Wednesday, June 27

Audiobook Review - The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Author: Khaled Hosseini 
Narrator: Author
Title: The Kite Runner
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction
Pages: Audiobook
Published: 2003
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)

Amir is the son of a wealthy Kabul merchant, a member of the ruling caste of Pashtuns. Hassan, his servant and constant companion, is a Hazara, a despised and impoverished caste. Their uncommon bond is torn by Amir's choice to abandon his friend amidst the increasing ethnic, religious, and political tensions of the dying years of the Afghan monarchy, wrenching them far apart. But so strong is the bond between the two boys that Amir journeys back to a distant world, to try to right 





I’ve had my eyes on this book for a long while. I could never find it for cheap and my old library never had a copy (I really need to get my library card for this new library). However, the audio landed in my lap so it works!

The story follows Amir from his youth as a boy from a rich family. His best friend is his servant Hassan who would do anything for Amir. Things happen and the two are torn apart. Hassan stays and Amir ends up in America. 

I felt so bad for Hassan. He was such a good, loyal friend and servant. Amir was a little snot and did not deserve a friend like Hassan. Amir is a coward and a selfish little boy. Karma does strike him more than once for what he did and didn’t do. I had a hard time at first with the story because I loathed Amir so much. However, I stuck with the story and as Amir grew up he was more tolerable especially since karma did serve him a little here and a little there. It also helped that Amir did realize how terrible he was to his friend. Guilt is a powerful thing. 

There was an event that happened that made me respect Amir. I never grew to like him...but I did respect him and understand him in the end. 

The story really was good. It really shows that people are not perfect no matter what part of the world they come from. It was an interesting viewpoint and the author brought the world to life. There were a lot of things one can take from this story and they are important messages. It took a lot for Amir to learn some of these messages. Well…he KNEW the lesson but he had to actually apply them and do. You can know something but if you do not do what is right there you truly did not learn. 

The author narrated this and he did a good job. I do wish that his voices changed for different characters even a smidge. I had to really pay attention when dialogue was going on especially at the beginning when I was learning everyone’s name. Other than that? No complaints.


Overall, I did enjoy this story. The characters were interesting and I had to know what was going to happen next even though I know the political things that happen, I still wanted to know how this impacted our characters. Besides for my loathing of Amir at the beginning, I did grow to understand him. I still did not like him but understood him and I respected him after a certain event happened. The narration was good, but I do wish the narrator tried to give the characters a smidge of a different voice to help us, listeners, out. In the end, I’ll stamp this with 4 stars. 


5 comments:

Blodeuedd said...

I have meant to read it foreeeeeeeeeeeeever

Carole Rae said...

DO IT

Sophia Rose said...

Yes, its interesting how the politics shaped events on a personal level, too. I still need to read a couple books by the author including this one. Enjoyed your thoughts on it!

Melliane said...

that's true that this one looks interesting

Carole Rae said...

Sophia, it really is interesting! And thanks! Hope read your thoughts on it someday!

Melliane, yes. Interesting for sure!