The world hardly needs yet another review of this fine work. Suffice to say, I found it moving and powerful, and consider that the book's reputation is well deserved. Compared to the film, I found some of the scenes in the book more powerful and lasting (the terrible fight scene among them). ( )

This is a book that keeps your interest the entire way through..would definitely recommend! Such a heart wrenching story! I also think it's pretty cool, because alot of the story takes place in locations near where I live (San Jose, Bay Area, CA). ( )

Amir, a young Afghani boy, makes a choice that will change his life forever.

THE KITE RUNNER centers around one of the world's most common stories. You know it, I know it, and I'll bet you that most readers saw it coming a mile off. Even still, Hosseini manages to keep us involved. We all know what's coming, but that doesn't make it any less affecting when the big reveal rolls around. The book is readable and engaging, and does it ever pack an emotional wallop! I teared up time and again, and one particular scene chilled me to the bone. Amir does some terrible things, but he never fully loses the reader's sympathy because we can see just why he does them. We want him to repent; we want him to figure it all out before it's too late, because we can see that his willingness to do such things means that he will never, ever get what he truly wants.

So it was very good. I'm glad I read it. But oddly enough, I find that I haven't the slightest desire to reread it. It's one of those rare 4-star books that didn't really change me. I liked it. I cried. But at the end of the day, I doubt that Amir and Hassan and their thousand-times-retold story will stay with me for long. I feel strange saying that, given that this is a book about war and family and betrayal and national pride and seven million other deep, meaningful things, but... well, it doesn't really feel like it's about any of that. It feels like a beach read. Hosseini delves into his subjects in just enough detail that I could empathize with the story, but he never quite went deep enough to satisfy me. I can understand why he'd do so--this situation must be close to his heart--but I've got to stay honest here. Godo as the book was, it didn't quite fly for me.

I know I'm in the minority here, and I want to make it clear that I do recommend this. It was good. I enjoyed it. But I'm not sure it goes any farther than that.

(A slightly different version of this review originally appeared on my blog, Stella Matutina). ( )

Homem conta sua história no Afeganistão e nos EUA. Fala sobre o trauma e a culpa que sente por não ter ajudado o amigo quando foi violentado quando ainda eram crianças.

In tijden niet zo'n prachtig boek gelezen, daarna viel alles tegen. Het is me een hele tijd bij gebleven, ik zag steeds maar die hartverscheurende scene voor me van die twee jongens in de sneeuw, na de vliegerwedstrijd. In een woord geweldig, je bent echt weg uit de werkelijkheid.