The book was good but Amazon sent me the wrong edition and printing.
I only wanted a 1st edition and 1st printing of the book in hardback, I wish I could return it for the book version I ordered and wanted.

This is the story of a man's journey to right the biggest wrong of his past. This is also the story of a country and a culture that has died and shall never be resurrected to what it once was. This story is about holding onto traditions and customs in a new country and a new life. This is a story about honor and bravery. Simply, this is a GREAT story.

I am hoping that, by now, many or most of you have read this amazing book. It is a great story, but it is also a sad story, in my opinion. The story is about a boy, Amir, and his life in Afghanistan and later in the United States of America. Amir's father, Baba, is, BY FAR, my favorite character in the book. He is a man of great honor and pride. He is a man who seemed larger than life, to Amir. Amir is not the brave, strong man that his father, Baba is. As such, he carries such a great amount of shame for falling less than what he believes are his father's expectations of him. My review will not outline the storyline of this book/movie, rather touch on what I saw were the differences between the movie and the book, due to the Lit Flicks Challenge.

I believe, in order to try to condense the story into a reasonable timeframe for a movie, there were a considerable amount of critical parts of the story that were left out of the movie. I understand Hollywood and their need to package up movies into a certain timeframe... but, I think that cutting out the majority of Amir's time in the middle east was a disservice to the movie watchers who did not read the book. Specifically, the amount of time that Amir spent in hospitals and what Sohrab had to go through while Amir recovered was, for me, a very important part of the story.
The casting of Baba disappointed me. I LOVE BABA and I pictured him in my mind as this big, towering, powerful man. The actor who portrayed Baba was WAY TOO SHORT and diminutive for my liking. Although, I must say that he did a fine job and played the role well.
The movie neglected to show more about the struggling that Baba and Amir went through in the United States.
The movie really shortchanged the viewers on how Amir fell in love with Soraya.
The part of the book where they travel inside the gas tank of the truck to escape Afghanistan is not shown in the movie as it was written in the book. That travel had so much impact on Amir and they don't properly reflect in the movie what happened in there.
I was also disappointed in the casting of Amir. He didn't "fit the bill" for me. He was a good actor and did a good job, but I wanted somebody a little more rugged.
I did like to be able to view the physical difference in the Hazara boys, as it was hard to visualize in my mind but easier to understand in the movie.
In the event that you haven't read the book, nor seen the movie... I recommend the book first and the movie second. This doesn't surprise me because that's how I usually feel. However, you will appreciate the movie so much more... by the way, the movie is done in subtitles for the majority of the film. Hosseini makes a cameo appearance at the end of the movie in the park scene. I couldn't focus on the movie at that point because I was so busy watching him... silly me!

Oh, there are A LOT of foreign language words in this book. I had a friend who helped me to translate them. If you read the book first, you may want to have the internet handy to check the meaning of certain words... it adds a lot to the story. Also, some knowledge on the Russian invasion of Afghanistan and The Taliban rule in Afghanistan would be helpful.

Sher's "Out of Ten" Scale:
Once I had a better understanding of the history, the area, and the language, I was gobbling up this book. I absolutely LOVED it. I actually thought that it was a true story when I was reading it (silly me). Especially with our for men and women fighting over there, I think that it's a book that we should all pick up and read, if we can. We are so fortunate to be Americans (well, that is for the American readers of this post... I know I've got some readers from other countries, too!). So, I am giving it a 9.5 out of 10.

The story revolves around two best friends Amir and Hassan, Amir's family has enough money to be comfortable and he befriends Hassan a Hazara boy with a cleft lip who under the class structure in Afghanistan is beneath him. The relationship between the two is more like that of two brothers rather than mere friends, Hassan even saves Amir from a viscous beating at the hands of neighborhood bullies, however when it is time for Amir to return the favor, cowardice and perhaps his own pride compels him not to take the beating to save his friend-brother Hassan from being rapped by a gang of brutal thugs. By allowing this to happen, Amir illustrates that the class structure in Afghanistan is alive and well and that perhaps the brotherly bond that the reader thinks existed wasn't as strong as we thought. Hassan and his father fade into the shadows of the story after Amir allows Hassan who is also a servant to Amir's father take the blame for actions he committed. Amir feels guilty about exiling his friend away, but then the Soviet invasion intervened and because of his families wealth, Amir comes to America with his father.

