The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

When remorse becomes the fatal venom that rushes through our veins, slowly and silently killing our conscience, shrinking the skeleton of our souls- seeking redemption through goodness remains the only way to recovery. Khaled Hosseini pens his first novel with poignant strokes of brotherly bonding, unconditional love, agonizing betrayal, ingrained guilt and final redemption. “There is a way to be good again” were the words that offered Amir, the protagonist of this novel his one chance to atone for his penitent past, to recover from the truth of his childhood culpability, to deliver him from the heavy shadows of life-long guilt, into a glint of light and liberation.

When remorse becomes the fatal venom that rushes through our veins - seeking redemption through goodness remains the only way to recovery. Khaled Hosseini's first novel is one with  poignant strokes of brotherly bonding, unconditional love, agonizing betrayal, ingrained guilt and final redemption.

“There is a way to be good again” were the words that offered Amir, the protagonist of this novel his one chance to atone for his penitent past and recover from the truth of his childhood cowardice.

In the background of a rich Afghanistan, Amir a well-heeled Pashtun boy and Hassan, his low class devoted Hazara servant have grown up as brothers do - taking their first steps together, playing old games, climbing tress, telling tales and flying kites. The disappointment of Baba (Amir’s father) in Amir’s might and capability, along with his belief in Hassan’s surpassing strength result in an enduring damage to Amir’s own self esteem, making his life an incessant attempt to be the man of honor his magnificent father is - All until that fateful day of the local kite lying tournament, that which wins Amir the crown and a place of pride in Baba’s heart, but leaves a hollow pit of shame and guilt in Amir, for a secret that is only his- In a moment of outrageous atrocity, Amir’s “kite runner” and reverentially loyal servant, Hassan is confronted by the brutal and immoral Assef, and is left to be tortured when he stands as mere witness, frozen in cowardice. His first step to victory and pride becomes a distressing destruction of faith and goodness, one which puts him into a labyrinth of lifelong guilt and repentance.

Anon, a Taliban invaded, chaotic Afghanistan leads to the migration of Baba and Amir to America, where Amir finds a wife in Soraya, a thriving career as writer, and a short lived wholeness in his relationship with Baba; all with an underlying but profound void, smoking with the agony of his past.

One fine day after fifteen years of contrition and disquiet, Amir gets an unexpected call from his only childhood support and Baba’s best friend - Rahim Khan. Presenting to him his path to redemption, Rahim Khan reveals to Amir a bond of blood with the boy he had betrayed and tells him of his single “way to be good again”. To rid of his remorse, Amir must save Sohrab- his Hazara Hassan’s son now orphaned and desolate in a war struck Afghanistan. The stinging knowledge of Sohrab and Hassan, unleash a swirl of emotions within Amir and he is soon on his way to Afghanistan, to save himself and Sohrab, to seek salvation from his saturnine sin.

Writer Khaled Hosseini gives to us his first story powerfully, sketching sharply the outlines of an intense friendship and brotherhood, the betrayal of a venerating loyalty, the pain of shame and guilt, an emergence from darkness to light, and an Afghanistan in the face of plight. Amir’s innate vulnerability and road to redemption is pivotal to the plot of the novel and many emotions, but it is really Hassan’s natural courage, palpable humility, and unblinking love that will trigger your tear buds. The Kite Runner is Hosseini’s victorious first kite - soaring high and sky scraping in the spirit of the reader, taking you to the height of strong forceful feelings, winging across heavy clouds of thick fogging emotion, traversing through the scope of clearer blue skies, and coming down to land in your own spiritual catharsis.

The book was adapted and made into a film by Marc Forster in 2007. It's reviews were highly successful and the film was nominated for the 80th Academy Awards.

Watch film trailer: