Hosseini, Khaled: *1965
The Kite Runner, 2003 - Information about the Book
- General Information
- The novel tells the extraordinary story of an unlikely friendship between a wealthy Afghan boy, named Amir, and Hassan, the son of his father's servant — who he later finds out, after Hassan's death, has always been his half-brother. Throughout the novel, Amir's character ultimately changes from him being a selfish child to a selfless adult.
Khaled Hosseini says, "The book is about trying to become a better human being." - Information from Wikipedia
- The novel tells the extraordinary story of an unlikely friendship between a wealthy Afghan boy, named Amir, and Hassan, the son of his father's servant — who he later finds out, after Hassan's death, has always been his half-brother. Throughout the novel, Amir's character ultimately changes from him being a selfish child to a selfless adult.
- Facts
- This critically acclaimed, multigenerational novel was challenged and banned in the USA in 2017 because it includes sexual violence and was thought to “lead to terrorism” and “promote Islam.”
- Commentary
This is a beautifully written tale. Relationships are complex: full of pride, longing, prejudice, regrets, love, and frailty. Childhood post-traumatic stress disorder, the loss of trust and innocence, and the consequences of cultural mores and taboos provide some of the themes in this finely textured novel. The tumultuous history of Afghanistan, including the ravages of oppression, both influences and reflects the nuanced characters: their flaws, hopes, and redemption.
Shafer, Audrey
Excerpted, with permission, from the Literature, Arts, and Medicine Database at New York University School of Medicine, © New York University. - Kite Runner heads book club poll. BBC; August 8, 2006
Khaled Hosseini talks about The Kite Runner. BBC; February 2, 2014 Audio (29:00)
- Interviews
Terry Gross talks with Khaled Hosseini about the biographical part of his novel. Hosseini, like the protagonist in his novel, left Afghanistan when he was boy and didn't return for decades. Hosseini was 11 when his family left, before the Soviet invasion. His father was a diplomat, and the family was granted political asylum in America. NPR Radio; August 11, 2005 Audio (31:03)
Liane Hansen speaks with Khaled Hosseini about the novel and the differences between Pashtuns and Hazaras. NPR Radio; July 27, 2003 Audio (9:28)