A sharp, unforgettable taste of the trauma and tumult experienced by Afghanis as their country buckled’ Observer But I'm not sure it goes any farther than that.(A slightly different version of this review originally appeared on my blog, Stella Matutina).

Godo as the book was, it didn't quite fly for me.I know I'm in the minority here, and I want to make it clear that I do recommend this. I can understand why he'd do so-this situation must be close to his heart-but I've got to stay honest here. Hosseini delves into his subjects in just enough detail that I could empathize with the story, but he never quite went deep enough to satisfy me. well, it doesn't really feel like it's about any of that. I feel strange saying that, given that this is a book about war and family and betrayal and national pride and seven million other deep, meaningful things, but. But at the end of the day, I doubt that Amir and Hassan and their thousand-times-retold story will stay with me for long. It's one of those rare 4-star books that didn't really change me. But oddly enough, I find that I haven't the slightest desire to reread it. We want him to repent we want him to figure it all out before it's too late, because we can see that his willingness to do such things means that he will never, ever get what he truly wants.So it was very good. Amir does some terrible things, but he never fully loses the reader's sympathy because we can see just why he does them. The book is readable and engaging, and does it ever pack an emotional wallop! I teared up time and again, and one particular scene chilled me to the bone.

We all know what's coming, but that doesn't make it any less affecting when the big reveal rolls around. Even still, Hosseini manages to keep us involved. You know it, I know it, and I'll bet you that most readers saw it coming a mile off. Amir, a young Afghani boy, makes a choice that will change his life forever.THE KITE RUNNER centers around one of the world's most common stories.

The kite flyer book