'The Kite Runner' Review

‘The Kite Runner’ is a story about two childhood friends in Kabul who appeared at first to come from two complete different backgrounds. Little did they know that they had more in common than just their love for kite running. Amir is the son of Baba, a well-respected businessman, and Hassan is a Hazara, the son of Baba’s servant. Baba cared for both boys but Amir always felt jealous about the way Baba paid attention to Hassan. This jealousy and envy is the base of all the events to come in the story. Rahim Kahn is a business associate of Baba’s and has a soft spot for Amir and is more of a loving father figure than is biological one. Amir witnesses Hassan get raped in an alley by the local bully and does nothing about it. This haunts him for years to come, he avoids facing his sins and instead he keeps running away from them. Shortly after that incident he frames Hassan for being a thief and he leaves. Later the Russians invade Pakistan and Baba and Amir flee to America. He carries the burden of what he did to his loyal friend in his heart and mind right into adulthood. He marries a woman by the name of Soraya, but is unable to share the entire truth of his being with her. When Baba passes away he comes to the realization that even those we admire have secrets and bare shameful burdens. This motivates him to face his reality and return to Afganistan to seek closure on the events that haunt his conscious. Upon return he uncovers lifelong secrets and gives back for his past wrong doings. He finally acquires the closure he so truly needed and eventually gets the happiness, fulfillment and peace he longed for.

I would recommend this book because it is a touching, meaningful story which encompasses a real situation which is occurring in the world. It gives insight into the trauma and tragedy of the innocent people in Afghanistan. The storyline also includes a good moral lesson, which can really be taken to heart by the reader. The reader can see how easily friendships can be broken but how difficult it is to put them together again. At times the text is not very clear and concise with what the author is trying to say. Confusion can occur when there are phrases in a foreign language.