The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner

The Afghan Revolution began in 1978 when Russian forces came in and turned the monarchy upside down. Afghanistan went from peaceful and friendly to violent and demoralizing in a matter of years. Even though these dramatic political events played a huge part in The Kite Runner; love, honor, guilt, redemption and the struggle to triumph over violence are all themes that make this story the most powerful novel I have ever read.

The story is set in Kabul during the 1970’s. The novel sets the interpersonal drama of the characters against the backdrop of the modern history of Afghanistan, sketching the political and economic toll of the instability of various regimes in Afghanistan; from the end of the monarchy to the Soviet-backed government of the 1980s to the fundamentalist Taliban government of the 1990s. Amir, the narrator, is a privileged young boy who came of age right before the revolution. Hassan was his loyal friend and servant. Baba told Hassan and Amir that they would always have a special bond because they had both fed at the same breasts but Hassan was a Shi’i Muslims while Amir and Baba were Sunni Muslims. This wasn’t a big deal when Amir and Hassan were children, but as they grew older Amir began to realize that it was he and Hassan against the world and ultimately, the world would always win. Throughout the novel, Amir struggles to find his true purpose and to forge an identity through noble actions. Amir's failure to stand by his friend at a crucial moment shapes this defining conflict. His endeavor to overcome his own weaknesses appears in his fear of Assef, his hesitation to enter a war-torn country ruled by the repressive Taliban, and even his carsickness while driving with Farid into Afghanistan. The strength of character is the most prevalent theme in the novel. The story of what Amir does and how he seeks and finds atonement is astonishing and real.

At first, I couldn’t decide whether I loved or hated The Kite Runner. It is the first novel that ever made me cry, and I don’t mean a few