Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.31 AVERAGE
4.31 AVERAGE
Didn't think I would like this one but I did; very intense in places, but holds your interest.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Finally got around to reading this book after over a decade on my “to read” list. I really did enjoy it. Amir is a wonderfully flawed main character and my feelings towards him changed so subtly that I didn’t even realize it until close to the end. The book provided a perspective new to me and while parts of the novel were absolutely devastating to read and get through, I was very touched by Amir’s redemption arc by the end. I see now why this novel is so highly recommended and would also recommend reading it if you’re looking for a very unique and engaging read. I wish there was a bit more towards the end, but what was done was done well.
emotional
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
It is a really good book that teaches you more about other cultures. It is definitely a must-read. There are many thing going on in the book but the way it is written wants you to keep going until you are done.
dark
sad
I had to read this book for AP lit. I thought I wouldn't like it because i dont rlly like historical fiction, mainly because its sad.
This book was sad but i liked it. It being so sad is what made me like it. This book broke my heart. I was sobbing for the last 30 pages. I understand why it had to be so sad but it still broke my poor fragile heart.
This book was sad but i liked it. It being so sad is what made me like it. This book broke my heart. I was sobbing for the last 30 pages. I understand why it had to be so sad but it still broke my poor fragile heart.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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:
Yes
The Kite Runner is an emotional, unflinching exploration of guilt, redemption, and the complicated ties that bind fathers and sons. Khaled Hosseini masterfully crafts a story that stretches across decades of personal and national turmoil in Afghanistan, inviting readers into a deeply personal narrative set against the devastating consequences of history, war, and silence.
At the heart of the novel is the relationship between Amir, a privileged boy, and Hassan, the son of his father's servant. Their friendship is marked by deep affection but also by painful inequality—and a betrayal that haunts Amir into adulthood. What makes this book particularly powerful is its willingness to delve into the darker sides of human nature: cowardice, guilt, shame, and the often paralyzing struggle to make amends.
While the novel includes scenes and themes that are difficult to process—violence, abuse, and moral failure—they are essential to the integrity of the story. Hosseini doesn’t include them for shock value but to provoke empathy and a sense of shared responsibility. These moments are necessary reminders that injustice and cruelty thrive not only through the actions of the wicked but through the inaction of the silent.
What truly elevates The Kite Runner is its duality—it is both a story of personal atonement and a mirror reflecting the soul of a fractured nation. The prose is poetic yet grounded, and every character, no matter how minor, feels fully realized.
Though the book may be a challenging read for some, it's precisely this emotional weight that gives it such lasting impact. It forces readers to reflect on their own choices, courage, and capacity for forgiveness. It's not just a novel—it's an awakening.