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4.31 AVERAGE
4.31 AVERAGE
I did rather enjoy this book despite the cautions that I read in reviews regarding the melodrama and unbelievable coincidences. The latter type comments I found especially laughable because what are we as writers but weavers of coincidence?
Anyway, I found the novel profoundly interesting because I didn't go into it with any expectations as far as giving me insight into Afghanistan, the Taliban or Muslim life in post-Cold War Asia. Hosseini earns the title of storyteller with this book and through the eyes of the main character, Amir, alludes in one part of the story that he's 'not that kind of writer' when asked to speak on the history of his country or his people through his writing. As a matter of fact, he stays extremely true to the voice of his character when he returns to his homeland during one point and he sees the affectations of the Taliban through naive eyes.
I also thought that the parallelisms between the two boys with no mother and the detachment between Amir and his motherland as well as the barren pomegranate tree and infertile wife further exacerbated the maternal theme in the novel. I believe that Hosseini really drove home a subtle point about our yen for strong nurturing influences and how acutely we are affected by their absence. (I also saw a little something in the symbolism of cutting kite strings but then I felt like I was reaching and told myself to shut up.)
All in all, it was an excellent read and a very hard book to put down. I highly recommend it if you like a good story and can accept the text with no agenda of your own.
Anyway, I found the novel profoundly interesting because I didn't go into it with any expectations as far as giving me insight into Afghanistan, the Taliban or Muslim life in post-Cold War Asia. Hosseini earns the title of storyteller with this book and through the eyes of the main character, Amir, alludes in one part of the story that he's 'not that kind of writer' when asked to speak on the history of his country or his people through his writing. As a matter of fact, he stays extremely true to the voice of his character when he returns to his homeland during one point and he sees the affectations of the Taliban through naive eyes.
I also thought that the parallelisms between the two boys with no mother and the detachment between Amir and his motherland as well as the barren pomegranate tree and infertile wife further exacerbated the maternal theme in the novel. I believe that Hosseini really drove home a subtle point about our yen for strong nurturing influences and how acutely we are affected by their absence. (I also saw a little something in the symbolism of cutting kite strings but then I felt like I was reaching and told myself to shut up.)
All in all, it was an excellent read and a very hard book to put down. I highly recommend it if you like a good story and can accept the text with no agenda of your own.
This story of love and forgiveness moved me deeply. I couldn't put the book down, yet couldn't bear to feel the story- so powerful. The lines in the end about forgiveness as a "sublte phase" brough home my own transformations and lessons with forgiveness. Best book I've read in a long time!
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
3.5 I think. Could be 4. Overall this is one of the most human stories I have ever read but there were certain parts that lost me a bit. Either way. what a book.
adventurous
hopeful
informative
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Infertility, Pedophilia, Abandonment
Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Self harm, Suicide, Medical content, Trafficking, Alcohol, Colonisation, Classism, Deportation
Nothing short of amazing, this book has altered the way I think about many things.
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Amazing story, the good kind of depressing. It taught me a lot about Afghanistan, which I was incredibly uneducated about. And was overall beautiful. My only issue was the plot point of Assef being the Taliban member he found was quite the stretch and was clearly trying to hard to redeem the character. There was a couple other plot points that seemed to be quite the stretch. I also wish that Soraya (the ONE female character) was more flushed out and there was less describing her and letting her show the type of character she was. But the story was still beautiful, showing the flaws in people and culture but how they are both still important and beautiful regardless.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-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
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Devastatingly sad. You really get to know the characters and, maybe, feel uncomfortable with the raw display of human flaws, causing you to reflect on your own. Fast paced and entertaining throughout.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
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