad and then takes place something that is worse. And then it keeps getting worse.
Also if you are triggered by child abuse and explicit violence, then stay away from this book.
Graphic: Self harm, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Pedophilia, and Rape
sylmfox's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Slavery, War, Child death, Rape, Bullying, Hate crime, Murder, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Sexual assault
sariedgr's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Pedophilia and Rape
manda_ruthie's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Rape and Violence
Moderate: Racism, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and War
blckademia's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Racism and Rape
Moderate: Trafficking and Pedophilia
slayalicious's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Gore, Grief, Body horror, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Infertility, Murder, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Violence, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Pedophilia, and War
ksull95's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, and Suicide
mirandyli's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Xenophobia, Classism, Death, Pedophilia, Toxic friendship, War, Islamophobia, Abandonment, Death of parent, Grief, Rape, and Sexual assault
purplepickle's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Grief, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Death of parent, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, Medical trauma, Murder, Death, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, and Self harm