The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

Each time I pick up this novel by the Afghani-American author, Khaled Hosseini, I am left haunted, emotional and breathless towards the end. Despite its foreign setting, the novel touches on universal themes such as friendship, betrayal, guilt and redemption, making it relatable to readers all around the world. The novel begins with the protagonist – Amir – receiving a phone call from his elder and mentor, Rahim Khan, who persuades him to leave America and return to Afghanistan, with a single piece of advice – “There is a way to be good again.” Amir’s memories of his life in Afghanistan resurface, transporting us back to his childhood. Through his recollections of his past with his friend and servant, Hassan, we can sense his underlying regret for his lack of action when witnessing Hassan’s struggle in an incident, which led to his self-loathing. In the present time, he travels back to rescue Hassan’s orphaned son, to gain redemption for the mistake he made long time ago, which still haunts him. Nearing the end of the novel, Hosseinni leaves us with a saying, “Life goes on, unmindful of beginning, kamyab, nah-kam, crisis or catharsis, moving forward like a slow, dusty caravan of kochis (nomads).” Despite everything that has happened in Amir’s life, not everything will change for the better in an instant. After the dramatic events in Amir’s life, the ending provides a sense of reality, an ambiguity – a hope – as life moves forward. A heart-wrenching story of friendship and redemption, the novel may be graphic and intense at times, but it leaves a deep impression on its readers and is definitely worth the read!