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

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The Kite Runner

by Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini X
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
  • Critics' Opinion:

    Readers' Opinion:

  • First Published:
    Jun 2003, 368 pages

    Paperback:
    Apr 2004, 384 pages

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Reviews

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There are currently 77 reader reviews for The Kite Runner
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Brittany Waterman (10/03/07)

School Review.
I rate this book a 5 because I felt The Kite Runner was one of the most amazing books I’ve ever read.

It made me really accept and appreciate my life in America. It taught me a lot about what life is like in Afghanistan and how bad war can really tear a country apart. It doesn’t lack the truth and brutality of how war can really be when it goes deep into the details of the appearance of Kabul’s streets after the Taliban had gone through.

It not only showed struggles, but struggles being overcome and I thought that was really neat. Reading about the struggles made me feel like I was there and going through the same thing. I almost wanted to jump in and help the characters through what they were going through.

This novel included a lot of suspense that kept you wanting more. I had to read this novel for school and let me tell you, I could not put it down. The suspense from chapter to chapter kept me on my feet.

I would recommend this book for every high school literature class. It covers many topics such as: Friendship, Love, Loyalty, History, Relationships, and many more topics. I think high school students could relate to those topics in many ways. It gains a lot of respect in my book.
Ashley Schroeder (10/02/07)

This is a wonderful book!
This book is a wonderful book about friendship, deception, fear and redemption. This book was recommended to me by many people and once people found out I was reading it for school people were all over asking me how I liked it and just talking about how great it was. For all those negative reviews I don’t really understand them this book is not a historical or political review on Afghanistan but a book of fiction. If you want to read a good book this one is sure to be a winner. And I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as my class and I did!
desiray (10/02/07)

woot woot
I immensely enjoyed the book the kite runner. The characters and plot portrayed a quality only found in a book as emotional and trying as this one. As we witnessed every event in Amir’s life we felt what he felt. Every feeling and emotion that was his was ours. Even though the book was about Amir my favorite character was Baba. Even though he made mistakes he tried his best to do well and learn from his mistakes and that’s really what life’s all about. I gave it a five because it was book that made me think about every aspect of Amir’s life and character. The protagonist was not always the good guy, which made the book seems incredibly Life-like because nobody's perfect. The only detail concerning this book that I don’t think I liked was the flash backs they often confused me and made me wonder why they were there, But that shouldn’t hold you back from reading this book. I’m in high school and we read this for our popular Fiction class. I believe it not only to be a good book for high school students but one that they would enjoy, I know I did
I did this for School (10/01/07)

i love this book
Well I don't like to read but when I had to read this book for school I was glad that it was Kite Runner, it pulled me in and I did not want to put it down, this book is informative, it talks about the live in Afghanistan and the situations the children go through day to day, the rape, abuse, the way people are treated from the Taliban.
I like this book because it was well written, there was only one thing that I did not like and it was how the book was ended it was like a cliff hanger, when you read this book you will know what I mean. So that is why I rated the book a 4 was the ending, it left me questing what will happen next, I hope that you take my review as helpful and go read this book!!!!
Farhan Ghazali (09/21/07)

Unimaginative and cheesy
A shamelessly sentimental novel that tries a bit too hard to induce tears and tug at the readers' heartstrings. The book has the plot and feel of an emotional bollywood presentation. This is the story of two boys who grew up together as master and servant. The master could be cruel and harsh to the servant but the servant always took everything in his stride even when things got out of hand, so to speak. The servant's loyalty goes beyond the believable and right into the incredulous.

There are certain redeeming passages in the book and some insights into human psychology but they are few and far between.

Among quality English language fiction, this novel doesn't stand a chance but gains some respect if one is compassionate enough to put it in the perspective that it was penned by someone who comes from a country where there is hardly any work being done on furthering what little literary tradition the country had in the first place.

Though written originally in English, it reads like a translation. Some readers might argue that this distinction in language is what makes the novel stand out from the millions of others written by native English speakers but then it does feel at times that the author is trying very hard to write fluent, flowery prose.

In the end, the Afghani words grate on the readers' ears and fail to evoke the Afghani atmosphere which the author obviously attempted.

I think this novel could be divided into three distinct parts: the first part deals with the growing up years of the two boys in Afghanistan; the second is about the protagonist's life in the U.S.; and the third sees him returning back to his country to see his friend and uncle who is terminally ill.

For me, the third part was the most effective. The author did manage to evoke Afghanistan as a war-torn country with little or no hope in people's hearts.

In the end, everything is wrapped up a bit too neatly. And everyone got his due with utmost justice. [spoilers removed - bb]

Having said all that, at the very least, the novel was an easy, quick read.

My suggestion: Mr. Hosseini should read a lot more American fiction.
Jennifer (09/19/07)

Extraordinary, Deep Read
My favorite way to get to know other cultures is through fiction written about regular people from their authors. I have been wanting to learn more about people from the Middle-East, as I don't want to be guilty of the de-humanization that so many of my fellow Americans are.

This book was excellent for that, and excellent in general. I learned a lot about sons and fathers, about middle-eastern people and how the things which are important to them are, of course, no different than what is important to my family, and about some of the everyday life experiences and decisions faced by people of different societal levels in Afghanistan.

The story itself, the pain and beauty and friendship and love between the fathers and sons, is so moving that I spent time laughing and crying, and have put this on my "read-on-a-regular-basis" list. I also think this should be a required book for all high school students, as it covers such a range of important subjects (family, friendship, guilt, forgiveness, deep love).
Hosnia A (07/12/07)

Totally Amazing
If you haven't read the book I would say go now and get it I finished it in one day. It's a novel that you can't let go you have to finish the book to understand the meaning of life. Specially if your Afghan-American you know most of his saying and what he goes thought. Dr. Hosseini the way he has word everything is great easy book to understand and great novel. I can't wait till I read his new book.
Muff (07/12/07)

a great read
This has to be one of the best-- if not the best-- books I have ever read. Once I picked it up, it was hard to put down until I was either too tired to hold my eyes open or had finished it. It was simply written but made me think. I cannot wait to read his next book!

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