The Kite Runner is the first novel written by Khaled Hosseini. It is a story about Amir, who is desperately trying to win his father's admiration and one horrific incidence changes his friendship with Hassan and the guilt with which Amir lives for the rest of his life.
The book talks about Hassan's (who is a low caste servant working at Amir's house along with his father) deep loyalty towards his master's son, Amir. The author beautifully explores Hassan's unquestionable loyalty, faith and friendship with Amir and Amir's friendship, jealousy and hatred towards Hassan.
Of course, we do sympathise with Hassan (when he is sexually abused and his life during the Taliban rule) but what really drew my attention was that to what extent can children go to simply seek their parents love and attention. Amir, who constantly feels that his father does not love him no matter what he does (he is very fond of writing short stories to his father's dislike) and his father thinks his son is a whimp, does not help his friend, Hassan, at the time of need though he knows he should have and this guilt haunts him for the rest of his life till he gets a call from his uncle, Rahim, who says, 'There is a way to be good again'.
The book begins and ends with a beautiful line, which is the core of the story, 'For you, a thousand times over'.
The film with the same name is also well made. There are very few directors who do justice to the book they are making film on. Child artists, Zekeria Ebrahimi and Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada, who play young Amir and Hassan respectively, have done a wonderful job.
1 comment:
You have captured the essence of the story very well. One of the best books I've ever read! It also gives a very beautiful insight into the rich history and culture of Afghanistan, whose image is otherwise unfortunately formed merely by the reports of war and destruction shown on TV.
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