Amateur Book Review - The Kite Runner

I don't know that there is anything I can say about this book that will do it any justice.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, (this is his first novel) about a boy named Amir who lives with his father in Afghanistan before they flee for America after the Taliban take over their homeland.

The book sites state this - An epic tale of fathers and sons, of friendship and betrayal, that takes us from Afghanistan in the final days of the monarchy to the atrocities of the present.

It is this, and so much more. The story, eloquently written, starts with Amir the child of Baba a very wealthy well to do man in Afghanistan and what happens to change the course of their life and the life of people they love. While the book deals with culture which is also very interesting, this book mainly to me, deals with how the choices we make throughout our life shape who we are and who we eventually become.

I had no desire to read this book. Having heard about it and knowing that everyone was reading, that it was on the best seller list for over 2 years it didn't make me want to pick it up. What made me want to pick it up was hearing my girlfriend Sheress beg me to do so. She called me every morning when she started reading begging, asking, pleading, telling me she would buy it for me and that I just HAD to read it. Now, I am doing the same, I have told 5 people to read this in the past 2 weeks and now I am telling you.

The book is unforgettable. I don't believe there will be a time where I won't be able to recall this story.

This beautifully written book is about family, sacrifice, jealousy, love, friendship, suffering, sin, devastation, redemption and at times was emotionally gripping.

The title comes a traditional tournament where Afghan children or kite-flyers compete by cutting through the strings of their opponents with the strings of their own kites made of sharp, glass strings. The winner is the last one standing after all other kites have been cut and the runner runs after the last falling kite gets the greatest honor.

The Kite Runner like Veil of Roses made me happy to have been born on American soil.