The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Title: The Kite Runner
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Pages: 371
Genre: Contemporary, Historical
Book Description:
Amir is the son of a wealthy Kabul merchant, a member of the ruling caste of Pashtuns. Hassan, his servant and constant companion, is a Hazara, a despised and impoverished caste. Their uncommon bond is torn by Amir's choice to abandon his friend amidst the increasing ethnic, religious, and political tensions of the dying years of the Afghan monarchy, wrenching them far apart. But so strong is the bond between the two boys that Amir journeys back to a distant world, to try to right past wrongs against the only true friend he ever had.

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

Get it here | Good reads

My Opinion:
This was a fantastic novel about youth, travel and most importantly, the shared love between two friends. In this, we follow Amir's journey as he tries to right his wrongs from childhood. I started reading this on a 3 hour train journey and ended up finishing it that evening! 

I was hooked the entire way through reading this. My favourite factor was the characters because they felt very real to me. Hassan is so innocent and caring while Amir is determined and broken. The two of them together have such a strong bond that's almost unbreakable.

The plot line was extremely powerful. There was foreshadowing to the events and when I finally discovered these I was shocked. They were heartbreaking. Amir's actions were unforgivable however I was pleased that he spent the rest of the novel trying to fix his mistakes.

Hosseini's use of imagery provides a realistic element to this novel. He has a moving way of describing the settings, characters and their actions. Everything flows really well and it was a pleasure to read. The cultural aspects were fascinating since I knew little about the lifestyle here in Afghanistan.

This is definitely worth a read if you're interested in learning about new cultures and friendship. There is constant intrigue and mystery running through this, as well as the powerful and devastating consequences.

Favourite Quotes:

For you, a thousand times over

~~~~

Children aren't coloring books. You don't get to fill them with your favorite colors

~~~~

There is only one sin. and that is theft... when you tell a lie, you steal someones right to the truth

~~~~

People say that eyes are windows to the soul

Rating ★★★★★

5 out of 5 stars 

 Next book I'm going to review:
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Attwood