Read The World - Afganistan - The Kite Runner

Book:  The Kite Runner
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Pages: 400
Book takes place in country: YES
Author is from the country: YES
Visited the Country myself:  No

First review in a new year.  Like I stated in my last post, I am starting the year with books I have already read in past years.  I read The Kite Runner in 2015, and it still remains one of my favorite books of all time.  I have read all the books by this author, and each was just as good as the next.

The book tells the tale of a wealthy boy named Amir, who lives in Kabul, Afghanistan who befriends a servant boy, named Hassan, who works for his family.  The motherless wealthy boy always is looking for his father's affection which he never really gets.  Hassan and his father become like family to Amir and the boys become best friends.  Hassan even defends Amir against some bullies despite their difference in social status.

One day, a horrible accident occurs and Amir betrays Hassan.  Soon after the accident, Amir and his father move to America and Amir never sees Hassan again.  Afghanistan falls to the Taliban.  Amir grows up in America, goes to college and gets married.  One day he gets a call from a family friend asking Amir to return to Kabul because he needs to see him.  It is urgent that he return.  Remembering his cowardice with Hassan, he sets out to find redemption for his inaction all those years ago.

This truly is a wonderful book.  Hosseini is a gifted writer.  The story is told from Amir's point of view and delves into how he spent his years being guilt ridden about what happened with Hassan.  The writing describing the characters and the scenery is vivid and well done.  Many people probably wonder why Hosseini titled it "The Kite Runner".  It is because there are kite fighting tournaments that are essential to the plot and help to explain the meaning of the story.  It helps describe the relationship between Amir and Hassan and also the promise of the future once Amir returns to Kabul to right his wrong.

Do not miss the book.  It is one for the permanent shelf for sure.

Stars: 5