The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini, born on March 4, 1965, in Kabul, Afghanistan, isn’t just any writer—he’s one of the greats. His family left for France when he was 9, and later moved to the U.S., where he studied medicine. But lucky for us, after about a decade as a doctor, he turned to writing. His first book, The Kite Runner, was published in 2003 and became a sensation. By 2005, it was the best-selling book in the U.S., and in 2007, it was made into a movie. That same year, Hosseini released A Thousand Splendid Suns, which was just as brilliant, followed by And the Mountains Echoed in 2013.

What’s The Kite Runner all about? The story transports you to 1970s Kabul, as experienced through the perspective of Amir, a sharp and privileged young boy. At first glance, Kabul seems like a picturesque city where traditions unite the community. But underneath the surface, cultural and social divides create cracks, and they grow into something monstrous. Amir starts as an innocent child, but the cruelty he witnesses shatters that innocence, leaving him deeply scarred.

“For you, a thousand times over.”
That’s what Hassan, Amir’s best friend and the heart of the story, says to him. Hassan is Hazara, an ethnic minority in Afghanistan often persecuted for their culture and Shiite faith. While Amir is a dreamy storyteller, Hassan is brave and fiercely loyal, always ready to protect his friend. Baba, Amir’s father, admires Hassan’s courage but is disappointed in Amir’s softer nature. The connection between the two boys is strong, but it faces its greatest challenge when Amir fails to stand up for Hassan during a traumatic incident. This betrayal shatters their friendship and leaves Amir consumed by guilt.

The scene where Hassan is attacked is one of the hardest to read. It’s raw, brutal, and makes you face the depths of human cruelty. But it’s also a moment that changes how you see the world. You can’t help but think: What would I do in that situation? Could I have done better? It’s a wake-up call to recognize injustice, even when it’s easier to look away.

“A man who has no conscience, no goodness, does not suffer.”
Hosseini doesn’t let Amir off the hook easily. Betrayal cuts deep, especially when trust was built on something real. For Amir, redemption becomes the only way to silence his guilt and make peace with his past.

Life doesn’t let up for Amir. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan forces him and his father to flee to the U.S., where they start over from scratch. But no matter how far he runs, the shadows of Kabul follow him.