âFor you, a thousand times over.â
Just finished The Kite Runner, and I keep asking myself: do I really like this book? Did I enjoy it? Would I recommend it? I still have so many questions in my head right now.
First of all, this story follows two friends, Amir Agha and Hassan. Amir is the child of a wealthy family, living with his father after losing his mother as a baby. Hassan is the son of Ali, a servant in Babaâs household. What connects Amir and Hassan even more is that they were both breastfed by the same woman, which gave them a special closeness. The novel explores friendship, betrayal, guilt, and redemption, while also weaving in the story of Amirâs father.
Secondly, the authorâs writing style is vivid and detailed. Khaled Hosseini brings every scene to life with such descriptions that you can clearly picture the world of the novel and feel immersed in it alongside the characters.
Thirdly, the characters: the main ones are Amir and Hassan, alongside Ali, Rahim Khan, and Baba (Amirâs father). There are many others in the book, but these are the figures around whom the story revolves.
My favourite character is Hassan, followed by Sohrab. Honestly, they are the reason I may end up liking this book the most.
Symbolism in the book:
Hassan: loyalty, innocence, selflessness, kindness, and patience. He often faces struggles quietly, yet remains optimistic and kind.
Amir: cowardice, selfishness, betrayal, weakness â shaped in part by his fatherâs strong personality.
The Kite: freedom and optimism.
This book made me cry my heart out. I was angry and upset at Amir, and at the same time sad and deeply sympathetic toward Hassan â from the betrayal of his closest friend to the racism he endured. He feels like an innocent kid who just exists in the wrong place.
But I do have one critique for the writer: I felt Hassan was marginalised and written mainly to glorify Amir. I wanted to hear Hassanâs own voice â his thoughts, feelings, hopes, and ambitions. His trauma wasnât shown in depth compared to Sohrab's, and after a certain point, he was reduced to being a memory or a symbol of Amirâs regret.
Finally, the novel has been adapted into a movie. I strongly donât recommend watching it before reading the book, because many things were changed and the last part of the story felt rushed. My advice: read the book first, and only then watch the film if youâd like.
At the end, this is a story that broke me and moved me at the same time â one Iâll never forget.
















