The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Rating: 4/5
Warning: This review is full of spoilers.
The Kite Runner has been a part of my bookshelf for over 8 years, however, this is the first time I read it.
Every single review challenges you to complete this book without shedding a tear. So, as soon as you are introduced to Amir and the kind-hearted Hassan, you expect the worst to happen.
I felt that the first half of the book was powerful yet heartbreaking. I found it difficult to accept certain situations, not because they were unbelievable, but because the story broke you down. Hassan’s character showed us how happily he accepted the good and bad things in life. Even though, it was becoming obvious that Hassan’s life would end in tragedy, I still found myself praying for his safety.
I also loved Khaled Hosseini’s writing – some of the sentences in The Kite Runner are so incredible that you will find yourself reading them again and again.
And that’s the thing about people who mean everything they say. They think everyone else does too.
Hassan and his father’s escape to America was also an interesting part of the story. I found myself disliking Amir earlier in the book, so Hosseini gave me reasons to understand him better.
However, the second half of the book is the reason why I took back one star from this review. An abundance of coincidences, followed by a slightly unbelievable ending left me confused. The ending tied all the loose ends and even brought back some characters. I am not sure what I expected from the rest of the story, but this was certainly not what I enjoyed reading.
However, I would recommend this book to people because it’s written beautifully. It introduces you to the Afghani culture and tells you the reason behind the importance of the words “For you, a thousand times over”. I will definitely be reading the rest of Hosseini’s books in the future.
What did you think of the book? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Habiba Tahir 