The Kite Runner
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a book of fiction that brings war to life
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Mads P.
(last edited Aug 25, 2016 11:45AM)
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rated it 5 stars
Jul 29, 2007 04:13PM

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I think the whole literary cliche was a perfect example of how Amir and others got lost in the American culture as others throughout the story were getting lost in the different cultures that carved out their characters.
I felt like parts of the story were glazed over but I think it was done on purpose. I loved the book...but it really made me think...





(warning: spoilers)
And the war is only an echo to the main character's struggle. This is much more a story of how powerfully a single moment can shape, color and effect the rest of our lives. In a very literal way, Amir's actual journey parallels his emotional journey. There is a violent invasion, a retreat, long years spent in exile feeling alienated... and at long last a return, and "a way to be good again". I think the ending is meant to be symbolic of Amir's facing the demons of his past, and rescuing his own lost childhood. And the kite is the symbolism of Hassan's spirit... bright, flying, innocent, and connected.



I'm reacting the same way you did as I read this book. I'm only half-way through and I am forcing myself to continue reading in hopes that I will eventually gain a little more sympathy for the main character and that he finds redemption. I'm afraid that's not going to happen based on some of the reviews on this site. I don't mind a "evil" main character...but I need to at least like his/her devilish ways. Not so with this guy.

I thought Amir (narrator) was an interesting character. He fully acknowledges his cowardice and you can even forgive him not helping Hassan during the rape scene. He's after all a boy and even with his intervention the two boys would have been outnumbered. But it's the second betrayal causing Hassan and Ali to leave that's the most heinous.
Even with the overly convienent plot points in the second third of the book, I think the basic theme of the long-term consequences of decisions is well done. I was very relieved that the author didn't, as I feared he might, wrap the book up with a really happy ending: the childless couple take the orphan home to America and now everyone's fulfilled. I thought the ending was poignant.



it is our life we read coz we find life and society in literatuer. we have to go deep in our reading to know more also we need any kind of criiticism to analayez the message
cheers

Currently I'm reading The Book Thief and have noted a similar tendency for the narrator (in this case, Death) to expound his knowledge of the future. Whatever happened to the subtleties of foreshadowing and enough respect for the readers to let them discover connections on their own?


I disagree with the premise of this thread. War is certainly a backdrop in The Kite Runner, but this is not a war story, or a book that "brings war to life." I guess one could argue that it's a book about Afghan culture, but that's not accurate either -- it's a much more universally human story of friendship, growth, love, choices, betrayal, loyalty, and redemption.
If the reader understands the work as a fictional account of individual human interactions, emotions, and motives, The Kite Runner will be recognized as beautiful and moving literature.

I am not willing to say that everyone who didn't like the book has this problem--I do see some valid points made above me--but it just seems too easy to shit on the book rather than to recognize our own human qualities painted on someone else.

I really enjoy reading threads about books I have just read, and following other people's ideas and reactions, whether I agree with them or not. I find it jarring and sad when people become insulting and attack the writers of comments personally, or attack their thoughts, rather than just disagreeing with them. A discussion allows for polite disagreements, does it not?


However, for me, it did not draw too much away from the story. I agree with those who claimed this was a human story. It delt with human emotions and themes while giving us a small glimpse at the Afghan culture. I think this book does a very good job of giving us a feel for life in a country that has a lot of turmoil. I felt the end was a little rushed, but overall I came away with a very good feeling from this book. I thought he ended it beautifully. It was neither sad nor happy ending. It just was.


As for if Amir was a good protagonist, I'm not sure. Several times I thought the story would be better told from Hassan's POV, and that would have included a lot more of the turmoil of the country, I think. Many times in the story, I wondered what Hassan was thinking, and I wish he had a voice, but that is part of the point, too.
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