Book Review: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

 The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini goes to the dark side of this world; rather to the dark reality of mankind. This piece of literature is in no way different than an actual chunk of reality picked up from our daily, real lives. Not every one of us will be able to relate to the events and consequences of war, of course, we are blessed enough but the sentiment, feelings of a person committing a sin, the fact that the sinner lives with his sin forever, the guilt especially; we know each one of them to the core. There are not many of its kind. So, for a change, it can be an option, a very good one actually.

Basic Plot of the Book

Going for the basic plot first, this book is a peek into an Afghani’s privileged life. Amir, from his childhood in Afghanistan and his closest friend Hassan, who was his servant in front of others. How their lives change a December evening, then more with the Russian attack. Amir’s life in America, his childless marriage with Soraya, the life of his perfect baba in Afghanistan and America, a call from Pakistan, a way to redemption, and finally his meeting with the truth of his and Hassan’s relationship.

Hassan, as a consequence of a false accusation of theft, is bound to leave amir's house along with his father. Amir lives with the sin of this accusation because he was the one responsible. Amir thought he could get the love of his father after Hassan leaves. His father always loved Hassan more. Also, he was his favorite. Amir with his baba somehow escapes to America and there he marries Soraya. Events in between are of war and Russian attacks. After several years, he gets some news about Hassan and his wife's death. Amir goes to Afghanistan, a risky decision it was, in order to save Hassan's son. This is not it. He discovers not only the truth of his and Hassan's relationship but also the reality of his perfect Baba. The novel itself is not this straight and simple, it has queer coincidences and some strange similarities with Khaled Hosseini's previous works.

Sin, guilt, and redemption with a hint of love. The plot goes around us, I would say, making mistakes sometimes sins, in seeking something that we truly deserve or we think we deserve. A situation where one is not supposed to be sinful, one is not even mean, but still commits sin. Broader minds would definitely define sin as anything depriving someone of something that was legitimately and rightfully his. It may be his honor, his right on one’s loyalty, confidentiality, identity, truth, and sometimes, forgiveness. Its no more amazing that these are the sins that do not even fall in this category anymore!

The experience of reading it is totally personal. Some things and aspects are going to get imprinted on some minds and others on others. I would remember the Hazara Hassan being the victim, serving and bending and bowing before his hunters, and also the flaw in the personality of a seemingly perfect father. Also, that drive in a son to make his father proud, the way he used to feel whenever he disappoints him.

In a nutshell, this riveting novel has the capability to strike at least one string of anyone’s heart.