The sense of Guilt. Review on Kite Runner, The - Khaled Hosseni

This book was recommended to me by a good friend. She told me that this was one of the most powerful books she has ever read, and strongly suggested me to read it. At that point I was reading nothing (actually re-reading a PG Wodehouse), so I readily borrowed the copy from her and started reading it.

I must say, the book indeed was very powerful. The book is based in Afghanistan. And we see the Afghanistan which has not yet been destroyed by war. It has a vibrant community and culture the cities are buzz with activity, totally unlike the Afghanistan we see on TV these days.

The book is about a man Amir, who is the son of a well to do businessman, and Hassan the son of his servant. Both men are about the same age and have grown up together,Amir as the privileged on of businessman, and Hassan as his playmate. Hassan is very loyal and in spite of mean treatment from Amir remains loyal. Amir on the other hand is very jealous of whatever little Hassan receives.

Amir’s Father is a man of great stature and is revered by all the local people for his social work and his attitude in life. He is a proud man, who is willing to stand for any just cause. He believes in fighting for himself and for others if the cause requires it. He is also a busy man. He expects similar behavior from his son, but is disappointed to see that his son displays the qualities of a coward.

Amir is thirsty for affection from his father, but does not receive it in quantities he wants. Hassan, his playmate is his only source of entertainment. But Amir treats him with indifference and does not introduce him to his other friends. But Hassan remains loyal and causes all the more anguish to Amir.

In the book, the different attitude of both men is on display. Although the book is from the point of view of Amir, the stark difference in response to similar type of situations brings out the difference in their attitudes in life. One such incidence affected Amir so much that his life became a torture. He was anguished at all times, his guilt so great that he could not face to be around Hassan. So he manages to remove Hassan from his life.

But even then, the burden of the incident was so great that he never managed to rid himself of it. He started suffering from Insomnia.

Amir’s life takes a turn with Soviet’s invasion of Afghanistan as they are forced to flee Afghanistan. He starts a new life in US, gets married there and carries on with a career as a writer. But even after so many years he has not yet emerged from his guilt.

There is a lot one can infer from the book, but for me the book was mainly about Guilt. Throughout the book, the protagonist is feeling guilty. At all times all the actions made by him is a result of his guilt. The author has displayed the anguish faced by him excellently. I could totally understand the guilt and a suffocation felt by him.

Another thing brought out brilliantly is the transition of Kabul. From a vibrant and energetic city to a war infested occupied territory to a city ruled by Taliban. The pain felt by the author when he sees the devastation of his home town is also felt deep in the heart.

In the end of the book he gets a chance to redeem himself of his past failures and comes out with flying colors. Although a lot is lost in the period, but Amir gains a respect for himself and a spine.

I loved the book, but found the ending a bit too dramatic for it. But almost throughout the book, the author has been more than brilliant.