Book Review: The Kite Runner

I got a hold of this book on the streets of Chennai. I had gone to Landmark and Book Paradise but the Rs. 350 price tag was causing a huge dent on my monthly allowance so I thought.. later, later, even though I was dying to read Khaled Hosseini's first novel. Having read his amazing book 'A thousand splendid suns' Lucky for me I got one off the streets and what do I say? I am as usual left shocked, dazed and tearful.

The Kite Runner is the story about Aamir, his story about his childhood in Kabul where his family was his father 'Baba', his servant Ali and Ali's son Hassan who is a year younger than Aamir. Aamir and Hassan grow up together and their childhood is an idealistic one, spent on tree branches, kite flying and story telling. Until, that one incident that shakes up their relationship.

Aamir feels guilty of not having the courage to stand up for his friend cum servant. A timid boy, a huge contrast from him powerful strong father, he resorts to ending his contact with Hassan. Years later, after he leaves for USA to flee from the war in Afghanistan, he is called back. To be good- by rescuing Hassan's son.

Aamir's character come's up as a weak and normal person who can sail in calm waters but when the storm seeps in, he bolts. He is gifted with a talent of story-telling and eventually becomes an author. The novel is like Aamir's personal journal or autobiography and at the end, one is amazed to know that 'Weakness' can become a crime in itself. Aamir has not hurt a soul but the failure to stand up for his friend makes him insomic and he is left with a feeling of cowardice. A terrible feeling to live with.

Hassan on the other hand is the adorable, perfect little boy and gentleman. A man born in a million. He's devotion to Aamir, his faith in God, his love towards his family - wife and child makes you love him and mourn for what happened to him.

Baba comes across as one of the strong men- set in tradition, of honor and courage. A go getter who makes life, gives lives, and questions about the existence of God. He follows the customs of the islamic world, yet does not believe in them. His drinking, and his abominable sin which is the surprise twist in the plot makes one wonder, how could a man do that. How could he keep his one son as a prince, his heir and his other as his servant. The son of a man he himself grew up with and grew to love. It's shocking and disturbs one greatly.

These three characteristics stand out in my mind when I think of 'The Kite Runner'. Among all, Hassan is the character I relate to. He is to me the perfect man who I write of, sincere and dedicated and loyal till the end. He is the best part of 'The kite runner'

At the end of the story we see Aamir struggling to win the affection and trust of Shorab, Hassan's son. Just as Hassan had done for Aamir's. Ironically, the tables have turned and Hassan's words for Aamir 'For you, a thousand times over' were the same words spoken by Aamir for Shorab.

Beautiful, tragic, heartbreaking.

Book Review: A Thousand Splendid Suns

I am struck by this book. When I first started reading it, I couldn’t stop. I left all other work aside and just read and read and read. This is the kind of book I hope to write one day. I found Khaled Hosseini’s way of expression quite similar to mine! In fact I feel as though we were supposed to be literary twins and got separated at birth. This is not to imply I write as astoundingly as him, but that I found myself sharing one common trait with him: Human Emotions.

Throughout the book, it’s all about emotions. He speaks of real people, real life, irrespective of what they wear, look like, live like, at the end of the day, they have the same feelings, the same heart as the rest of us.

The story is about two women. Their lives and how they end up together as co-wives. After the initial hurt, the shock, the acceptance, ‘this is my territory and this is yours’ and finally the friendship that develops between them.

This book further goes on and shows that feelings and emotions have no age. One can be a seven year old girl, a forty year old woman, a twenty eight year old battered wife with the same level of understanding.

The mental pictures that Khaled brings to mind are so vivid. One does not only see the scenes play in one’s mind but also become the character. In the first part of the book, while reading about Mariam, one can feel Mariam, be Mariam. When he switches to Laila, again, you become Laila. However, the kind of atmosphere created in reading about Mariam is the same while reading about Laila. A slight change could have worked because at this junction it took me a while to get into ‘This is Laila’. The tone, texture and expressions remained the same from Mariam to Laila. At the later part when the two come together, one end’s up feeling not knowing Mariam at all. She has become a stranger after twenty years.

The most touching part of the book is the friendship between Laila and Tariq. Especially when contrasted to the cruel Rasheed and how he would batter his wives. The letter to Mariam from her father is beautiful. It reminds one of the letters in ‘The Notebook’ by Nicholas Sparks. They speak of so much depth and love.

By the time I finished the book, I had gone through a mirage of emotions: sweet, tender, bitter, shocking, anger, wonder, relief and happiness. Happy because at the end, the book ended with hope. Hope for a better future for Laila, and for Afghanistan and its people.