The Kite Runner

This semester we are reading a book called “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini.

The novel was his debut, first published in 2003, and is now a worldwide success.

The book starts when the main character Amir receives a phone call he doesn't seem too pleased about. He starts thinking about his past, and sins he had committed that had made him the person he was today.

The author takes us back to the late 70s in Afghanistan when Amir is a young boy and meet his father, Baba, a wealthy and important business man. Their relationship was very strained and Amir felt he wasn't being the son his father had hoped for as he was not interested in sports or a career like his father. All Amir cared about was writing stories and reading.

Amir's best friend, also an important character in the book, is Hassan. He is the son of their servant Ali who is also Baba's adopted half-brother. Amir and Hassan grew up together and were almost like brothers. The only problem was their background. Hassan was a Hazara, while Amir was a Pashtun. This meant that Hassan was a Sunni Muslim while Amir was a Shi'a Muslim. History and religion is not easily overlooked, therefor Amir never really saw Hassan as a friend and would only play with him when there was no one else around.

A main event in Afghanistan at the time was the annual kite tournament, hence the title of the book. Every year there would be a large competition and this was something Amir intended to win. Not for his own glory and fame, but to prove himself worthy of his father, and earn his respect.

When Amir cut the last kite in the sky, Hassan ran to catch the fallen kite, which was a huge honor together with having the last flying kite. Hassan didn't return so Amir went looking for him. He found Hassan in an ally being sexually abused by a gang of bullies Amir was familiar with. Amir was present but did nothing to help, he just hid behind a wall. This costs him their friendship as well as lifelong guilt.

Because of the problems in Afghanistan at the time, Amir and Baba were forced to leave the country, and fled to America, leaving everything behind, including Hassan and his father. After living there for many years, Amir received a call from his old friend Rahim Khan who dying. This is the same phone call with which Hosseini opened the book. Rahim Khan asks him to come back to Afganistan and see him one last time, and Amir does what he is asked. When Amir arrives he is met by a person that was once his friend but is no longer recognizable. Amir is suddenly faced with his past again, and now, for the first time, he would have to face it and take the consequeces.

This is how far I have come in the book and I am enjoying it a lot. There are a lot of things I have left out in my summary, but I feel I have given a good overlook of the book so far. I find the book both educational, and a good read. Educational because I've learned a lot about Afghanistan history and the conflicts between Hazaras and Pastuns. On the other hand I am, as I was saying, enjoying the book a lot. I find the story very good, and well written.

My favourite quote in the book is Hassan's whisper to Amir “For you a thousand times over”

I find this a beautiful thing to say, and very touching. Especially considering their past. Hassan always had Amir's back, and no matter how mean or unfair Amir was back, he never said a word.