The Kite Runner

When I asked a friend about new good books in market these days, I was told about" The Kite Runner" by Khalid Hosenni (Possibly due to someone's deep passion for kites). The name seemed attractive. I quickly settled to read this book with a preview about boys, friendship and some suspense.


Well, the book deals with a story of a wealthy Muslim family- just the father and the son, with their lavish life style, - being looked after and entertained by a faithful servant and his son. The master's son and the servant's son are of the same age and they play together. Although the two young boys have a different life style, but they still like to spend time with each other a lot. While the master's son is a quiet innovative and cultured boy, the servant’s son protects him always with his courageous and daring nature. He endures small and big quarrels saving his master's son's dignity. The master too is very fond of the servant's son. Once after taking the role of a kite runner for his master, the young boy is forced to face deep humiliation by the acts of rowdy rich boys of upper class. The poor boy tolerates it all for the sake of his master's son’s kite. This master's son is aware of this humiliation, and also his mistake as to not to protect his friend, and he feels guilty. But, he is unable to confess and hence forth, creates circumstances for the servant and his son to leave their house and job.


Later, the same story takes a different turn with Kabul (where the story begins) being invaded by the Russians. All rich and poor are compelled to leave in order to protect their lives. The master and his son then take refuge in America- leading a hand to mouth life, forgetting all the lavish lifestyle of Kabul. The boy grows up here, studies to be a writer, falls in love and eventually marries the girl of his caste. The father develops cancer and dies.


The father's friend summons the boy to visit him at Pakistan to correct “what went wrong”. Not knowing what was in store for him, this boy goes to meet his uncle at Pakistan- who narrates him all that happened- pesters him to visit Kabul. Now, in Kabul, there are the Talibaans also.


Not breaking the suspense of the story from the readers, I would like to comment on Khalid's style of prose. He uses simple words and his words are very illustrative. The readers, along with the story, are shown glimpses of Mohammedan culture of rich and poor, the political and social scenario after Kabul was taken over by Soviet Union, the lifestyle in America, especially for other races, the Pakistan scenario today, and the Talibaan ruled Afghanistan. Along with this, Hosseni has done full justice in portraying the feelings of motherless children, the faithfulness of poor towards their masters, the blood relation, the sick and suffering- and most important- the cruel treatment of the Talibaan people towards women and children. Khalid Hosseni has shown some scenes of terrible humiliation to the weaker and poorer sections of their society. It is a terrifying description.


The end of the novel, however, was more like Indian movies-"and they lived happily ever after". It was little too stretched towards the end- perhaps because of even better expectation from the author. He did complete justice almost all along the length of the story. His style of moving the story was very smooth and gradual. We enjoy the journey.


Wise investment- Buy it and read it. Happy reading!