The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Although I’ve been enjoying all my books this last month, none of them made it to you MUST read it status. Finally! I’ve got one! The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini was brilliant and if you haven’t read it yet, you should. Having read A Thousand Splendid Suns (see my review here), I just didn’t know if I would like this one as much as I did his second novel. But he didn’t disappoint me (although personally, I would say A Thousand Splendid Suns is even better). The Kite Runner kept me glued to the very end.
This was a beautiful, powerful novel. Set in Afghanistan, it tells the incredible story of two young best friends. Amir, our privileged, wealthy narrator, and Hassan, the son of his father’s servant. Having fed as babies from the same breast, both boys love each other dearly. But Amir who constantly competes for his father’s love can’t help being jealous of Hassan. Set against the backdrop of the soviet invasion, their overthrow, and the rise of the Taliban, the story takes us from the innocence of two young boys, a decision that will change both forever, the guilt and then ultimately, the redemption. There were several plot twists that I honestly didn’t see coming, although I’m sure there were clues all over the place. These twists and wanting to know what happens in the lives of these two boys as they grow into men and have families of their own kept me engrossed to the very end.
I haven’t seen the movie. But now that I just finished the book. I’m intrigued. Has anybody seen it? What did you think?
Visit Hosseini’s website.
Reading group guide.
Publishers reading group guide.
Purchase The Kite Runner through my BookWise bookstore and it will be shipped to you from the nearest Baker and Taylor fulfillment warehouse.
I sure hope Hosseini is writing another book. It would be a shame if he didn’t. What a powerful and gifted storyteller. Read this book! If you have, what did you think?
I thought this was a very powerful book, and I appreciated learning so much about Afghanistan. But several of the more violent scenes later in the book disturbed me so much I don’t think I’ll read it again. I do want to try Thousand Splendid Suns and see if I like it better.
on March 6th, 2008 at 6:06 pmThe stoning during halftime of the soccer game was brutal. I was shocked. So sad that things like this still actually happen in our world today. The fight scene was awful as well.
on March 6th, 2008 at 6:31 pmHi Natasha! Thanks for visiting my blog.
on March 6th, 2008 at 7:24 pmI agree this book is great!!! I’ve yet to watch the movie, but will definitely look out for the DVD.
Woah, this is scary. I finished writing my review of The Kite Runner a few minutes ago, then checked my RSS reader and saw you’d put up a review of the same book. I loved it as much as you did.
on March 6th, 2008 at 7:44 pm[…] this for crazy, Natasha (who’s alos participating in 52 books in 52 weeks) read The Kite Runner too, finishing her review a few minutes before […]
on March 6th, 2008 at 7:47 pmMelody - And thanks to you for following me over here! I’ve added you to my RSS reader so I’ll keep in touch!
Jeremy - That is scary. Both of us sitting in the valley blogging about the same book! I left a comment over on your blog. Enjoy A Thousand Splendid Suns!
on March 6th, 2008 at 8:21 pmI loved the book, but I don’t think I will see the movie. Reason being, I don’t have the guts.. I don’t think I’ll be able to bear watching kids going through so much on screen.
on March 6th, 2008 at 9:34 pmFinally someone who agrees with me. I like a Thousand Splendid Suns better as well.
on March 7th, 2008 at 2:56 amI LOVED The Kite Runner and will hopefully start A Thousand Splendid Suns soon too!
on March 7th, 2008 at 11:12 amChica - I think I’ll watch it. I didn’t want to watch it before reading the book. I’m curious as to how they’ve adapted it.
Notablogger - Yep, agree! Kite Runner was amazing though. Hosseini is on top of his game!
Stephanie - I look forward to reading a review of A Thousand Splendid Suns when you do.
on March 7th, 2008 at 1:50 pmI read this book last fall - it was very powerful, and sad. I haven’t read A Thousand Splendid Suns yet, though I intend too. I guess the first book was so sad, I needed to wait a while before starting his next book.
on March 7th, 2008 at 7:35 pmOh, I’m glad you liked this one! My dad and sister both like this one better, but I think A Thousand Splendid Suns is my favorite of the two. To be honest, I’ve been avoiding the movie because I loved the book so much. Sometimes that leads to disappointment.
on March 7th, 2008 at 7:45 pmI agree this is a must read! I’ve counted it among my top 10 novels of all time. I read this well before A Thousand Splendid Suns, and I have to say I thought Kite Runner was far better (I explain why in my blog review). But if he writes another, I’ll definitely give that one a chance. I have the movie in my Netflix queue, so I haven’t seen it yet either–but intend to.
We seem to be reading a lot of the same books! Thanks for another review.
on March 8th, 2008 at 6:32 amI listened to A Thousand Splendid Suns on Cd and didn’t love it. Maybe if I had read it?? The Kite Runner is still on my shelf.
on March 8th, 2008 at 7:12 amI think I’ll probably skip the movie even though I loved the book. I can read about violence and process it better than I can watch it on the screen and deal with it.
on March 8th, 2008 at 7:52 amThis is one of my favorite books (I thought it was better than A Thousand Splendid Suns) :).
Is the movie out already? I was really wanting to see it. I’ll have to do some research.
on March 8th, 2008 at 1:09 pmAll - Thanks for your great comments! The movie came out in December and it is due to be released on DVD on March 25th.
Anybody know if he is writing another book? It doesn’t say anything on his website.
on March 8th, 2008 at 2:41 pmI thought this book was fantastic and one of the best I had read in a long time until I read A Thousand Splendid Suns. He really has a gift for writing and I can’t wait to see what he comes out with next.
on April 26th, 2008 at 2:58 pmI have been wanting to read this book for some time but just haven’t gotten to it yet. Sounds wonderful We just got the movie from Netflix and will be watching it this weekend. Thanks for the recommendation!
on April 27th, 2008 at 4:49 amObviously, I’m still figuring out how to navigate. ^_~ Silly me. I’m on the fence about the movie. I’ve heard it’s good, but I think I’m setting myself up for disappointment.
on April 30th, 2008 at 1:24 pmTrue. The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns both novels are very well written, they both touched my heart and made me sad and cry. but mostly I prefered reading The Kite Runner cuz’ it is so very touchy and sad.
Khalid is justa great writer, proud to have such an author???
go Khalid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
on May 2nd, 2008 at 6:03 amI have read both Hosseini books and seen the movie.
on May 9th, 2008 at 7:19 amFor some reason, I did not find the movie as stirring as the book. I’m not sure why, except that I think the pictures in my head were more vivid that on screen. (hard to believe, I know)
[…] Other reviews of this book: Natasha […]
on May 10th, 2008 at 10:52 amI just got the movie from the library yesterday. We haven’t had time to put it in yet, but I’ll come back with my thoughts when I do.
on May 11th, 2008 at 9:44 pm