THE KITE RUNNER
Khaled Hosseini

Synopsis: Taking us from Afghanistan in the final days of the monarchy through the horrific rule of the Taliban, The Kite Runner is the heartbreaking story of the unlikely and inseparable friendship between a wealthy Afghan boy and the son of his father's servant, both of whom are caught in the tragic sweep of history. Published in the aftermath of America's invasion of Afghanistan, Khaled Hosseini's haunting writing brought a part of the world to vivid life that was previously unknown. - B&N

Review: I have not read such a compelling book in a long time. This book was not what I had expected. To be honest, I thought that it would be a dry book about the historical and political issues affecting Afghanistan. I think what's so moving about the book is its focus on the human condition. It is painfully honest and provides a human side to a country whose misinterpretation is distressingly common.

This book reads easily and is definitely a page turner. It makes you want to read the book through one sitting. The most powerful thing about the book is that the narration makes it seem believable. It reads more like a memoir than a fictional account. There were several times when I had become so invested in these character's lives that I had to stop and remind myself that these characters weren't real.

There were only two problems that I had with this book. They were pretty minor, but I'll mention them anyway. 1.) Hosseini included a lot of Farsi words in this book. Although some words were defined, it would have been nice to have a glossary at the end because it was hard to keep track of what each word meant. 2.) The first half of the book was more engaging than the last half. The second half of the book had some parts that were a little...too convenient. Even though it was a bit coincidental, the book was constructed in a circular form, so that was totally forgiveable.

I have never been one to recommend books to others, but the The Kite Runner is a rare exception. I can't recommend this book enough and this piss poor review definitely does not do it justice.

NAVIGATION

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BIBLIOPHILE