Kite Runner- By Khaled Hosseni

The Kite Runner is a novel that revolves around wartime in Afghanistan as well as Amir’s internal struggle with his circumstances and moral dilemmas. The story primarily focuses on Amir, a boy born into an elite family in Kabul. The plot initially highlights the bond between Amir and Hassan, the son of his father’s servant, Ali, who is moreover Amir’s father's childhood friend.

Amir, unlike his bold and courageous father, is more interested in literature. This difference creates a gap between them, which Amir tries to bridge by winning a kite-fighting competition, a prestigious event in Afghan culture. This victory marks a turning point in Amir’s life. However, the event that signifies this triumph is also a deeply traumatic moment from Amir and Hassan's childhood, the one that haunts Amir into adulthood and ultimately drives his journey of atonement. The war forces Amir and his father to migrate to the United States, where Amir completes his education and meets Soraya, the love of his life. As he had always dreamed, he becomes a writer and builds a seemingly happy life. After his father's death, Amir receives a call from Rahim Khan, his father’s close friend and one of the few people he deeply admires. Haunted by his past, this call becomes the moment that draws Amir closer to the truth and sets him on the path to redemption.

This inner turmoil shapes the rest of Amir’s journey, ultimately leading him to seek redemption. The story comes to a head when Amir meets Hassan’s son, Sohrab, who is named after a character from their favorite book. Just as Hassan once ran after the final kite and said, “For you, a thousand times over,” Amir mirrors this act as he runs after the final kite for Sohrab, symbolizing his attempt to win the boy’s trust and seek forgiveness.

The novel powerfully portrays the struggles people face during wartime, painting powerful images of both pre-war Kabul and the later war-torn country. Set against the backdrop of Afghanistan’s political upheaval, from the fall of the monarchy to the Soviet invasion to the rise of the Taliban, the story explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the power of personal sacrifice. The novel also explores social divisions, loyalty, and the impact of trauma in a way that feels both personal and political.

--- Arya