Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #151 in Books
• Published on: 2004-06-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

Customer Reviews

At Times Heart-Warming, At Times Heart-Wrenching, But Always Riveting!,
When it was suggested that I read The Kite Runner, I put off doing so for a long time because I am primarily a "thriller/suspense/mystery" type-of-guy. That was a mistake that I'm glad I eventually corrected. The Kite Runner is an astonishing, powerful book that had me riveted from the first to the last page. It is a story of fierce cruelty and yet redeeming love, as well as of an intimate account of family and friendship. Both transform the life of Amir, the main character, who comes of age during the last peaceful days of the Afghani monarchy; just before Afghanistan's revolution and its invasion by Russian troops. Hosseini is a masterful writer whose prose and narrative style ooze emotion. If you have any hesitancy about reading this book, as I did, put your doubts aside and rush out to get yourself a copy of The Kite Runner. You'll be very glad you did. It is not only a book that will keep you from doing anything else but turning the pages, it is a book that will stay in your head and heart for years to come. It is that good!

Good but not that good
I think the first section of this book is the best I've read in years but when our hero moves to America the story goes flat, his relationship with the woman vague and not engaging. His return to Afghanistan is disappointing because there is no denouement between the two protagonists. Okay, it pulls at the heart strings and will make a brilliant film but I feel it needs some humour interspersed for light relief between the truly harrowing sections.

Almost lost for words
Other reviewers have discussed the plot, so there is no need for me to do likewise. All I can say is that this is one of the most beautiful and deeply moving works that I have read in a very long time.

Sometimes a book can move us, but by the following week we have more or less forgotten it. This one had me in tears, and it will stay with me for ever.

Khaled Hosseini - well done. And thank you.