Still he never forgot Hassan or the guilt that he had over letting him be raped and then sending him to an uncertain future. This tornado of guilt leads Amir back to a drastically changed Afghanistan under the firm hand of the Taliban in search of Amir. Sadly, he learns that Hassan and his wife have been executed in the street by the Taliban, but the whereabouts of Hassan's song Sohrab are unknown at first. Amir becomes consumed with finding his former friends son and this quest leads him into the clutches of a Taliban leader, who is holding Sohrab hostage. However, this is not just any Taliban leader, but rather one of the bullies who tormented Hassan and Amir as children. A fight ensues and the Taliban leader splits Amir's lip giving him a hare-lip like the one that cursed Hassan for his life. Amir is saved from a worse beating by Sohrab who shots a gold ball into the eye of his Taliban captor.

A heart-wrenching story of friendship, betrayal, class differences and trying to make amends for past mistakes. This is not a novel to be read by the light hearted or those who hate to cry and is a great novel for discussion of human motivation and the frail nature of loyalties and the struggle between selflessness and selfishness.

I was delighted to get this fabulous novel in English, directly from The States and so soon. Besides, the quality of this edition is remarkable. However, there are a few torn pages, which I didn't mind at all.
I'm enjoying my new "baby" as much as I can.
THANK YOU AMAZON.

This amazing story is about a relationship between a son, Amir, and father and a boy and his best friend. The story is over a twenty-year span. They're so many mixed feelings that you'll have while reading this story, you'll feel sorry for him, dislike him and fall in love with him.

This is by far one of the best novels I have read in a long time. I don't usually read fiction; however, The Kite Runner is a requirement for my English class this summer. I decided to get a head start on the book since I tend to lose interest in novels and didn't want to fall behind in my class. I finished it in less than a week and my class hasn't even started yet. You will not be dissapointed!

After the poor boy called Hassan was raped by other "racist" boys, I finally stopped reading after 10 more painful pages of the book. It had become obvious that the rest of the book would be about that.

I was excited to read this book because finally a Muslim (by name only??) wrote a Best seller about a predominately Muslim country and what a shame and disappointment it turned out that he would devote so much of his time to such a shameful plot.

Unfortunately, I already bought Khaled's other book called Thousand Splendid Suns, but I am so disappointed with this one, I am contempating throwing the second book in the gabage before even opening the first page. And if you guessed rightly, yes, this one named The Kite Runner is going into our gabage bin! Not even worth recycling!!

Keep in mind that I'm ADD so it takes a lot for a book to keep my attention...

that being said...simply put, this book is wonderful!

There were parts in the book that seemed to drag on a bit. but overall, there were many things that kept me interested. There were even parts of the book that made my heart stop. It was that good!

There are also a lot of great quotes which make you think. I really enjoyed the glimpse into afghani culture that this book provided.

I very much enjoyed reading 'The Kite Runner' because it reminded me of the time I spent living in the neighboring Central Asian country of Uzbekistan. My first thought about reading a book about Afghanistan was of reluctance; I imagined s story of despair and tragedy. But Mr. Hosseini's book is more than that. It is about friendship, loyalty, and the importance of family ties. And these are the aspects of Uzbek culture that I admired. An entertaining, enlightening read.

I was never much interested in Afganastan and was giventhis books as a gift by one of my co-workers, did not think of it much originaly. When I started reading it I just could not put it down.
A+ recommendation!!

Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner is an unforgettable and heartfelt story of an Afghan boy's search for redemption. Even after Amir's move to California following the fall of the Afghanistan monarchy, after the Soviet Union's invasion, and after the Taliban's takeover, The Kite Runner still offers the possibility of redemption for Amir. Hosseini fuses love, honor, and loyalty with lies, betrayal, and sacrifices into a compelling novel that depicts the power of shame and salvation while opening a window into the trials and tribulations of a country wracked by a civil war, foreign invasions, religious tensions, and ethnic cleansings. Through its unfailing rendering of Amir's journey to redeem himself, The Kite Runner hints that the individual, as well as mankind, can free itself from its past, and that it is only when it stands by and watches can evil claim its victory. Most importantly, through the intertwining lives of its characters and their haunting pasts, The Kite Runner offers hope where it is least expected.

The Kite Runner begins in the Wazir Akbar Khan district of Kabul in Afghanistan, and transits through several locations, including Peshawar in Pakistan and San Francisco, California in the United States. While the settings of Afghanistan and the United States differ markedly, they provide a vital contrast that helps to hone in on Khaled Hosseini's attempt to depict the harsh political and social climates of the Afghanistan monarchy. While the Pashtun Baba, Amir's father, is a close and loyal friend of Ali, Baba's Hazara servant and the father of Hassan, the circumstances surrounding their friendship are more than just the consequences of a society ingrained in its religious beliefs. This camaraderie is adopted by their sons, Amir and Hassan, both of whom are so naturally connected that it leads the readers to suspect that there is something more to what Hosseini is willing to reveal. The important idea is not that the friendship had developed, but that it did so in such a severe environment where if society had found out, it would have led to Baba's and Amir's excommunication. It is only later on in the United States is Amir able to freely contemplate the repercussions of his mistakes, his lies, and his past.

