A Young Bibliophile Shares How Khaled Hosseini’s 'The Kite Runner' Impacted Her Life!

Sifting through the library shelves, I chanced upon ‘The Kite Runner’. The blurb roused my interest and soon, I had plummeted headlong into the rabbit-hole of a heart-wrenching and bittersweet tale.

Written by Khaled Hosseini, the story follows Amir, an Afghan boy. He strives to win the affections of his father, who is a widower. He shares an extremely close bond with Hassan, the son of their family servant. They are akin to brothers and love participating in kite flying competitions, with Hassan excelling at ‘kite running’, or, catching a drifting kite cut loose from the string.

The presentation of the horrors of war, the plight of refugees, and vicious discrimination even within one’s own country really struck a chord with me. Each character was so masterfully crafted that I grew to love them despite their complicated natures. Their actions and interactions all felt very genuine, unlike the more idealistic portrayals of most media. I was able to sympathize with some characters, and felt unfettered hatred towards others.

The story spans three generations, following Amir as he grows up in Kabul and eventually escapes to America. However, fate leads him back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan as the past trickles into his new life with his wife and extended family. I had a lot of fun following the characters on a riveting journey of complicated relationships and revelations. Amir’s quest to find redemption among the ashes of destroyed lives was a whirlpool and I was more than willing to abandon myself to its current. Even though the story ended on a note of uncertainty, I was left with the hope that things would get better.

I was left with the hope that wounds can heal.

The writer Anandini Sengupta is a class 11 student at Sushila Birla Girls' School, West Bengal.

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