BOOK REVIEW 10: THE KITE RUNNER: KHALED HOSSEINI

 

GENERAL OVERVIEW:

RATINGS:3.5/5

GENRE: 

FRIENDSHIP, WAR, Betrayal, Redemption, Guilt, Predicament, Atonement, Forgiveness

AUTHOR: KHALED HOSSEINI

Khaled Hosseini was born on 4 March 1965 in Kabul,Afghanistan. He is best known as an Afghan-American novelist, physician, activist, humanitarian and UNHCR goodwill ambassador.

After graduating from college, he worked as a doctor in California.He has published three novels. The most notably his 2003 debut The Kite Runner. Following the success of The Kite Runner he retired from medicine to write full-time.

All three of his novels became bestsellers: The Kite Runner (2003) A Thousand Splendid Suns (2007) And the Mountains Echoed (2013) debuted near the top of the Times list.

INTRODUCTION:

THE KITE RUNNER is a story of Amir. A rich boy fathered by a rich businessman. It tells the undeniable friendship between Amir and Hassan. Hassan a Hazara boy and Amir a Pashtun boy.It also depicts the cracks in rapport with relationship with his father.

ANALYSIS:

"FOR YOU A THOUSAND TIMES OVER" This is the best best best line in the book. The book starts with this line and ends with it. And every time you see this line you kind of have tears brimming your eyes. The friendship between Amir and Hassan is quite unbalanced,I must say. Hassan is so dedicated and faithful for Amir while Amir is kind of selfish and self centered. He is so very jealous of Hassan when his Baba buys both the boys the same toys, clothes and gifts. But Hassan is accepting anything that is offered to him. It kinds of irritates you when you find Hassan so content and satisfied around Amir.He is even happier when he finds his best friend happy. I find Hassan to be the other half of Amir. Hassan instantly recognises any changes on Amir's personality. He knows when Amir is happy and content. He can say Amir if his mood is not right at the moment and does his every possible effort to make it right. 

The other best thing I like about them is their childhood. And KITE FLYING culture of course. I assume the book to own the title because of this one winter festival. 

Hassan would run the kites for Amir. The last kite flying festival happens to be the climax of the story. The tussle between the last two kites remaining in the sky is a scene to watch (though you imagine while reading).

 

And this is the same competition that ends the true friendship between Amir and Hassan while it strengthens the rapport with Amir and Baba. I do understand why Amir is characterised as such a coward, indecisive and weak. Where Hassan would stand for Amir a thousand times over and never give it a second thought as Amir did when Amir just ran away when Hassan needed him the most. Amir is always fearful. Hassan is always cheerful and lively. 

The one thing I catch a glimpse of when I listen to the title is the scrawlings:AMIR AND HASSAN: THE SULTANS OF KABUL. Their friendship is so strong that even after all those years in foreign land Amir finds it safe under the same childhood pomegranate tree. The scene is kind of emotional as Amir is very nostalgic. He lost his only best friend. The only reason is his cowardice. He has no self confidence to speak of the harrasment Hassan faces.He seldom speaks about problems he faces. He carries the secret throughout his later foreign life as a refugee in America. He is living with guilt of not supporting his friendship. 

 

CRITICISM:

Every chapter ends with shock, surprise and OH's!! You can't just predict what happens next. If you assume like for certain some plots before reading further you are sure to be mistaken. 

The most tortured soul I find is Amir. He is betrayed by his closest relatives. Half of his life was a lie. He is guilty for lying about Hassan but when he finds he was being lied to after all is not worth. 

The war raged by the Soviet Union in the peaceful and lively city of Kabul is heartbreaking. What is more pityful is the reign of Taliban's. Every Afghans were celebrating the victory of Talibans over the Union expecting peace, freedom and independence after all. It is grievous when you see the worst is yet not over. The children's who were free to play,laugh and enjoy were all harrased physically and mentally in an orphanage where their sobs were muffled at gunpoints. Your heart melts when you see a baby begging for milk.

You are thrown away when you find haggle over body parts. There's starvation, poverty,loot, robbery and many more hideous crimes. 

FINALLY:

I am somewhat satisfied with the ending. The confrontation of Amir with Assef is one hell of a ride. You feel the characters in this scene. However I wished the story to end without any suspense. The author let's the readers to end the novel. 

The story is nothing but emotions. The emotions you feel in a friendship. The emotions in a relationship with your parents. The emotions during war. The emotions to live as a refugee in a foreign land. The betrayal, lie and love is the chief emotions. 

So that's all. I enjoyed reading the book. If you have read the book please do let me know which is best emotions in the book. 

BY SANJITA NAPIT