It is a story of sin and redemption. There is no easy conclusion to the story and that is what makes it a great book. Also, I love books that spark an interest in a topic- history, current events, culture. This book did! The audio book was read by the author. (Excellent!) ( )

Amir, a Pushtun, and his childhood best friend, Hassan, a Hazara, are inseparable, at least outside the public eye. The two friends live on the same piece of property owned by Amir's father, "Baba," in Kabul Afghanistan. It's the 1970's and Hassan's father, Ali, works as a houseman for Baba.

As Amir and Hassan grow, Amir fights for attention from Baba who showers both boys with attention. Born of Amir's jealousy, hidden resentment, and cowardness to stand up for what's right spring and threaten to take over Amir. And when egregious atrocities are inflicted on Hassan by fellow Pushtuns while outside their property, Amir hides, turning a blind eye, rather than taking action. This cowardly behavior will haunt and define Amir for the rest of his life.

When the Russians invade Afghanistan and the Taliban takes over, changing the landscape of the country forever, Amir and Baba flee to America leaving everything and everyone else behind. Decades later, a call comes from Pakistan, urgently calling Amir home, to rectify his wrongs, and make amends.

In this powerful story of fiction (except for the truth of the author fleeing with his Baba from Kabul to the U.S.), Khaled Hosseini brings to light the damage of entitlement and horrors of segregation and discrimination in a way that makes the reader have a much better understanding of how the Afghanistan we know today came to be.

The Kite Runner is filled with beautiful descriptions of a land long ago peaceful that is now demonized (and rightly so by all accounts), and how stealing, as told by Baba, is the worst of all sins: "When you kill a man, you steal a life. You steal his wife's right to a husband and rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness."

My two cents on the banning of this book (for sexually explicit content, language, and age appropriateness - marketed for not under 18 and has been apparently read by and/or required of high schoolers) is SO worth the read. The sexually explicit content is more implied than overt and pivotal to the story to show the low depths man will go to dominate and humiliate. Language - meh, unfounded. Age appropriateness should be read by people mature enough to handle the truth about war. I would allow my high school-age children to read The Kite Runner if I read it with them and was available for their questions. Many worthwhile teaching moments in this one. ( )

Having come to this book as an audio book after reading A Thousand Splendid Suns, I felt it a trifle contrived but nevertheless a compelling story. There were times when it was so harrowing, I almost couldn’t continue. ( )

I learned about Afghanistan history but this was very difficult for me to read because of the depictions of violent crime and sexual violence that are still ongoing. Overall the writing was good. ( )

Wonderful book, but it's very sad and disturbing. I wouldn't let anyone under 18 read it. ( )