The Kite Runner
The Kite Runner is written by the Afghan born American writer Khaled Hosseini. The novel is a best seller and has won the hearts of many all across the world. Although the first book of the renowned writer, The Kite Runner is a great novel which can definitely influence us. Going through the life of an Afghan boy who had to flee to America due to the war, the writer not just gives us a glimpse of the terrific effects of war but also the relation between a father and a son.
The narrator and the protagonist, Amir is the son of a rich merchant whom he call Baba. He stays along with their servant Ali who is a Hazara ( a Muslim community) and his son Hassan. The novel begins with their childhood which they spent together in Afghanistan. Hassan who is more courageous than Amir is also an excellent kite runner. Amir is aware of this and his own coward and selfish nature which is often noticed critically by his brave father. A boy in the same neighborhood, Assef, with a sadistic nature looks down upon this relation between Amir and Hassan. He asks Amir to treat Hassan just as a servant. He along with his friends try to harm him and Hassan has to defend Amir. Later, Assef takes his revenge on Hassan by raping him. Amir witness this but his cowardice stops him from saving Hassan. This incident haunts Amir for the days and he tries to get rid of Hassan in order to get a relief. He betray Hassan for this. Meanwhile, soviet union invades Afghanistan and Amir along with his father has to flee to California. Amir builds up a career of his own in California as a writer and gets married. Amir losses his father who was diagnosed with cancer as he dies . Soon he gets a call from Pakistan from his Baba’s friend. He goes to Pakistan from where he learns that Hassan and his family except his son got killed and that Hassan was his father’s son. This truth shook him and he decides to rescue Hassan’s son from the war zone as to pay for the betrayal that he had done to Hassan. Once again Amir meets Assef, his former rival, but this time raping young Hazara boys which included Hassan’s son, Sohrab also. Assef challenges Amir for a fight to save Sohrab. But this time Sohrab saves them both with his deadly slingshot just as his father had done in the past. In the end, Amir saves Sohrab and takes him back to his home in California as his son. Amir himself didn’t have any kids. But Sohrab finds it difficult to adjust with the sudden changes. But finally as the novel ends Sohrab starts to get closer to Amir who becomes a kite runner for Sohrab.
The Kite Runner gives us a wonderful reading experience and shows us the life of Afghan people. It is a mix of affection of a father , separation , repentance and the effects of war which are expressed very lively.
by. Krishnendu S.V
The Kite Runner is written by the Afghan born American writer Khaled Hosseini. The novel is a best seller and has won the hearts of many all across the world. Although the first book of the renowned writer, The Kite Runner is a great novel which can definitely influence us. Going through the life of an Afghan boy who had to flee to America due to the war, the writer not just gives us a glimpse of the terrific effects of war but also the relation between a father and a son.
The narrator and the protagonist, Amir is the son of a rich merchant whom he call Baba. He stays along with their servant Ali who is a Hazara ( a Muslim community) and his son Hassan. The novel begins with their childhood which they spent together in Afghanistan. Hassan who is more courageous than Amir is also an excellent kite runner. Amir is aware of this and his own coward and selfish nature which is often noticed critically by his brave father. A boy in the same neighborhood, Assef, with a sadistic nature looks down upon this relation between Amir and Hassan. He asks Amir to treat Hassan just as a servant. He along with his friends try to harm him and Hassan has to defend Amir. Later, Assef takes his revenge on Hassan by raping him. Amir witness this but his cowardice stops him from saving Hassan. This incident haunts Amir for the days and he tries to get rid of Hassan in order to get a relief. He betray Hassan for this. Meanwhile, soviet union invades Afghanistan and Amir along with his father has to flee to California. Amir builds up a career of his own in California as a writer and gets married. Amir losses his father who was diagnosed with cancer as he dies . Soon he gets a call from Pakistan from his Baba’s friend. He goes to Pakistan from where he learns that Hassan and his family except his son got killed and that Hassan was his father’s son. This truth shook him and he decides to rescue Hassan’s son from the war zone as to pay for the betrayal that he had done to Hassan. Once again Amir meets Assef, his former rival, but this time raping young Hazara boys which included Hassan’s son, Sohrab also. Assef challenges Amir for a fight to save Sohrab. But this time Sohrab saves them both with his deadly slingshot just as his father had done in the past. In the end, Amir saves Sohrab and takes him back to his home in California as his son. Amir himself didn’t have any kids. But Sohrab finds it difficult to adjust with the sudden changes. But finally as the novel ends Sohrab starts to get closer to Amir who becomes a kite runner for Sohrab.
The Kite Runner gives us a wonderful reading experience and shows us the life of Afghan people. It is a mix of affection of a father , separation , repentance and the effects of war which are expressed very lively.
by. Krishnendu S.V
