The Kite Runner

I firstly wish to express my ignorance which this book shed light on. I come from a generation whose only association with the country of Afghanistan has solely been based on the media’s negative portrayal; our soldiers patrolling the streets of destroyed cities aiding Mr Bush. I knew the name of the capital city, but only owing to the many reports of gun fire or the death of one of our soldiers. I knew that Afghanistan’s landscape included a mountainous area which provided caves in which to hide from America’s promise of democracy. Yet, I am ashamed to admit that beyond this spoon-fed information about the war on terror I knew little else of Afghanistan and its history.

The book was first published in 2003 and recently a film was produced, which I have yet to see. Although a work of fiction, I was delighted to discover and explore the country through the author, Khaled Hosseini, an Afghan American. Underlying a deeply traumatic personal journey of the main character, Amir, there is the history of Afghanistan spanning three generations involving great political shifts; one experiences the downfall of the monarch, a soviet invasion, and the rise of the Taliban regime.

Kabul used to be a city brought together for the tradition held dear to every Afghan child’s heart; the day in which kites flew and battled. This day changed Amir’s life dramatically and, despite attempts to forget his past after emigrating, to the reader it is obvious that this one event has defined his whole character. We are invited to witness Amir growing up, being spared few details regardless of how personal. The imagery of kites is beautifully used throughout, simulating a sense of the childhood that Amir had lost so abruptly.

At the heart of this story is the tale of Amir’s redemption which involves a return to the much changed city of Kabul in 2001. This book deals brutally with extremely difficult issues and does so successfully. Amir struggles to deal with each issue, producing a character full of flaws which one can empathise with. It is painfully honest about the flaws of human character, which may depress some, but the journey Amir has to take for redemption is deeply moving. I would recommend this book to anyone; especially for those in my generation. One particularly poignant scene, although a minor detail in one sentence, has stuck in my memory; the young Amir watches an elderly American couple on holiday sitting by a lake surrounded by green fields on the outskirts of Kabul. This is far removed from today’s media images.

Sarah Cunningham