The Kite Runner by Khaled Hossieni is a fabulous book about a man named Amir looking back on his past life and an event that changed his whole perspective on life and everything about himself. Amir's best friend Hassan, is an outcast of society but since they were young and grew up together the two of them are very much like brothers. Amir learns quickly how much of a coward he is and how he won't stand up for his best friend, while Hassan would do anything for Amir. For a long time Amir takes this for granted until the day of the kite running, a special event that takes place every year where people run for kites, and Amir lets Hassan down in such a terribly depressing way that even though Hassan forgives him, Amir won't forgive himself. Amir basically forces Hassan's family to move out by setting Hassan up for stealing. Even after they are told it's ok to stay they move out which is Hassan's way of saying it's ok.
The story jumps forward many years and Amir is given the chance to make up what he did to Hassan to himself and right what he did wrong.
The story has themes of friendship, redemption, and has some very serious moments in it. For some the book can be a tear jerker, but would be good for the end of an 8th grade year all the way through high school. It shows different cultures and the syntax is fantastic. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
For me this book was a tear jerker! I think this book has some very deep concepts and even political aspects. I think students should have to read this however, with the violence it is defiantly not for anyone under the age of thirteen. For students it can teach, that even though others might not hold you accountable, you must always hold yourself accountable and do whats right. Good pick I read this book in my English 101 class.
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted t read this book. It sounds like a great story. It would be great for a lesson to students on how friendship works both ways, or any relationship for that matter. Perfect for a high school english class.
ReplyDeleteI think this sounds like a great story for an older student to read. I like how it’s about a culture in the Middle East. I think it’s important for students to read about people who live in others especially the cultures that we perhaps do not understand. I have heard of this book but I have never read it but I really want to read it now.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have not read this one, A Thousand Splendid Suns (by the same author) was amazing. I loved his use of imagery to make his characters pop. This is on my list of reading in between semesters. This would be a wonderful book to get students to see beyond the stereotypes that were instilled after 9/11. They could compare the culture to our own and learn more about what life is like for the characters.
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