The Kite Runner
Author: Khaled Hosseini
I actually finished reading this wonderful novel in B.C. over Christmas, and I had written a review which was lost when I tried to post it. My aggravation led me to postpone rewriting it until now (Feb). So the upshot is: I can see why this book became an international bestseller. It provides a fascinating and often disturbing glimpse into the recent history of Afghanistan, from the pre-Soviet, and pre-Taliban days, through the long years of civil war, through to the Taliban regime and beyond to the immigrant experience in America. The story is told from the narrator's point of view as an adult looking back to his childhood in Kabul, and centres around his betrayal of his best friend who happens also to be his servant. The novel reminds me of Nino Ricci's "Lives of the Saints" in a lot of ways, and as much as I like that book, this one is a superior work in my opinion. The characters are more interesting and fully developed, the storyline is more inherently "dramatic," and the political/historical background infuses the story with a level of interest and urgency that is really compelling. Some people have said that the ending is flawed, but I don't agree. I think its tone of muted optimism is well suited to the subject matter, and feels more realistic and convincing. This book had particular significance for me, because I have taught several Afghani students over the last few years, and I had always been very interested to hear their stories of life there, and of their journeys to Canada. "The Kite Runner" opens that window a little wider into a country whose people have survived a turbulent past and face an uncertain future. Highly recommended.
Rate: 9/10
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