Another Shot at Redemption: A Review of the Kite Runner

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini affords the reader a glimpse into a child’s triumph for love. Though the main character, Amir makes many wrong decisions during his childhood, he uses the rest of his life as a means to attain redemption. This work creates a great sense of character development and they each complement each other. Amir’s story begins as a man looking onto his childhood with his lifelong friend Hassan, his father Baba, and Baba's friend/servant Ali. Life seemed so simple during Amir's childhood but he learns that it becomes more complicated and severe when he returns to Afghanistan later in his life after having moved to America. The setting of the work is in Afghanistan and Hosseini uses vivid imagery to depict Amir’s home as well as the area surrounding him including the bazaars. It is interesting how life changes after Amir and his father move to America and how one event during Amir's childhood would remain in his mind and heart forever. The symbol of the kite reflects old Afghan traditions and although the setting of Amir's life may have changed and his family struggled, the kite flying is something that he can continue to carry with him and cherish. This novel was definitely a “page turner” and one can finish it in a very short period of time. There is such intensity in the actions of the characters and each piece has an important meaning that is mentioned later on. Amir tells his childhood using flashback. Eventually his life catches up with his current situation. This book keeps the reader in suspense and does not hesitate to entertain. Many surprises are evoked in the work which adds to the thrill of this novel. Several parts may be hard to read but it only adds to the realism of the novel. Three themes in this work include redemption, love, and truth. The Kite Runner not only depicts a child’s life growing up in Afghanistan, but also focuses on the changes in modern Afghanistan and its impact on the citizens. This novel is not happy however, it is honest and descriptive. None of the lives are “sugarcoated” in The Kite Runner, but the thrilling storyline will leave the reader wanting more. This is sure to be a great read for those who may not even enjoy reading. This work may change their minds!