I just finished reading The Kite Runner. This book was not a typical book you’d find in my “to be read” stack of books. I passed it up several times in book stores, but I finally gave in when my grandma lent it to me. Khaled Hosseini is a great writer. He writes in a very simplistic manner so that it is easy for someone who is uneducated on the Afghanistan culture to understand. This book illustrates a beautiful story of ultimate loyalty and honor of one friend to another, as well as, between family. There were many times that I couldn’t believe a child could be so loyal and brave for another friend. It was as if the child was exemplifying Christ-like characteristics. The end of the book provides quite a pleasing/lovely twist/revelation.

“The Kite Runner tells the story of Amir, a boy from the Wazir Akbar Khan district of Kabul, who is haunted by the guilt of betraying his childhood friend Hassan, the son of his father’s Hazara servant. The story is set against a backdrop of tumultuous events, from the fall of the monarchy in Afghanistan through the Soviet invasion, the mass exodus of refugees to Pakistan and the United States, and the rise of the Taliban regime.”

Throughout the novel Khaled Hosseini paints a beautiful picture in English, but provides a word in Pashto or Farsi occasionally as a reference.

I would usually fend off such a “cultural” novel (even though I really enjoy learning about and experiencing other cultures), because I usually lean towards the fiction mystery thriller novel as a form of entertainment. But I think I’m slowly enjoying reading books based on a true story, as well as, memoirs, etc…

At first I was ignorant to see I didn’t have an immediate direct relation or something common with this culture. However, I am very glad I read this book. It was very educational and not to mention incredibly eye opening. I definately suggest you reading it! It’s a great novel for anyone of any culture to read. It all goes back to the principals of friendship.