From the Bookshelf of EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up Book Club…

The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini

Start date: July 1, 2021

Finish date: July 30, 2021

Discussion: MODERN / POPULAR READS

Why we're reading this: Catch-up Group Read - July 2021
Modern Classic and/or Popular Book - 2016

[close] Catch-up Group Read - July 2021
Modern Classic and/or Popular Book - 2016

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MODERN / POPULAR READS

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What Members Thought

Jan 30, 2012 Stephen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: literature, all-5-star-reads, z-read-in-2012, popular-fiction, tv-and-movies

I liked this book a lot. Due to the uncomfortable nature of the story told, I'll probably never read it again, but I'm glad that I did read it once. I saw it as the story of one not very likeable boy growing up in a soon to be war torn region and his eventual struggle for redemption.

I was quite surprised to see how popular some of the negative reviews of this book were and I'd like to comment on a few of the comments they contained.

One condemnatory critic said "This is the sort of book White A I liked this book a lot. Due to the uncomfortable nature of the story told, I'll probably never read it again, but I'm glad that I did read it once. I saw it as the story of one not very likeable boy growing up in a soon to be war torn region and his eventual struggle for redemption.

I was quite surprised to see how popular some of the negative reviews of this book were and I'd like to comment on a few of the comments they contained.

One condemnatory critic said "This is the sort of book White America reads to feel worldly." Ah, if only that were truer. In a study done not long ago, over half of American adult men, when asked, admitted to having read NO books in the last year. Personally, as a white American, this book made me grateful that I grew up where I did, and once again reminded me of how good I've had it, and how little I really know about life outside these insular, isolationist, United States.

Another critic claimed that this book "...portrays Afghanistan as backward" Personally I thought that it portrayed it as a war torn, deeply wounded country that was at one time a bit like our ante-bellum south. It was made quite clear that we saw pre-soviet Afghanistan through the eyes of a doubly privileged class, the rich child.

Another critic claimed "The members of the servant and poorer classes are consistently portrayed as saintly, absurdly self-sacrificing, one-dimensional characters." Yes, that's true. But the viewpoint is a that of an over-privileged, rich, selfish child. Given the ante-bellum south atmosphere that our protagonist sees, it's a wonder that the epithet "uncle Tom" wasn't used.

Finally one critic complained "The book fails exactly where it most needs to succeed - in the depiction of the Taliban." Personally, I felt that while that need may be great, I didn't see that as the purpose of this book.

I saw this book as the story of one man's journey toward redemption against a background of a troubled heritage. I sometimes recall doing things as a child that now makes me wonder about myself, and while I like to think I've become a better human being, I sometimes shudder at the savage, thoughtless child that was once under this skin. For the personal perspective alone, I think this book is a worthwhile, if sometimes uncomfortable, read. If you let it, it may make you a better person.
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May 09, 2022 Ellen Librarian rated it it was amazing

What a beautiful story, even though it was hard to read at times.

It was also beautifully written. This was as close to a perfect book as I have read, maybe ever. Having been in a writing workshop for 10+ years, I am very, very picky about writing. But other than the fact that I wish the wife had been a little more fully drawn (view spoiler), it was flawless. ...more

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