Book Review: The Kite Runner

Title: The Kite Runner
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Genre: Historical fiction/drama
Publication Year: 2003

This is my second novel by Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseni. The first one was "A Thousand Splendid Suns and that was truly splendid. The Kite Runner is Hosseni's first novel.

From the blurb: Afghanistan, 1975, Twelve-year-old Amir is desperate to win the local kite-fighting tournament and his loyal friend, Haasan promises to help him. But neither of the boys can foresee what will happen to Haasan that afternoon, an event 
that is to shatter their lives. After the Russian invade, the family is forced to flee to America. Amir realizes that one day he must return to Afghanistan under Taliban to find the one thing that his new world cannot grant him, redemption.

My Take: It is excruciatingly heartbreaking story set in the background of Afghanistan. Hosseni paints a picture of Afghan with mulberry and pomegranate trees, park, green grass, snowing, aromas of spices, kebab. It is different than what I saw or read or imagined of Afghan. It was not always blood thirsty Taliban. The story flows from 1970 to 2001. We get glimpse of liberal King Zahir Khan, internal coupe to Russian invasion, followed by Taliban ravage. Taliban's cruelty and war-torn Afghan is portrayed well here. Story ends with a positive note or that is what I would like to believe.

There is not a single emotional scene where my eyes weren't moist. Protagonist's journey through redemption in enthralling. Writer tries to make protagonist likable and he succeeds. Hosseni's writing is simple yet beautiful. Farsi is used pretty much abundantly, so knowing Hindi and and little bit of Urdu absolutely helps.

Amir is the most unsympathetic protagonist I have ever come across so far. He is selfish, jealous, attention seeker, mean, and very much real. Haasan's character is most cliched. He is loyal, forgiving, loving, and little goody two-shoes.

About kites. The kite strings are made with powdered glass and tar. I could easily relate because of our recent trip to Gujarat in January where kite festival just ended and saw remnants of strings, and bikes with protective gear to shield from being hurt from sharp edge.

Verdict: It is a story that needs to be read. It makes you a better person if you let be.

Favourite quotes:
"For you, a thousand times over"
"There is a way to be good again"
"It always hurts more to have and lose than to not have in the first place"
"There are a lot of children in Afghanistan, but little childhood"

PS: It changed my perception of Afghanistan, once the fascinating country.