The Kite Runner - A Review

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Published in 2003, Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner is a National Bestseller. The novel tells of the childhood of regret and innocence lost of Amir, a boy living in Afghanistan during an era of tumultuous change. Hosseini describes the anguish a boy feels always disappointing his father while being in the shadows of his servant’s son, Hassan.
The Kite Runner describes perfectly life before and after the Taliban Regime came to power in Afghanistan. The change in Afghanistan’s politics reflects the change Amir goes through regarding his culture and Hassan. Hosseini mirrors the conflict of man vs man by portraying the turmoil in Amir in the times of great change.
First there is conflict between Amir and his father, Baba. Baba was a man’s man, he fought bears, had the courage to help others, and stood up for what was right. While Amir liked to read books and write stories. Amir always wanted to feel his Baba’s love, but he always felt that Baba blamed him for his mother’s death. The one person who helped Amir get close to his father was Rahim Khan, a close friend of his father’s. Amir’s thirst for his father’s love and attention will force himself to do things that he will forever regret.
Amir and Hassan were the best of friends when playing in the home, but when outside the home, Hassan became a “Hazara” boy. Hosseini writes of unconditional friendship for a servant’s boy to his master. While Hassan promises, “For you, a thousand times over,” Amir questions his loyalty by asking Hassan to eat dirt. Amir always felt competitive with Hassan because Baba favored Hassan in the sense that Hassan always fought Amir’s fights. Hassan embodies the courage that Baba has, that Amir lacks. One fateful day after a hard day of flying kites, Hassan faces a choice which will change both his and Amir’s lives forever.
As Afghanistan grew deeper into civil unrest, Amir fled the country with his father to the United States. In the US, Amir finishes college, marries an Afghan girl, and completes his dreams of publishing his book. Upon the completion of his dreams, Amir receives a phone call from Rahim Khan asking him to return to Afghanistan to finish some unfinished business.
The Kite Runner tells the story of Amir’s quest to find redemption for his deeds. In this quest, Amir learns to forgive not only himself, but also his father for a dark, hidden secret.