While The Kite Runner is centralized around Amir's struggle toward his personal redemption, Hassan, Amir's friend/servant, is an enduring character whose silence speaks ten times the volume of his actions. Born in a shack as the son of a Hazara servant, Hassan is the epitome of what a true friend is. Despite his inherent social inferiority to the Pashtun Amir, Hassan never expresses any contempt or jealousy towards Amir, even when Amir betrays him at his weakest moment. Hassan's undying loyalty, childlike innocence, and immeasurable honor define him to be a character whose impression remains upon the story's characters and the readers long after he is gone.

"I sat on a park bench near a willow tree. I thought about something Rahim Khan said just before he hung up, almost as an afterthought. There is a way to be good again. I looked up at those twin kites. I thought about Hassan. Thought about Baba. Ali. Kabul. I thought of the life I had lived until the winter of 1975 came along and changed everything."

Khaled Hosseini has a remarkable ability to draw the readers into the story, and to feel the pangs of guilt, the bursts of joy, the tremors of anticipation, and the agonies of regret that the characters feel. The Kite Runner takes the readers on an emotional coaster ride through the various dimensions of human emotions, and leaves them off balanced and hungry for more. An important element of The Kite Runner is the gradual suspense that Hosseini builds into each chapter, each sentence, and each word, only releasing it at the very end. Hosseini constantly alludes to the consequences of what a life surrounded by social, political, familial, and economic conflicts can bring about, but it is through Amir's eyes that the readers become inevitably identified with the story's message.

Difficult to read as it portrays the struggle of human existence so well - truly an eye-opening, excellent book.

This is undoubtably one of the BEST books I have. It is well written and touching. Even though this book is a work of fiction, it has a clear "ring of truth" to it in the realistic descriptions of Afghanistan during the years of the story. I especially appreciated the way this story UNITES rather than divides people, I felt very real empathy and identification with the characters in the story, e.g. the young Afghani immigrant who has a dreadful feeling of guilt from his past - and how he is given a chance to redeem himself after many years, reading of his situation caused me to think of my own in a new light.

After reading it, I urged my 12 year old son to read it, and amazingly, he did read it in less than a week and liked it very much. This book really ignited his interest in reading, so much so that he read Khaled Hosseini's other novel "A Thousand Splendid Suns," and I was so impressed when discussing the books with him, he really HAD read and understood them. It takes a VERY good story to get, and HOLD the attention of a 12 year old reader, both of Khaled Hosseini's books do just that. His school teachers at middle school were also very impressed that he was reading and comprehending books well above his grade level.

I stumbled upon this book because it was at work and I needed something to read to tick off the minutes on the clock. I'd heard people talking about the movie in passing - apparently I missed the whole "phenomenon" in regards to the book - and mainly they said it was sad or depressing. With that in mind, I figured the book would have to be worse but what the heck, it couldn't be that bad right?

There are plenty of summaries of the book's plot so I'll just say that I honestly didn't know if this book was fiction, a memoir, or part of the current trend of memoir-fiction. The writer has a great knack for pulling the reader into his character's setting and his descriptions of people and places are quite vivid. It wasn't until some coincidences began popping up that I realized I was reading a novel. In a memoir the recurring themes, the `what comes around goes around' ironies would seem ridiculous but in this work of fiction they are well crafted and satisfying.

The book is sad, in parts unflinchingly so, and the author doesn't shy away from the horrors on display. It gets to be a bit much in the second half of the novel, as the hard times pile up on the narrator so fast that the author has to inject a bit of implausibility into the mix to save his hide, but it works. Despite the emotionally rough journey the main character has to take and the awful things the reader has to experience through him, it is the smaller moments of joy, the pleasure of having meals with friends and family for example, that keep the book from sinking into oblivion. Even with an ambiguous resolution - there isn't a joyful catharsis or the brutal ending one would expect - one is left with a sense of hope. For a random book plucked out of work break room, that's more than I could have asked for.

This is a true telling of life in Afghanistan. It starts out when Afghanistan was a thriving and rich nation. Then is fast forwards to today as it is a country that has been devastated by decades of war. Even though it is a novel, it has a lot of historical and non-fiction elements throughout. One of the greater literary works of this generation.

