The #1 National Bestseller
Taking us from Afghanistan in the final days of the 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: through the novel’s faith in the power of reading and storytelling, and in the possibilities he shows us for redemption.
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"This book is devestating. It was not written for the weak of heart. This book is a historical fiction that brings light to something I never gave a second thought to, Afghanastan. Sure it doesn't sound like a great subject, but it really is. This book is very graphic with a lot of violence. It makes you appriciate all that you have. I would only reccommend this to people with strong stomaches that don't mind being disturbed."
— Koike (4 out of 5 stars)
“It is so powerful that for a long time everything I read seemed bland.”
— Isabel Allende, New York Times bestselling author“This extraordinary novel locates the personal struggles of everyday people in the terrible sweep of history.”
— People“This unusually eloquent story is also about the fragile relationship between fathers and sons, humans and their gods, men and their countries. Loyalty and blood are the ties that bind their stories into one of the most lyrical, moving and unexpected books this year.”
— Denver Post“Hosseini clearly loves his country as much as he hates what has become of it…A tale told in simple brush strokes…Hosseini is at his best describing moments of slow, silent agony.”
— Washington Post Book World“Hosseini does tenderness and terror, California dream, and Kadul nightmare with equal aplomb…A ripping yarn and ethical parable.”
— Globe and Mail (Toronto)" Too real at times, stirring my feelings so that I needed to turn off and come back later. Gained some knowledge and appreciation of the Afghanistan culture and country and the impacts of Taliban and Russian Dominance, Islamic faith, etc. by a swift and active story over many years. "
— dale, 3/29/2017" I read reviews of this book that panned it as pandering political propaganda. I didn't feel this way. I jumped in with both feet and lived the sad saga of Amir and bled a little each time someone or something let him down. It mad me completely appreciate my life. "
— Pegi, 2/14/2014" I find this book depressing and was not a fan of the ending. I preferred A Thousand Splendid Suns to this book. "
— Sarah, 2/12/2014" Great book...! Must read. So much an emotional journey reading it...!! "
— Manish, 2/11/2014" how has it taken me so long to read this book?! just amazing. so well written, such a beautifully woven plot and lovely character development. plus it forced me to do some internet research on the historical backdrop, which I always love. "
— Jennifer, 2/6/2014" Wonderful book. Well written. Very good read. "
— Karen, 1/31/2014" Easy read, but I don't recommend at all. "
— Sami, 1/27/2014" Truly worthy of all your nights. Classic piece it is! (y) "
— Megha, 1/21/2014" Great book but hard stories to take. "
— Stacy, 1/19/2014" Amazing book a must read! "
— Jack, 1/13/2014" If i tell you that i cried reading this book, it means something good, right ? "
— Cchsu, 12/26/2013" Very good, but I fell in love with A Thousand Splendid Suns more. "
— Charlotte, 12/20/2013" This book was recommended to me by a friend of mine and Im glad i read it. I won't say I loved the book because I personally don't think you can "Love" to read a true story unless it has a happy ending, but It is a good book and quite emotional at times and one I would recommend people to read. "
— Laura, 12/15/2013" One of the best books I have ever read. "
— Mike, 12/14/2013" Love it. I actually recommend it to some of my "mature" readers in eighth grade. "
— Emily, 12/8/2013" Ovo je knjiga koja mi je mozda i najdraza od svih koje sam "otkrila" i urednicki potpisala... A bilo ih je zaista mnogo... "
— Tea, 12/1/2013" Full Confession - I listened on tape. An excellant choice because I think the words would have been hard to do and the author's accent was authentic which added to the whole feel. A very special book. "
— L, 11/25/2013" I would give this book more than 5 stars if I could. This is an amazing story. "
— Alicia, 9/1/2013" Loved the first half, but I think the way it changed pace from the characters memoir to a full on action movie to a Daytime Emmy nominated movie wasn't all THAT amazing. "
— Qasim, 8/29/2013" Good for the most part but seemed a bit unrealistic for an Afghan to go back to find the little boy. Cultural aspects are spot on and Hosseini does a decent job providing description without overdoing it. "
— Nahid, 7/25/2013" Sadly read the book after i saw the movie, yet the book offers a closure which the the movie doesn't. "
— Shruti, 8/26/2012" Did not finish book.. the rape of a little boy completely turned me off.. "
— Carmen, 7/23/2012" Oh what a beautiful, heart wrenching story this was. I don't regret following the recommendation I was given on this. "
— Sylvie, 7/15/2012" Refreshingly different and very well-written. I highly recommend reading this book. The ending surprised me, which is rare lately. "
— Heather, 2/13/2012" Such a sad tale, more so because it's probably not the last to be told and probably not isolated to a time or place. I enjoyed this book, not in a happy way, but it was one of the first I read which took me beyond my own cultural setting. "
— Michele, 1/25/2012" This book opened my eye to another culture which made it interesting. "
— Carol, 1/4/2012" One of the best books Ive ever read. "
— Rhoda, 11/21/2011" To keep this short sweet and simple, this book had me on an emotional rollercoaster, and was so hard to put down. I haven't been so pleased with a read in a long time! "
— Kaylee, 8/8/2011" It's set in Afghanistan and it's about Islam and war and love and friendship and all the other stuff that makes books good. Loved it, loved it, loved it. "
— Katja, 5/25/2011" heartbreaking! a lot different that the movie, which i saw first; the final pages were hard to get through. i can totally understand why they chose to leave that part out. recomended for better understanding Afganistan. "
— Brendan, 5/24/2011" I loved this book! It was amazing "
— Stephanie, 5/24/2011" Loved it, even though I cried the whole way through. "
— Tiffany, 5/24/2011" I love the way this author writes. "
— Jackie, 5/24/2011" Fantastic narrative of a life uprooted by war in Afghanistan. I highly recommend this book to anyone - it is rich in detail, the descriptions flow off the page, and triumph cohabits nervously with constant heartbreak. <br/><br/>Easy 5 stars for readability - I finished this in 2 sessions. "
— Alex, 5/23/2011" I had no desire to read this book, but felt that it was a book I needed to read. A supremely well crafted story, it is heart breaking and uplifting. "
— Harry, 5/22/2011" I felt every emotion known to man reading this book. It also made me want to do save the world while inflicting pain on some people. Don't think the writer would want readers to feel the latter but I was fairly enraged whilst reading the said above!<br/> "
— Jan, 5/22/2011" I loved this book! Can't say much about it as don't want to spoil it for anyone. "
— Crystal, 5/22/2011" This is my favorite book. Read it. Don't watch the movie first (although the movie is good it's missing a major plot element). "
— Alicia, 5/22/2011" Interesting and sometimes disturbing (although, given the topic, that's not too surprising). Kept me engaged for the whole book - but not something I would read more than once. "
— Abbie, 5/21/2011" Just amazing! can read it 10 times more "
— Vineet, 5/21/2011" I wasn't sure when I began this book what a adventure it would take me on. I have to say I found a new respect for the Culture and a better understanding of how others are effected in this war. I finished this book and immediately began a thousand splendid suns "
— Lindsay, 5/20/2011" Just like it sequel a page turner like no other!! "
— Nadeige, 5/20/2011" I recommend the movie as well "
— Vanessa, 5/20/2011Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and moved to the United States in 1980. His first novel, The Kite Runner, was an international bestseller, published in forty countries. In 2006 he was named a US envoy to UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency. He lives in Northern California.