When the past comes calling…. Review on Kite Runner, The - Khaled Hosseni

Some men are born heroes, some rise to heroism when the time comes and there are still others who wallow forever in their fears and cowardice.

This is a story of a man who shrugs off his cowardice after years of self-reproach and repentance and sets out on the path of redemption, a path that is fraught with dangers. But then it is never too late to stand up and be a man...is it? Like all stories about human courage, this book also has universal appeal.

It is also the story of how a son relates to his father-- idolizes him, hates him, judges him and finally forgives him, because try as we might we all have something of our parents in us…some of their failings and some of their heroism.

The protagonist Amir, is a character that perhaps all of us can identify with to a certain extent, after all we all have our weaknesses, our regrets and our sins. Amir’s sins maybe bigger and even despicable but that is perhaps what gives the novel its sting.

People choose different ways to deal with their past, and our protagonist, Amir is given a chance at redemption, a second chance that life does not present many people with, which leads him onto a perilous journey.

Hosseni also paints a vivid picture of a once peaceful Afghanistan ravaged by years of war and politics and of the plight of his countrymen. He helps the reader to gain a perspective of the situation raging there and to even empathize.

The plot is predictable at times, but then the high point of this book is not the plot but rather the complex gamut of human emotions. A compelling and poignant novel. Definitely a recommended read… go ahead and get your copy.