This is such a profound and beautiful story. I have attempted to write something meaningful here several times, but to no avail. Each attempt does not seem to do this piece the justice it deserves.
The narrative is quite tightly plotted and perhaps contrived, but a good writer is not afraid of contriving and using coincidences, those tiny divine acts life seems to made of. I loved it. Name me a great writer who hasn't used it...
Since the novel deals with an individual's guilt and search for redemption, it touches each person who has ever had a regret and tried to repay their debt. That includes pretty much most of the human race, I would imagine.
Touching, symbolic, allegoric.
Historic.
Read it.

Grab a box of tissues before starting this book.
What a moving incredible story that I will never forget.

Not many stories remain with you after you close the cover.

I was so sad to finish it. I hugged it to my chest.

My mother had it lent to her and she said you MUST read this book.
She had never recommended to me a book in her life!!! So i went hunting for it.

This story which I won't go into the plot as there are so many reviews on the story is in my top 10 ever read books. I was on a European Romantic holiday with my fiance and there I was on the balcony with tears flowing down my face he kept on saying what is wrong. I just looked at him "Oh honey this book is so good" and grabbed another tissue

Just read it.

You'll laugh,

You'll cry.

You'll be frustrated at times,

Do yourself a favour. BUY THIS BOOK

At once deeply moving and tragic and at the same time compelling page turner full of twists and turns. The kite-runner is a 21st century, immediately putting up Khlid Hosseini there with the great writers.
An epic of realism which brings to life the troubles and horrors experienced by Afghanistan and her peoples during the 1978-1991 rule by the Communists, and the 1996-2002 rule by the Taliban.
You will experience tear jerking moments followed by suspense to know what is going to happen next.
It tells the story of Amir, the son of a rich businessman and his loyal friend Hassan, the son of a low cast servant, from the Hazari nation, despised by the majority Pashtuns which Amir's family belong to.
Hassan's unwavering loyalty is met by a shocking betrayal by Amir and Hassan and his father Ali are eventually driven by Hassan out of his father's house. This will always haunt Amir. The golden age of modern Afghanistan under King Zaher Shah has come to an end (in 1973), the Communists have seized power (in 1978), and the Soviets have invaded Afghanistan.
Amir' and his father bflee Afghanistan and begin a new life in the USA, where Amir marries and becomes a successful author.

But he is called back to return to the Afghanistan under the Taliban reign of terror, and ethnic cleansing , to rescue Hassan's son Sorahb and so reddem himself from the ghosts of his past deeds.
Sometimes fictional works have a awoken social consciousness about situations the world had not noticed (like Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe awoke the northern USA to the horrors of slavery).
Perhaps the works of Khalid Hosseini can awaken the world to the horrors perpetrated by the Taliban and other Islamist terror groups, despite the fact that these have been hidden and underplayed by the leftist media and universities that control world opinion and who will sympathize with any regime or movement, no matter how cruel or murderous, as long as it is anti-western.

This is worth all the hype. Sorry for not a longer review, but others have said it better. Cannot say enough about this book

I use this book with my 11th grade English class. We use this as the basis for an Immigration Research Paper. The book is excellent and has so many more details than the film can ever provide. Well written and powerful. This book excites even the most recalcitrant reader.

I was not aware of the ethnic problems in Afghanistan till recently. I was surprised when I learnt that Afghan people never allowed any foreign nation to dominate them completely. When I found that Khaled Hosseini's 'The Kite Runner' was based on a story in Afghanistan and was a famous one, I just grabbed it. I also found out that there was also a movie based on this novel by the same name. However, I knew from experience how the movie makers screwed up a movie based on the novel 'Q&A'. This forced me to read this novel before watching the movie.

This novel is a pleasant and at times haunting story about two friends, Amir and Hassan. Their childhood days together in Afghanistan and relevant incidents which follow afterwards are nicely conveyed in this novel. The main issue is that Amir belongs to a majority race called, 'Pashtuns' and Hassan belongs to a minority race called, 'Hazaras'. Even though both are very good friends, this difference follows them for years and impacts both their lives quite severely.

The author has traced the history of Afghanistan over a rough period of thirty years. This novel starts at a time just after the Zahir Shah's rule and ends with the present era of the Talibans. Though all the historical facts are not fully reflected, one gets to see the change in glimpses spread throughout the novel. This urged me to read about history of Afghanistan from various sources and I also obtained background information by watching a national geographic documentary called 'Inside the Taliban'.

