The kite runner by Khaled Hosseini is an extraordinary New York Times bestseller. The story is narrated by Amir, who recalls a series of life-changing anecdotes right from his childhood. Set in Kabul, Afghanistan, in the 1970s, this story then travels to various locations like Peshawar and San Francisco in America. However, the journey focuses on the beauty and wounds of Afghanistan. Amir takes us on a ride of his entire life, starting from his innocent childhood that gets guilt stained. The setting sure puts light on how Afganistan breathed before the monarchy went down and how badly it suffocated during the Russian invasion and the Taliban rule. This experience Amir talks about is twenty-six years long.
The protagonist, Amir Jan, appears to outbrave enough to show his guilty scars. Baba Jan, Amir's father, is one of the most strong characters created by Hosseini. There are immense virtues and life lessons to learn from Baba Jan. Hassan and Ali are the servants who share a deep and mysterious relationship with Baba Jan and Amir Jan. The Antagonist Aseef has a surprising appearance. Multiple characters like Soraya Jan as Amir's wife, Hassan's birth mother, Shorab as Hassan's son, Rahim khan as more than a family friend, and the taxi driver Farid, are beautifully designed to make this journey more effective and one of the best.
Amir tells us about his life in Afghanistan. He tells us about his relationship with Hassan and Ali, who happens to be Hazara, and eventually falls prey to the cruel discrimination by Pashtuns. Amir is a boy who enjoys reading, kite flying, and creative writing more than Soccer. A boy who strives hard to win his father's heart. But at what cost? Amir acquires a life staining guilt when he watches Hassan getting raped for defending a Kite. A kite that serves as a path for Amir to his father's heart.
The story moves ahead with the Russian invasion that makes Amir and Baba move to Peshawar and then to America. However, the guilt of watching Hassan getting raped, the wrongdoing of sending him and Ali away to Hazarjat denies dying within Amir.Amir moves on with his life, pursues his career as a writer, falls in love, and marries the beautiful Soraya Jan.Years after the demise of Baba Jan, Rahim khan calls Amir to Pakistan and unveils the fathomless secrets.The book teaches us many things to be summoned in limited words. It teaches us to stand for the right, and at the same time, it shows us how many of us hump guilt in the carriage of our minds. We can see poverty and hunger screaming in Afghan due to the cruelty and lack of sense by its rulers. Indirectly, it teaches us to be compassionate and sensitive towards the ill-fated. It teaches us to grab the opportunity of being kind, to redeem our mistakes. And most important, it tells us how caste discrimination can cost us immense lives.

My ratings for the book- 4.9/5