jayx8318x
08-15-2006, 05:09 AM
Everytime I walk into Barnes & Noble this book is still on the bestseller's shelf, and everytime I can't help but mention to whomever I'm with at the time "Hey that's a good book, you should read it."
Note: It's been a while since I read this book, so names, specific events are a bit blurry. But it's my intention to give you a gist of what it's about, and my overall impressions.
The type of person I am, anytime I hear a word, a phrase, a place, a person, an event, I tend to look up everything I can about it. That's why I'm an admitted wikipedia addict. So with everything going on in the middle east, this was one of my attempts at gaining a glimpse at a culture that is admittedly very private and deep in tradition the west has a hard time understanding.
<please use the links on the right to navigate my review>
[BREAK=About the Author]
I find it annoying how some people refuse to like a book/movie merely because the writer/actors aren't authentic to what the book/movie portrays or intends them to be. Example: Memoirs of a Geisha, the book written by a white man, the main actors only 25% of which were actually Japanese.
This knowledge leads to a default conclusion of the work merely on cultural bias and/or pride, which I find a bit asinine. But that's another story for another time. For the record I thought MoG was a good read. The movie however, wasted 2 1/2 hours of my life.
Well for those people, luck has it that Kite Runner is a written about Afghan life, by an Afghan man that lived it. This is actually Khaled Hosseini's FIRST book. He is currently a practicing physician. Talk about an impressive first try.
[BREAK=Brief Synopsis]
The story follows the life of a boy named Amir from the time he is 12 living in Afghanistan, till adulthood living the American dream. No it's not about people who play with kites. Whereas that is a symbolic part of the story, it's not the bulk of it. If you're the least bit interested in Afghanistan, their history before and after the Russian invasion and the Taliban, then this is a good read. It's not a history lesson, but merely takes place during those times (from 1960s to 2000s).
The descriptions and imagery conjured as Amir describes his childhoods makes you think of your own...and that children are no different from one another sharing the same goal...to be allowed a childhood. It makes you forget how oppressive it has become. And it makes you think among other things, which is the saddest part for me, how alot of those children will never get the chance at that goal.
The themes are simply loyalty, honor, betrayal, redemption, and forgiveness (of oneself). It is a certified, bonfide, absolutifide sad story, so prepare your tissues. It is also about the bonds and trust between father and brother.
[BREAK=Characters]
There are really only 2 main characters you connect with: Amir and Hassan. Amir the privileged son of a wealthy business man, Hassan his childhood friend...and servant. Amir's character angered me greatly in the beginning. His character is full of flaws that you just wanna smack him upside the head. He is a coward, hypocrite, a betrayer.
Hassan on the other hand, loyal - simple as that. Amir treats Hassan as a toy, plays with him when he wants too, tosses him aside when others are around or is bored of him.
But again this story is about redemption, so you can't expect Amir's character to stay that obnoxious till the end. His life turns around once the Taliban arrive and the world he knew is completely taken away from him. Including Hassan.
In the end, you'll find yourself understanding and accepting Amir, even with his flaws. The only complaint I have is that Hassan's character is left in the dark from that point on, and any mention of him is at least a half dozen chapters or more later. If you were to ask who the hero of the story is, I would say both. You learn alot from their trials. They are tragic heroes moreover, if a narrower definition was required.
[BREAK=Conclusion]
I'm reluctant to go into the plot/story analysis because I just may end up giving everything away.
For you, a thousand times over...
The first time that quote is mentioned in the book, I was just speechless at how beautiful 5 simple words can be (is "a" a word? meh). Then in the context and circumstances it was used later on again and again in the story, you can't help but leave with that phrase echoing in your mind. Hassan's loyalty lives on within Amir even when he's not around. Amir's sense of duty, the ability to right his life, is channeled from the guilt he feels towards Hassan.
Amir's story is resolved, Hassan's story is resolved. That you'll be happy to know. However, the ending was just not satisfying to me - but ONLY because it was no surprise. It was fan service basically - the ending you expect, and the only correct ending so everyone doesn't go slit their wrists afterwards. It was expected and you'll see it coming a mile away.
Even though I said you get to accept Amir's character in the end. He still had a piece missing. And I didn't end up liking him as much as I still felt for Hassan. Then again, you can't help but FEEL for Hassan after the circumstances he is placed in. And oddly enough, it is Amir's narration that makes you feel that way, you feel the guilt in his words.