Here are some incidents from the novel which I liked. During their escape to Pakistan during Soviet invasion, Afghan people encounter a Soviet soldier who asks a married Afghan woman to spend some time with him as a favor for letting them ahead. I feel that this is the sort of danger any nation has to incur if they let foreign force into their homeland. Another interesting depiction of Taliban rule is shown by an incident during a soccer match half-time. Some Talibans bring a woman and a man who are charged with an offense and kill them with stones in the play ground and please the crowd. These acts show how the Talibans once defied humanitarian rules and regulations. Lot more such incidents are very well conveyed in this novel.

I liked the narration and the story of this novel very much. However, I felt that the last few pages were quite slow compared to the pages preceding them. This novel has its own merits and keeps the reader engaged and interested almost throughout. This novel made me dig deep into the history of Afghanistan and provided me a lot of incidents which even I could relate to my early days. I loved this novel so much that I just started reading Hosseini's next novel, 'A Thousand Splendid Suns'. I recommend 'The Kite Runner' to anyone interested in historical fictions.

I will soon have a look at the movie which is based on this novel.

This book legitimately deserves 5 stars. Khaled Hosseini paints a beautiful picture of Afghanistan, and did an amazing job sparking the World's interest in such a distant place. This book is one of my all time favorites, and I've become obsessed with Khaled Hosseini and his writings. Read this book, you will not be disappointed.

Another great book from Hosseini! I must admit that I didn't like it much at first. It was because I really hated Amir. Early on, I had no sympathy for him at all. I just couldn't understand how he could stand there and let that happen to his friend and do absolutely nothing. I understand fear and I know that was a scary situation to be in, but still...I would have had to do something even if it was only to scream "Help!". I also hated him for the things he did later just because he thought it would make him feel better. He just seemed so selfish and weak to me. I must say I was surprised as the story progressed and my feelings went from hate to pity. It turned out to be a great, but haunting story of friendship, deception, and redemption. I would definitely recommend it.

I read this book almost cringing the whole time - you love the characters so much and you hate what they have to endure. A beautiful book

When I first started reading The Kite Runner, I was expecting it to be one of my new favorite books when I finished. The craft is exceptional, especially considering it's written by someone for whom English is a second language. The writing is smooth and unassuming, and it draws the reader in easily. This book does not read like a debut novel.

Unfortunately, the plot is a different story. The first half of this book is worth at least four stars; it's basically a slice-of-life piece made all the more interesting by its setting. As the book goes on, though, Hosseini takes everything that was good about the first half of the book and plugs it into a connect-the-dots plot that is utterly transparent. I was thinking, "Oh, man. He's not really gonna do that, is he? I bet he is. But I really hope not." And every time, he did what I was expecting. The paint-by-numbers nature of the plot is unnecessary and contrived. In his effort to tie everything up in a neat little bow, Hosseini tips his hand and gives away so much that every supposed twist falls flat. It's perfectly possible to write a plot that works like this without it being so predictable and forced-- John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany comes to mind-- but clearly Hosseini isn't quite at a level where he can manage that yet.

Still, this is a strong, if frustrating, debut. Most new writers have stronger plotting and weaker craft, but Hosseini is the opposite. The good thing is the craft is more than strong enough to make the book enjoyable despite its flaws.

Do you have a good life? Can you picture if this flipped around into a whole new life? Like if you were placed into some one else's shoes that had almost everything different from you. This kind of situation is somewhat like what happened in the story of The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I would rate this book a five star book for many reasons. This story was one with all aspects of a good book like love, drama, adventure, suspense, and happiness. This story was about a young boy named Amir who lived in a small district of Kabul. Amir's family was very wealthy and he had two servants, who were from a different ethnic group than he was (Hazara). The servant's son was named Hassan, and he was Amir's best friend. These kids spent all of there time together growing up, and they loved each other very much as if they were brothers. When they both grew older, to around the age of 13, it was hard for Amir to be friendly with Hassan around other people, because he would get dirty looks because of his religion. One day, Amir does something very bad to Hassan and this causes their friendship to divide heavily. After this Amir begins to get angry, and Hassan and his father decide to leave the home and go live on their own somewhere, which destroys Amir and his father very much because Amir's father grew up with Hassan's father just as Amir and Hassan did.
After this, Russia invades Afghanistan and Amir's life changes completely. This is the time when Amir's life flipped around from being a rich person, changing into someone who it was hard to find dinner on the table for. Maybe things in life will work out for him; maybe it will turn out horrible. The only thing for sure is that this will be an adventure full of action, love, regret, and drama. This is why you should read the book The Kite Runner. -DBT

Ordered this for my granddaughter for a school assignment. Arrived in very good condition.

