Guestblogging : Book Review
THE KITE RUNNER: KHALED HOSSEINI
I chanced upon this extraordinary piece of writing in Manila, over 11 years back at a very close family friend’s place who also doubled up as the 8-year-old’s and my guardians, when Alok was in India. Saikia Uncle Aunty were voracious readers, and their varied interests in books left me fascinated. Aunty gave me the book saying it had to be read, to be felt and experienced. And I couldn’t have agreed more, as it t turned out to be unputdownable.
Published in 2003, by Riverhead Books this heart-rending saga set against the tumultuous backdrop of war-torn Afghanistan during the Soviet invasions tells the story of a young boy Amir and his closest friend, Hassan son of his father’s servant. They spend their days kite flying in the previously peaceful city of Kabul. Hassan is a successful “kite runner” for Amir; he knows where the kite will land without watching it. Amir’s father, a wealthy merchant Amir affectionately refers to as Baba, loves both boys, but is often critical of Amir, considering him weak and lacking in courage. Amir finds a kinder fatherly figure in Rahim Khan, Baba’s closest friend, who understands him and supports his interest in writing.
One triumphant day, Amir wins the local kite-fighting tournament and finally earns Baba’s praise. Hassan runs for the last cut kite, a great trophy, saying to Amir, “For you, a thousand times over”. But the same day, beset by bullies, an event occurs that changes Amir’s and Hassan’s life forever. This is an incredible tale, movingly told.
Motion Picture: Four years after its publication, The Kite Runner was adapted as a motion picture. Directed by Marc Forster and with a screenplay by David Benioff, the movie won numerous awards and was nominated for an Academy Award, the BAFTA Film Award, and the Critics Choice Award in 2008.
Play: The novel was first adapted to stage in March 2007 by Bay Area playwright Matthew Spangler and performed by various theater companies in North America and Canada.
Graphic Novel: In 2011 it was also converted into a graphic novel by his Italian publisher, Piemme. Fabio Celoni provided the illustrations and vividly brought to life the bazaars, the mountains, the skies of Kabul dotted with kites, including the struggles and emotional highs and lows of Amir’s life.
Khaled Hosseini: The Kite Runner was Khaled Hosseini first novel. He worked as a medical internist in California for several years. It was initially conceived as a 25-page short story of two boys who fly kites in Kabul that was rejected twice by two acclaimed publications. A few years later he found the manuscript in his garage and on suggestion of a friend he started developing the story into a novel format. This part autobiographical, part fictional saga became a runaway success.
Originally published in English, The Kite Runner was later translated into 42 languages for publication in 38 countries. It became a number-one New York Times best seller in 2005.
I have written this post for Guest Blogging with Book Reviews for #shalzmojosays
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Very impressed how you upheld the book review. will definitely read the book. NOW. keep it up.
I totally loved this book. It was a very touching story.
I did not know about the movie. I would love to watch it.
The story is fast-paced and hardly ever dull, and introduced me to a world – the world of Afghan life – which is strange, fascinating and yet oddly familiar all at the same time. Hosseini’s writing finds a great balance between being clear and yet powerful, and not only is the story itself brilliantly constructed, but the book also explores the very art of storytelling. Amir himself becomes a writer, and he reflects on his experiences in the story as though his life itself were a piece of fiction (which of course it is!).The message behind the very ending could be interpreted differently by different readers, but personally I feel that it offers a small sense of hope for both the future of its characters, and perhaps for war-torn Afghanistan as well.
I’ve seen this book at our local library time and again, and have read all the praise for it over the years, yet I’ve never picked it up to read. I don’t know why. I should. I will.
I have seen the movie – the story is poignant and touches the heart. I have not read it. Have read A Thousand Splendid Suns by the same author. I would really want to read The Kite Runner too. Thanks for the review.