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The Kite Runner

By: Khaled Hosseini
Narrated by: Khaled Hosseini
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Editorial review


By Seth Hartman, Audible Editor

THE KITE RUNNER CONTINUES TO SOAR

Like many of my favorite titles, The Kite Runner came into my life when I was in middle school. The novel was sold to me as a coming-of-age tale set in a changing Afghanistan. While that is technically a solid gist, author Khaled Hosseini’s masterwork is so much more than that.

This story centers around Amir, a sensitive boy born into a wealthy Afghan family. The Kite Runner begins in the year 1973, a very tumultuous time in Afghanistan. Amir’s upbringing in the idyllic Kabul region is undercut by the rumblings of political upheaval. As the government faced a swift coup d’etat by the king’s ambitious cousin, Mohammed Daoud Khan, wealthy citizens all over Afghanistan fled as quickly as possible. Amid all of this turmoil, Amir is separated from his servant and friend Hassan after the latter is sexually assaulted. While Amir’s family would escape inside an oil tanker, Hassan is left behind as the revolution takes hold. A good novel would build up to this massive climax and leave it there, but The Kite Runner takes a much more nuanced approach. Amir experiences this trauma from a young age and is then suddenly dumped in America, forced to cope with survivor’s guilt while adjusting to a totally new culture. His journey then becomes a bid to accept his surroundings, grow into the man he hopes to be, and address his checkered past.

I have always been a huge fan of historical fiction. Something about experiencing key moments in time through an intimate perspective just works for me. Listening to the audiobook, Khaled Hosseini's narration adds yet another layer of context to the story. Imagine my surprise, then, when The Kite Runner pulled away from Afghanistan and introduced a culture shock element to the plot. The beauty of this title comes not just from its intricate setting descriptions and steady character development, but also from this tonal shift. This title has something for everyone, but is especially relevant for people who have dealt with a lot of change in their lives.

I will never forget where I was when I first experienced this section of The Kite Runner. I bought the book in the airport for an international flight and cracked it open while waiting for my flight to board. By the time I was on the plane, I was an absolute puddle. My young brain struggled to comprehend such an extreme level of social unrest and the human cost of political upheaval. Despite these unpleasant feelings, I was ready to dive deeper into this beautiful yet demanding story. This is not a tale about bravery, or defying odds, or even revenge in the traditional sense. This is a story about one man’s hope to redeem himself in the eyes of his oldest friend, and if that is not possible, at least do some good in the world for once.

Continue reading Seth's review >

Publisher's summary

Taking us from Afghanistan in the final days of its monarchy to the present, The Kite Runner is the unforgettable and beautifully told story of the friendship between two boys growing up in Kabul. Raised in the same household and sharing the same wet nurse, Amir and Hassan grow up in different worlds: Amir is the son of a prominent and wealthy man, while Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant, is a Hazara - a shunned ethnic minority. Their intertwined lives, and their fates, reflect the eventual tragedy of the world around them. When Amir and his father flee the country for a new life in California, Amir thinks that he has escaped his past. And yet he cannot leave the memory of Hassan behind him.

The Kite Runner is a novel about friendship and betrayal, and about the price of loyalty. It is about the bonds between fathers and sons, and the power of fathers over sons - their love, their sacrifices, and their lies. Written against a backdrop of history that has not been told in fiction before, The Kite Runner describes the rich culture and beauty of a land in the process of being destroyed. But through the devastation, Khaled Hosseini offers hope for redemption.

©2003 Khaled Hosseini (P)2003 Simon & Schuster Inc. All Rights Reserved. AUDIOWORKS. is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division. Simon & Schuster Inc.

Critic reviews

  • Alex Award Winner, 2004

"A beautiful novel...ranks among the best-written and most provocative stories of the year." (The Denver Post)
"Powerful first novel...tells a story of fierce cruelty and fierce yet redeeming love." (The New York Times)

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What listeners say about The Kite Runner

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    4 out of 5 stars

Must Read.

One of the best book I've came across on Audible. Worth 22 bucks. Do watch the movie once you've done listening/reading.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Recommendable indeed

My first thought was that I can not listen this. And after an hour I could not stop listening! Very original voice. Give this book a change.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

compelling read

touching story and flow very nicely. you see the word from the authors point of view and feel what he went through

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EDUCATIONAL AND VERY INTERESTING

What did you love best about The Kite Runner?

THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE COUNTRY THAT WE ARE REALLY TOTALLY IGNORANT OF.THE PEOPLE AND THE CUSTOMS

What other book might you compare The Kite Runner to and why?

I HAVE NOT READ ANYTHING SO TRUTHFUL AS THESE J ARCHERS TIME WILL TELL WOULD BE THE CLOSEST.

BUT NOT SO TOUCHING AS HIS BATTLE TO FACE HIS DEMONS.

What about Khaled Hosseini’s performance did you like?

HE COULD PASS ON THE TRUE EMPHASIS OF THE CULTURE IN THE TONES OF HIS VOICE AND OF COURSE HIS FULL KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT HE WAS READING.

YOU FIND YOURSELF THINKING IN HIS VOICE AS YOU REMMISS ABOUT THE BOOK

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

THAT LIFE DOES GO FULL CIRCLE. THE UNDERNEATH LOYALTY WHICH WORLDLY GOODS TOOK AWAY. FULL APPRECIATION OF HIS FRIENDS LOYALTY ONLY AFTER HAVING IT BROUGHT BACK TO HIM. HIS OWN WEAKNESSES. FORGIVENESS.

Any additional comments?

I REALLY APPRECIATED THIS BOOK IT GAVE ME AN INSIGHT INTO THE COUNTRY WHICH I ONLY KNOW FROM TV .

THIS TAKES YOU TO THE REAL PEOPLE. THE POVERTY. THE CUSTOMS AND THE FULL KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT A KITE RUNNER IS.

I HAVE ORDERED ANOTHER OF THE AUTHORS BOOKS AND I FEEL IT WILL ALSO BE A WINNER IN MY EYES.

SHED A FEW TEARS AND ALSO SHARE THEIR JOYS.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Powerful and incredibly sad

Sad and powerful novel, broke my heart my than my heart was already broken for Syria.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

The author does a wonderful job reading this audio book. It really puts all of what the Middle Eastern people have and are still facing today in perspective. It is a realistic fiction book and is done really well.

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Excellent narration and story

Where does The Kite Runner rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This was my first audiobook novel and it got me hooked. I loved it!

What about Khaled Hosseini’s performance did you like?

Clarity and knowledge of the Afgani culture and pronunciation.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

"For you a thousand times over"

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Fantastic story

We have it so easy here in the US. Sometimes I need resetting to ignore our first world problems.

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Beautiful Story

Loved this book, learning about the Afghan culture through a beautifully written story line was masterful. Enjoy the work of Khaled Hosseini.

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Great Book, Great Reader

I couldn't stop listening. This book and reader will draw you in and keep you interested. The book is so very touching and has great application to life. You'll want to be a better person after listening. I tried to watch the movie after listening to this, and I just couldn't do it. The movie didn't even compare with the lessons learned in this great novel.

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