Must Read

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is one of the most amazing books I've read in a long time. The novel tells the story of Amir and his friend Hassan -- the Kite Runner -- and of their childhood in Afghanistan, just before the Russians rolled in. Amir and Hassan are the best of friends despite their differing social status, until one day something happens to change their relationship forever.

The novel uses simple but effective language and some of the most killer moments in the book are the quietest. There is a lot of violence in this book -- some of it quiet and subtle -- and others more physical and obvious. It journeys through the 'good old days', explores Afghanis reactions to the arrival of the Russians, and then the horror of the Taliban regime. One thing I thought interesting was the attitude of the Afghanis who had been forced to remain behind after the Russian invasion towards those like Amir who managed to flee to America. One character remarks those who fled didn't bleed like the Afghanis who stayed behind.

This is one of those books that stays with you long after the last page has been turned. Some of it is over the top and some of the coincidences are a little bit much (and it's Bollywood, not Lollywood), but the character interactions and development and the violent journey Amir has to take in his quest for forgiveness is hard to forget. Even in the most brutal sections of the book -- for instance, a Taliban execution that Amir watches -- Hosseini very skillfully cuts in and out of the action, so the whole horror is there, despite the lack of play-by-play. It's as if Hosseini knows the exact details to use to drive home the point and make you see what has happened, despite not taking you by the hand and walking you through a scene.

I ver much admired the sparse prose used in this novel -- the author manages to squeeze so much life and energy out of a few words. As a reader, I felt there was no excess verbiage or scenes. Additionally, Hosseini uses repetition to his advantage; usually repetition can get on one's nerves, but since all of the incidents used were very telling ane necessary to the plot, it only served to re-enforce the larger picture -- of a boy who has grown up and is now searching for redemption. It's an intelligent novel, a bit hard to take at times, but well-worth it.