The book was in great shape and it was received in excellent shape. The pages were all in good shape and clean. This book was for a birthday present and she didn't even realize it was a used book. I am extremely pleased with the book and the seller and will use them again.

The storyteller on the audio book is the actual author, Khaled Hosseini. It's a wonderful thing to hear the proper pronunciation of the ethnic words. The language rolls off his tongue so beautifully and I feel as if he's telling me HIS story.

The story begins in the mid-60's, pre-communist, pre-Taliban era, in Afghanistan. Just how the author pronounces Afghanistan is so beautiful! It's like the 'g' is silent. Af-hawn-nee-stawn! The central character and the narrator of the story is Amir. I find myself saying "Amir jan" so often, trying hard to imitate the author. The story unfolds as Amir tells the story of Baba (pronounce baw-baw), his father, and Hassan the son of their servant, Ali.

Baba and Hassan have a special relationship and Amir struggles to keep up with their growing affection for each other. Amir points out that Hassan is the son that Baba wished Amir could be - athletic, tough, able to stand on his own two feet against bullies, loyal! While Amir preferred books and poetry.

Amir recounts his life in Afghanistan before the intrusion of war in the 70's, how carefree it was. When he turned 18 though, the country had become so over run with Soviet presence they are forced to exit the country to Pakistan and eventually on to the United States.

I find myself feeling completely drawn into the political landscape of Afghanistan because of Khaled Hosseini's writing. My point of reference is my own homeland, Hawai'i, stolen from beneath my ancestor's feet. Just as Amir and his Baba had to leave their beloved country, at times I feel like I must leave Hawai'i to preserve my peace of mind. It becomes taxing on my soul to see the continual injustices of the day yet running away from it doesn't bring peace of mind. There will always be a gnawing in my na'au, in my bowels, to want more for my people.

Amir exposes himself in so many shocking moments. It instantly makes me think of how our lives are just that, a series of shocking moments knit together. What we do with our opportunities, whether we live up to the expectations of our ancestors or cower in the face of struggle, determines who we are in each moment.

The story reads like a huge historic, political narrative and yet at the heart of it is Amir and his life. He is a witness to several atrocity's, probably more than the average person has to bear. Growing up without a mother, witnessing rape, murder, the passing of his father, and also dealing with his own insecurities that lead him to behave less than honorable. It's heartbreaking, downright cruel but joy always follows! By the end of Amir's story, he emerges from the darkness of his life by atoning for his past indiscretions. He returns to Afghanistan and rescues the son of Hassan who is left an orphan by the Taliban.

The story closes, not in a sugary-sweet, saccharine kind-of-way, but real and honest yet hopeful! We are all looking for redemption from who we think we are, who others define us to be, and who we genuinely are. Unraveling the layers that mold us into a certain way is our challenge. It is not impossible to change from what we are in the past to a better person in the present. That is what I strive to do -- to revamp who I am in every moment.

Haven't read the book The Kite Runner, but the condition of the book was o.k. readable. Thanks

What can I say about this book that hasn't been already? Outstanding, a must read...end of story.

This was by far one of the best novels I've read..I had to read it for my English 102 college course and it was so interesting. I recommend this book to anyone!

The Kite Runner is a powerful book; the kind of novel that sticks with you, probably forever. On one level, it's the story of a friendship between two boys. On another level, it's the story of modern Afghanistan. The threads of the two stories are interwoven expertly, and parallel each other in many ways. Both threads are tragic, but both end on a note of cautious hope.

The story begins in the 1970s, when Afghanistan is a poor but beautiful, peaceful and cultured country. The protagonist is Amir, a young boy who lives a sheltered life as the son of a prominent Afghani. Hassan, the son of his father's servant, is Amir's best friend. Because Hassan is a Hazara, one of Afghanistan's underclass, Amir cannot openly acknowledge his friendship with Hassan. The result is a one-sided relationship in which Amir cherishes and relies upon Hassan while simultaneously disdaining and disavowing him.

At the same time, Amir struggles to gain the approval of his father, who doesn't understand his unathletic, bookish son. An opportunity to endear himself to his father arises in a kite-fighting contest. He believes -- with good reason -- that if he wins the contest, he will garner his father's respect and love. Amir becomes so obsessed that when he is unexpectedly thrust into a situation where he must choose between this goal and his friendship for Hassan, he betrays his friend.

