The Kite Runner

‘The Kite Runner’ is a touching yet powerful tale of an unlikely friendship between Amir, the son of a wealthy Pasthun and Hasan, the son of his father’s servant, a Hazara.

The story begins in 1970s, before the soviet invasion of Aghanistan. Amir, the protagonist through whom the author tells the story attends school while Hasan completes his chores around the house. Like their parents, Baba and Ali, Amir and Hasan become fast friends with Hasan standing up for Amir many a time. Having lost their mothers and being breast fed by the same lady, they take their first steps in the same yard and speak their first words there – with Amir’s being “Baba” and Hasan’s “Amir”.

At the age of 12, to impress his father, Amir with the help of Hasan wins the annual kite tournament. His victory is short lived when he witness a vicious assault against his friend and fails to stand up for him. Amir’s faintheartedness combined by a later act of betrayal causes Hasan and Ali to leave their home.

With the soviet attacks, Amir and Baba leave Afghanistan to San Fransisco, where Baba works in a gas station while Amir continues studying to become a writer. He falls in love with Shoya and soon they get married. Life goes on for them until he gets a call from his father’s close friend Rahim.

The book depicts the change that has taken place in Afghanistan from before the Soviet Invasion to the Tabilan ruling it in a an excellent way. Though the most impressive theme is the friendship between them, the book also illustrates love, marriage, religion and life under the talibans.

An extremely remarkable book.

P.S. Adult fiction – potrays child molestation.