What readers think of The Kite Runner, plus links to write your own review.

The Kite Runner is a great book to study at any level. I am studying it for English Literature A.S. level. At times the book is shocking, so be prepared for an array of emotions, such is the power of the book. The book is rich in characterisation and manages to shed some light on the troubles of Afghanistan.

The plot has been carved articulately on the lands and lakes of Afghanistan, encompassing the emotions of love, struggle, faith, redemption, loyalty in a very subtle manner. if you love reading ironies as i do then its a handy book to have in your book-shelf/PC

The Kite Runner Is a story about a young boy growing to be a man, and the unnatural challenges he faces along the way. The frustrating and sad read leaves the reader asking, “Why?”. That was the question I found myself asking the most. Whether it was why the character was placed as he was, or whether it was because the events in the book left me wanting to throw the book down my hallway.

The early events are a true account of loyalty, friendship, and troubles. But as the book progresses, it appears to be continuing down the latter path! Instances are not what they seem at first, and parts that seem uplifting and hopeful for the main character turn out to be angering or saddening parts.

On the plus side, it is an interesting read and gives us a slight insight on Afghani tradition. The characters also are very well made up in their certain characteristics. While reading the book I grew to get a feel for each of the characters and their ways. Not many books can get firm grasp on characters.

The final conclusion? No. 1 of 5 stars. The book has too many depressing areas and subjects. You find yourself just begging the author to make the story a bit uplifting at points; just even one single event to make you like the main character or the storyline. As for the Afghani insights, I've learned more from a half an hour show on the discovery channel; and that wasn’t depressing to watch.

The only objection I have to allowing The Kite Runner in high schools, is because of the depressing matters, and the angering instances. I do not think it should be banned because of that one instance though. Even though i despise the book, I do not feel that it has a reason to be banned from high schools. If a student is not strong enough to handle the “situations”, its pretty sad. The areas that were “explicit” were not even that much explicit. Very slightly disturbing. I found I was more disturbed with the main character and author for what he was doing than I was with the instance that was being portrayed.

This book is absolutely brilliant. For all those avid book readers, please don't miss out on reading this. Racism, wealth, classes of people, and many other issues are brought up in this book, and they are all of significance. Get your hands on a copy of this, because you wont be able to put it down once you do!

Khaled Hosseini's quietly powerful debut novel The Kite Runner fulfills the promise of fiction, awakening curiosity about the world around us, speaking truth as the lessons of history echo down the years. The themes are universal: familial relationships, particularly father and son; the price of disloyalty; the inhumanity of a rigid class system; and the horrific realities of war. This is a must read novel and it should not be avoided at all.

This book, this writer has captured my mind and heart in every way. I am usually very turned off my books I don't feel I will be interested in, I stick to true crime. But when I read this book the way he wrote it captured my imagination, I could see the characters, cried when I imagined what Hassan went through and his son. This book is truly captivating, I had to read A Thousand Splendid Suns and it was equally riveting. I have recommended this book to everyone I know and I hope people get a chance to become a part of this writer. All in all next to his 2nd book this is the best book I have ever read.

Kite Runner was one of the best books I have ever read. This story pulled me in; it was hard to put the book down. It can be difficult for me to become this absorbed in a story set in an unfamiliar culture. Who would have ever thought that I would ever read this kind of a book? However, this book is so well written, that I had no problem relating to the characters or understanding it. At times, the violence was very disturbing. I would caution young readers and anyone with a trauma history due to the violence. Other than those difficult parts, I enjoyed the rest of the story and would probably read it again. During the reading I learned and understood more about Afghan culture & contemporary events there. The main plot centers on two boys who grow up together and brings in the important parts of: striving for parental approval, competition, family secrets, abandonment, disappointment, personal failings, racism, war, and poverty, strength of character, aging, illness, injury & personal growth. The biggest disappointment would have been the way a marriage relationship is not developed, & the female character undeveloped. In this instance, the entire story is from a male perspective, & females are nearly nonexistent, kind of like the Taliban’s women. The main characters wife is not really mentioned, only when they can’t get a child, and when he calls her every once and a while. I would read this book again and maybe some more of the author’s books. It was a great read.

This amazing book is full with drama with war torn Afghanistan in the backdrop, takes reader to ups and downs of emotional cycle- it is a kaleidoscope of raw emotions. Whether its hate, friendship, betrayal, separation, cruelty or hope, the book touches depths and heights of every emotion.

Hassan and Amir are both symbol of two extremes of human nature and both are at the top and bottom rung of social order, Hassan keeps surprising the reader with his inner strengths whereas, with all the good fortunes, Amir fails to show any except at the end when he decided to bring Soharab home. They both are inseparable till the end of the novel and in some way or other Hassan was there as if he was never gone from the canvas.

This book is a simple read and written in a narrative style. I have found that authors with English as second language write simple read books and somehow they have better capability to arouse emotions. I have read some books from Indian Authors and I have found the same. I haven’t seen the movie, but just by reading the book, I can tell that the Kite Runner movie will be as powerful English Patient.

-Vivek