From this point, things go rapidly downhill for both Hassan and Afghanistan. You're probably at least a little familiar with the travails of Afghanistan: First the Russians invaded, which was bad enough. But when the Russians left the Taliban took over. The Taliban makes the Russians look like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Amir and his father eventually flee to the U.S. But Afghanistan -- and his betrayal of Hassan -- continue to haunt him, and in the book's final act he finally has an opportunity to "be good again." The final few chapters are so riveting and haunting that you won't be able to put it down.

This book is amazing. I have passed it on to other family members and they all loved it. The movie was decent too. The book is better of course. I can't wait to read more from Khaled Hosseini.

I had to read this for a multicultural English class, but I was certainly glad I did. Not only does Hosseini tell an unknown Afghani tale, he creates deep characters with whom one can empathize. It goes without saying this is an excellent book.

The Kite Runner.-
It is an excellent entertaining novel.
But, it is neither for the lover of the historic facts nor for the critical observer of the sociologic aspects of the situations exploited. The sensitive tale painfully exposes the elements of a culture not well understood in America, where the values of human life and human rights practically do not exist. The book IS NOT about religious values or theological differences, but the book somehow tries to expose politics, violence, or personal interests disguised as religious principles. It is entertaining, if you desire to be depressed, go ahead and read the book, but if you are trying to obtain some valuable information out of this tale read something else or watch some TV program about Afghanistan or Pakistan.

I heard a lot about Kite Runner in past year but never had a chance to read it. But couple of weeks ago I got a chance to read it and have to say I was impressed. It was very emotional filled book. Not much of shocking surprises that would knock you off the chair. This is a good example of Infotainment. Very good depiction of past and present state of Afghanistan. Very unknown world for those of us living in America.

I enjoyed the book. It was in fairly good condition. The book arrived as agreed on time by the seller. Thanks.

Monique Lamar

This is a great book, heartbreaking but facinating. Khaled Hosseini is a great writer who is very detailed. The book is especially intresting if you are from the San Francisco Bay Area. Looking forward to reading "A Thousand Splendid Suns"

Set in world most of us would not recognize, The Kite Runner brings the reader into the moment, location, and emotions of its subjects. This book will penetrate your soul and haunt you long after you've turned the final page.

Prepare for a stunning and riveting book.

Very interesting book. Enjoyed it cover to cover. There is so much we don't know about the culture of the people of Afghanistan and this helps to clear some of that.

Beautifully written, memorable characters, and rich descriptions. The writer catapults you in the life of these wonderful people.

Afghanistan, that poor country. From one oppressive rule to another. It's still mired in poverty and suffering even after we went there and liberated them from the Taliban. This is a great book. I lived in the Mideast and I can relate to what he is saying. The Mideast is so mystical in our Western eyes. The partnership with the USA literally let the dictators there do as they please. It's been a honeymoon for too long. Time for change and accountability. We need to understand the Middle East more thoroughly. In this global village and economy we do not live in an island anymore. One more book that I recommend for better understanding is THE LAST PHARAOH by Professor Aladdin Elaasar. It demystifies Egypt's Ancient and Modern history and makes a lot of sense of the Mideast. A great combination.
The Last Pharaoh: Mubarak and the Uncertain Future of Egypt in the Volatile Mid East

This is an amazing heartfelt story of true friendship and learning to grow up and face the choices you have made. This book is unforgettable, so worth reading more then once. This is a must read. :)

Kite Runner is a heartbreaking story of two Afghan boys..You will not want to put it down, it will give goosebumps to you, you will cry and you will learn, too.. It is not just fiction, it is a true mixture of fiction and reality. I googled Afghanistan, Afghan history and culture, and of course Taliban several times while I was reading this book.

This is a story of Amir, a privileged Afghani boy and Hassan, family servant's son. Rich and poor, Sunni and Shi'a, master and servant, reader and illiterate.. Looking at their differences it is almost impossible for Amir and Hassan to be friends.. They are not just friends, they are best friends, brothers, but in social gatherings, Amir and Hassan are back to being master and servant.

And one bad decision that ruins the lives of two boys. Events lead to Hassan and his father's leaving Kabul and after Russian invasion, Amir and his father's leaving their hometown, too. It is a new country and a new life.. Amir grows up, goes to college, gets married, writes a book, and even get published.. But he has to live with his betrayal and guilt until one day he learns that he has the chance to make it right and to be good again.....

I looked forward to reading this book ..What a yawn . Much to do about NOTHING...

