The Kite Runner Illustrated Edition | Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner Illustrated Edition | Khaled Hosseini | Laden With Symbolism

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The Kite Runner Il...

	The Kite Runner Illustrated Edition Khaled Hosseini Riverhead Hardcover, 2007 - 352 pages average customer review:based on 2510 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A deluxe collector's edition of the phenomenally bestselling The Kite Runner, filled with striking and memorable photographs that bring Khaled Hosseini's compelling story to life. Since its publication in 2003, The Kite Runner has shipped over four million copies and spent more than two years on the New York Times bestseller list. Taking us from Afghanistan in the final days of the monarchy through the horrific rule of the Taliban, The Kite Runner is the heartbreaking story of the unlikely and inseparable friendship between a wealthy Afghan boy and the son of his father's servant, both of whom are caught in the tragic sweep of history. Published in the aftermath of America's invasion of Afghanistan, Khaled Hosseini's haunting writing brought a part of the world to vivid life that was previously unknown. Now this beautifully produced, collectible hardcover enhances Khaled Hosseini's story with unforgettable color and black-and-white photographs of the people of Afghanistan and their surroundings, further illustrating the world in which the story is set and heightening the already powerful experience of reading this incredible book.

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Tear Jerker!

I can't count the amount of times I was holding the tears back to keep from balling. Such a powerful story about sin, guilt, betrayel, and forgiveness. It's unbeleivable how the emotions toil page after page from anger to hatred to sadness and even love. This is brutal, there is no doubt, but it is a must read for anyone who appreciates humanity and the power of love.

Laden With Symbolism

I only now read "The Kite Runner" - after having known about it for several years. Somehow there were always other books that called out to be read first.

The problem is that building up one's expectation to something for several years is bound to end in disappointment. Expectations know no limit; real stories do.

So yes, in a way I was disappointed with the book. I thought that I'd delve deep into a wonderfully detailed yet gripping story that takes place in Afghanistan. I didn't realize that a good chunk of the novel actually takes place in America and that it doesn't convey nearly as much about Afghanistan as I had thought.

But my expectations left aside, it was still a book that merits five stars - even if the author had never completed the story and had published only the first few chapters. For those, I thought, were the best.

They reminded me of the great classics in literature in which people, places, objects, and events are laden with symbolic significance without ever telling the reader in cold prose what those things "mean." One feels the significance on a level that a non-fiction book or a mere summary of the story could never reach.

Unfortunately, the author does not maintain this level of literary excellence throughout the book. As soon as the story moves away from Afghanistan to America, away from the protagonist's childhood, much of the symbolism of the story is being left behind, and what remains is the author simply "telling" lots of things, and at times the telling turns outright dull.

But the story recovers and ends on the same significant note with which it began.

For those of you who don't know the story yet, let me not spoil it here by giving you a summary. Suffice it to say that if you like serious literature in the vein of Thomas Mann, Hermann Hesse or even Dickens (to throw in a non-German), then you will be served extremely well with this book. If you are primarily looking for an exciting read or information on Afghanistan, then "The Kite Runner" is probably not best suited for the purpose.

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the destruction of Afghanistan as reflected in a family melodrama

'The Kite Runner' is certainly an interesting read. It is written as if were a memoir by a man recounting his boyhood in Kabul in the 1970s and how his past catches up with him twenty years later while living in California. So convincing is this memoir format that I had to keep reminding myself 'The Kite Runner' is indeed fiction. Although the story itself is immensely readable and oftentimes heartwarming, tragic or downright horrific, ultimately the author overcooks it a bit; the story grows to become somewhat unrealistic. On the other hand the author does a masterful job in describing life in Kabul during very turbulent years and he educates the reader on various Afghan customs and prejudices.

Bottom line: entertaining and educational. Strongly recommended.

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The Kite Runner

When I decided to read The Kite Runner, I was slightly hesitant. A lot of times when things are more popular, they have trouble living up to their expectations. This wasn't the case with The Kite Runner though. This book was fast paced and hard to put down, which nearly equals a great book. The story shows the main character, Amir, grow up and develop. It's over the course of a good portion of his life, which means a lot happens in the book.
The only part I didn't like was something that happened near the end with Sohrab. If you've read the book, you probably know what I'm talking about. I felt like it was unrealistic and not needed for the plot to work out how it did. Besides that, I liked the rest of the book. I would recommend this book to mostly anyone, because it has a lot of general themes in it and most people will be able to find some way to relate to it.

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Eh.

I started reading this book with high expectations. Which is too bad, because the story's good, but the writing isn't. In the end, I was disappointed.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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