A review by squidlord23
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was a very good book that I'm glad I waited until I was older to take the time to digest and reflect. It is a very tough emotional read and Amir, especially as a child, you want to slap. He struggles with his father's approval but it was hard to digest how he treated Hassan. Overall the development of the characters as they grow, experience the changes of Afghanistan throughout the 60s/70s/80s to present day (2001) was a very interesting read. Half a star off because I felt that towards the end the last piece of trauma for the reader was unnecessary and the way some of the big events conclude in the way to benefit Amir were too obviously coincidental to help wrap a nice bow on the plot and just keep our emotions on a roller coaster we're ready to get off. I definitely recommend this book if you're interested in a small perspective on the Afghan family dynamic and some history of the country. This is not all encompassing and the history clearly is more complicated than this book. 
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