This is a debut novel by the writer (who is a doctor) about a childhood friendship, an invisible social stratification, betrayal, guilt, a journey to find oneself, and then lastly, redemption and resumption of the old friendship. I won't go into the details of the plot. However, suffice it to say that it is a pager turner. The author writes very well, and the feelings of the main protagonist are palpable. The story is not really about Afghanistan. Rather, it is about the basic human relationships in a stratified society, the friendships between half-brothers, the relationship between father and son, master and servant, and weights of one's own guilt, the keeping of secrets, the search for one's own soul and redemption. My only gripe is the writing in the second half got a little repetitive. Still, highly recommended.

This is the story of a man's journey to right the biggest wrong of his past. This is also the story of a country and a culture that has died and shall never be resurrected to what it once was. This story is about holding onto traditions and customs in a new country and a new life. This is a story about honor and bravery. Simply, this is a GREAT story.

I am hoping that, by now, many or most of you have read this amazing book. It is a great story, but it is also a sad story, in my opinion. The story is about a boy, Amir, and his life in Afghanistan and later in the United States of America. Amir's father, Baba, is, BY FAR, my favorite character in the book. He is a man of great honor and pride. He is a man who seemed larger than life, to Amir. Amir is not the brave, strong man that his father, Baba is. As such, he carries such a great amount of shame for falling less than what he believes are his father's expectations of him. My review will not outline the storyline of this book/movie, rather touch on what I saw were the differences between the movie and the book, due to the Lit Flicks Challenge.

I believe, in order to try to condense the story into a reasonable timeframe for a movie, there were a considerable amount of critical parts of the story that were left out of the movie. I understand Hollywood and their need to package up movies into a certain timeframe... but, I think that cutting out the majority of Amir's time in the middle east was a disservice to the movie watchers who did not read the book. Specifically, the amount of time that Amir spent in hospitals and what Sohrab had to go through while Amir recovered was, for me, a very important part of the story.
The casting of Baba disappointed me. I LOVE BABA and I pictured him in my mind as this big, towering, powerful man. The actor who portrayed Baba was WAY TOO SHORT and diminutive for my liking. Although, I must say that he did a fine job and played the role well.
The movie neglected to show more about the struggling that Baba and Amir went through in the United States.
The movie really shortchanged the viewers on how Amir fell in love with Soraya.
The part of the book where they travel inside the gas tank of the truck to escape Afghanistan is not shown in the movie as it was written in the book. That travel had so much impact on Amir and they don't properly reflect in the movie what happened in there.
I was also disappointed in the casting of Amir. He didn't "fit the bill" for me. He was a good actor and did a good job, but I wanted somebody a little more rugged.
I did like to be able to view the physical difference in the Hazara boys, as it was hard to visualize in my mind but easier to understand in the movie.
In the event that you haven't read the book, nor seen the movie... I recommend the book first and the movie second. This doesn't surprise me because that's how I usually feel. However, you will appreciate the movie so much more... by the way, the movie is done in subtitles for the majority of the film. Hosseini makes a cameo appearance at the end of the movie in the park scene. I couldn't focus on the movie at that point because I was so busy watching him... silly me!

Oh, there are A LOT of foreign language words in this book. I had a friend who helped me to translate them. If you read the book first, you may want to have the internet handy to check the meaning of certain words... it adds a lot to the story. Also, some knowledge on the Russian invasion of Afghanistan and The Taliban rule in Afghanistan would be helpful.

Sher's "Out of Ten" Scale:
Once I had a better understanding of the history, the area, and the language, I was gobbling up this book. I absolutely LOVED it. I actually thought that it was a true story when I was reading it (silly me). Especially with our for men and women fighting over there, I think that it's a book that we should all pick up and read, if we can. We are so fortunate to be Americans (well, that is for the American readers of this post... I know I've got some readers from other countries, too!). So, I am giving it a 9.5 out of 10.

This is a work of literary genius. I listened to this book on audio CD as well because the author reads it himself. I can not give high enough praise for this work of art. The character building is astounding. The author takes you to a relatively peaceful country and leads you through the life of one man, all in first person (which is typically hard to do well ... he is masterful!). You are lead, as a captive reader through horrible tragedy and almost a lustful hope for salvation. I will give away nothing in my review, but I will say that this story is so wonderful and terrible that it makes me give pause and think upon my own life, think how lucky I am, and at the same time, take a second and a third look at my own character. This story will change you forever.

Good read through first half, turns melodramatic and unbelievable in second. Drags a bit too. But a good read.

The story is amazing, a simple story about frienship that transforms our lives completely. You can't read it without being sad or happy or even angry, you feel the emotions as never before.
You can't stop reading the book. It is easy to read and the author describes every little detail so perfectly.
It's a message about loyalty no matter what.
I really think is a great story with an incredible author.