The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner is an exceptional first novel by Khaled Hosseini. The single thread that runs thru the entire book is the story of the friendship between Amir and Hassan. As the first few pages unfold, you see that there are multiple layers of this friendship – of friends, of master and servant, of the cowardly betrayer and the brave protector.

Hassan is the son of Ali, Amir’s father’s servant. He cooks Amir’s breakfast daily. Then Amir is driven to school in the family Mustang while Hassan stays back to cook and clean. He is a loyal friend to the lonely Amir whose mother is dead and father is busy. He protects his friend from the local bullies. Amir reads Hassan heroic Afghani folk tales and they make a great team in the Kite fighting competitions. Hassan is the best Kite Runner in the region – he can tell where is falling kite is going to land.

On a winter evening, when Hassan runs the prestigious last kite to fall in the tournament, he is brutalized by some teenage bullies and Amir’s cowardice stops him from protecting his friend. This incident would haunt Amir for the rest of his life. Due to the guilt, Amir is unable to look Hassan in the eye and leads Ali to leave his home of 40 years along with Hassan. Soon after this, there is political unrest and a civil war breaks. Amir sees more cruelty before he and his father (Baba), seek political asylum in United States of America.

Amir starts school and his Baba works at a gas station. On weekends, they sell junk at the local flee market where most sellers are Afghans. This weekend event, for most former lawyers, doctors and the like, is also a place to socialize with other Afghans. They recreate for themselves, a mini Afghanistan of the pre-revolution times – with lively get-togethers, humor, kebobs and Afghani and Hindi music. Amir settles into America and into a happy but childless marriage. His cowardice continues to haunt him and he worries about Hassan.

Amir visits Pakistan to see his father’s dying friend and discovers about Hassan’s tragic death and more. He sheds his cowardice and visits the Afghanistan, torn apart by war and finds his penitence.

Khaled Hosseini’s prose is a pleasure to read and it creates images of all that being described. In his depiction of the Afghanistan of 1970’s, before the attack by Russians and take over by Taliban, Khaled shows Afghanistan of warmth, charm and humor much like most good childhood memories. This is in stark contrast with the one depicted now – with fear, brutality, blood shed and inhumanity. Khaled’s depiction of the Afghani community in California is also very lively.

The Kite Runner is touching and dramatic. Infact, I’ve read no Bollywood movie scripts – but I guess, this is how they would read.

I’ve bought Khaled Hosseini’s second Novel – A Thousand Splendid Sons. Thanks to J for recommending both books.