Review of "The Kite Runner"

"There is something missing in that boy."

     In The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini weaves the tale of two boys: one who is outwardly privileged, and one who is internally good. Meet Ali, son of a wealthy Afghani in Kabul, and his servant's son, Hassan. The boys are thick as thieves, even if Ali refuses to admit it. In their free time, they hike up a hill to sit in the cool shade beneath a pomegranate tree, where Ali reads aloud to his illiterate companion. In winter, they participate in kite fights--Ali cutting down enemy kites with his own, Hassan chasing them down to hang on the wall. They are a team...at least, until Ali stands by as a trio of bullies scars Hassan beyond repair. Overwhelmed by guilt, Ali pushes his friend away, but that won't be enough to soothe his conscience. If he's to win back his peace of mind, he has to do something so big, so out of character, that nobody will have expected it from him. He doesn't have long to accomplish it, either, because the Afghanistan he knows is about to disappear forever.

     Hosseini has an easy way with words. Through the rose-colored glass of perspective, his protagonist reflects on his privileged childhood and despairs over mistakes he made with Hassan. He curses a bit, primarily in dialogue, and though it is relatively rare the language he uses isn't pleasant. Still, Ali is a very solid character with a near-tangible presence and a dramatic arc, a well-depicted soul constantly struggling against the guilt he's been carrying for decades. The prose is also neatly crafted, even if the narrator does have the slightly annoying habit of dancing around the points of conflict in order to create tension.

     It's the plot that trips The Kite Runner up. Rather than focusing on the tragedy that befell Ali and Hassan in their youth, he pulls them apart to focus on the years of everyday life afterward. When the Russians invade Kabul, Ali and his father are dragged from unfortunate circumstance to unfortunate circumstance, finally landing in a temporary home safe from any who'd harm them. But their stay there is not as short-lived as they expected, and the focus of the story shifts to minor conflicts that don't appear related to the point of the novel for a long time. When they do finally tie in, it has been so long the sudden return to the source of Ali's guilt is almost jarring.

     Language aside, the mature content in Hosseini's tale is entirely physical. The romance, if one can call it that, is touched on without going into explicit detail, and is ultimately essential to the overarching plot. Religion, specifically Islam, is discussed in a manner that is never preachy, though it has a big impact on certain characters' development. Two potential triggers are present. In one, a secondary character attempts to end his own life. The only other flag-raiser lies in the beginning, when a group of boys takes advantage of another in a way so disgusting, even older readers may find it stomach-churning. While this isn't described overmuch, the scene is described in such a way as to leave no doubt as to what is happening. Violent threats, Taliban example-making, and a somewhat gruesome fight also make their appearances, though not very often.

     I would recommend this books to adults looking for an interesting novel about redemption, set in a world torn apart by tragedy. Khaled Hosseini's writing style is very realistic, making his narrative seem almost like a true memoir rather than a work of fiction. Ali and Hassan are rounded, dynamic characters with their own distinct personalities and flaws. There are a couple potential "trigger" scenes to watch out for, which influence everything that follows, and some instances of foul language. It is, however, quite educational and excellently structured, even if the middle drags itself slowly along the plotline. Islam, though brought up, isn't in-your-face and contributes to character development. For intriguing characters, a good plot, and eloquent prose, The Kite Runner deserves a solid three stars.