Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
Hosseini's novel novel is one of the most touching betrayal stories I've ever read. Based in Kabul, Afghanistan, but also taking place in California, United States, the story begins with a premonition of a sort. Amir, the main character, receives a call from his past; the past which he tried to bury; the past which, no matter what, would come back to haunt him.
When Amir was just a child his one true friend was the son of the family servant, Ali. His name was Hassan. The two were inseparable; they spent every spare moment together. Hassan would wake up early to finish the chores and prepare Amir's breakfast. He would then wait for Amir. While Amir ate, Hassan would iron his clothing. This all seemed normal to them. Amir never mentioned the master-to-servant relationship and Hassan never complained. Whenever they could, Amir would go with Hassan up the hill to sit beneath the pomegranate tree. Amir would read to the illiterate Hassan from all sorts of books and tease him about words he didn't understand.
Baba, Amir's father, was a huge man with an equally huge heart. He spent massive amounts of his time and money on building an orphanage for the children of Kabul. Despite that, he was always hard on Amir. Amir craved affection from his father. He would do anything to be loved like the son he was, rather than loved equally with Hassan, for Baba loved them both.
There was an annual kite flying competition, where Amir always tried to gain Baba's affection. The object of the battle was to cut everyone else's lines and be the last kite flying. It was an immense honor to be the lone kite, but it was an equally great honor to "run" the last cut kite. Hassan was the greatest kite runner, and he ran that year's final cut kite for Amir.
Unconditional love, betrayal, bravery, cowardice, honesty, deception. This story entails all of this and more, making for a spectacular novel. An undeniably good plot riddled with subplots keeps the pages turning. Hours of sleep will be lost to the amazing and touching story of Amir and Hassan, the Sultans of Kabul.
Quote From Book
A young woman sat across from us. She was dressed in an olive green dress with a black shawl wrapped tightly around her face against the night chill. She burst into prayer every time the truck jerked or stumbled into a pothole, her 'Bismillah!' peaking with each of the truck's shudders and jolts. Her husband, a burly man in baggy pants and sky blue turban, cradled an infant in one arm and thumbed prayer beads with his free hand. His lips moved in sient prayer. ...
Categorized under:
Afghanistan,
betrayal,
cowardice,
Fiction,
Khaled Hosseini,
love