A great story, and it will linger with you afterwards. Other that that, it makes you want to go fly a kite as well.
Note: It's been a while since I read this book, so names, specific events are a bit blurry. But it's my intention to give you a gist of what it's about, and my overall impressions.
The type of person I am, anytime I hear a word, a phrase, a place, a person, an event, I tend to look up everything I can about it. That's why I'm an admitted wikipedia addict. So with everything going on in the middle east, this was one of my attempts at gaining a glimpse at a culture that is admittedly very private and deep in tradition the west has a hard time understanding.
<please use the links on the right to navigate my review>
[BREAK=About the Author]
I find it annoying how some people refuse to like a book/movie merely because the writer/actors aren't authentic to what the book/movie portrays or intends them to be. Example: Memoirs of a Geisha, the book written by a white man, the main actors only 25% of which were actually Japanese.
This knowledge leads to a default conclusion of the work merely on cultural bias and/or pride, which I find a bit asinine. But that's another story for another time. For the record I thought MoG was a good read. The movie however, wasted 2 1/2 hours of my life.
Well for those people, luck has it that Kite Runner is a written about Afghan life, by an Afghan man that lived it. This is actually Khaled Hosseini's FIRST book. He is currently a practicing physician. Talk about an impressive first try.
[BREAK=Brief Synopsis]
The story follows the life of a boy named Amir from the time he is 12 living in Afghanistan, till adulthood living the American dream. No it's not about people who play with kites. Whereas that is a symbolic part of the story, it's not the bulk of it. If you're the least bit interested in Afghanistan, their history before and after the Russian invasion and the Taliban, then this is a good read. It's not a history lesson, but merely takes place during those times (from 1960s to 2000s).
The descriptions and imagery conjured as Amir describes his childhoods makes you think of your own...and that children are no different from one another sharing the same goal...to be allowed a childhood. It makes you forget how oppressive it has become. And it makes you think among other things, which is the saddest part for me, how alot of those children will never get the chance at that goal.
The themes are simply loyalty, honor, betrayal, redemption, and forgiveness (of oneself). It is a certified, bonfide, absolutifide sad story, so prepare your tissues. It is also about the bonds and trust between father and brother.
[BREAK=Characters]
There are really only 2 main characters you connect with: Amir and Hassan. Amir the privileged son of a wealthy business man, Hassan his childhood friend...and servant. Amir's character angered me greatly in the beginning. His character is full of flaws that you just wanna smack him upside the head. He is a coward, hypocrite, a betrayer.
Hassan on the other hand, loyal - simple as that. Amir treats Hassan as a toy, plays with him when he wants too, tosses him aside when others are around or is bored of him.
But again this story is about redemption, so you can't expect Amir's character to stay that obnoxious till the end. His life turns around once the Taliban arrive and the world he knew is completely taken away from him. Including Hassan.
In the end, you'll find yourself understanding and accepting Amir, even with his flaws. The only complaint I have is that Hassan's character is left in the dark from that point on, and any mention of him is at least a half dozen chapters or more later. If you were to ask who the hero of the story is, I would say both. You learn alot from their trials. They are tragic heroes moreover, if a narrower definition was required.
[BREAK=Conclusion]
I'm reluctant to go into the plot/story analysis because I just may end up giving everything away.
For you, a thousand times over...
The first time that quote is mentioned in the book, I was just speechless at how beautiful 5 simple words can be (is "a" a word? meh). Then in the context and circumstances it was used later on again and again in the story, you can't help but leave with that phrase echoing in your mind. Hassan's loyalty lives on within Amir even when he's not around. Amir's sense of duty, the ability to right his life, is channeled from the guilt he feels towards Hassan.
Amir's story is resolved, Hassan's story is resolved. That you'll be happy to know. However, the ending was just not satisfying to me - but ONLY because it was no surprise. It was fan service basically - the ending you expect, and the only correct ending so everyone doesn't go slit their wrists afterwards. It was expected and you'll see it coming a mile away.
Even though I said you get to accept Amir's character in the end. He still had a piece missing. And I didn't end up liking him as much as I still felt for Hassan. Then again, you can't help but FEEL for Hassan after the circumstances he is placed in. And oddly enough, it is Amir's narration that makes you feel that way, you feel the guilt in his words.
A great story, and it will linger with you afterwards. Other that that, it makes you want to go fly a kite as well.