Guest Anonymous Posted May 19, 2006 Posted May 19, 2006 I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975. I remember the precise moment, crouching behind a crumbling mud wall, peeking into the alley near the frozen creek. That was a long time ago, but it Quote
Janet Posted May 19, 2006 Posted May 19, 2006 Oh dear - this is the book choice for September in the Bookworms group I belong to! I shall try to read it with an open mind! Is it very long? Quote
Guest Anonymous Posted May 19, 2006 Posted May 19, 2006 It's about two hundred and fifty pages so, if an average reader, you should get through it in a couple of sessions. You may like it, of course, it's just that I found it dry and believe its success is more down to a sense that America wants to know more about the places it's destroying. At least it appears to be marketed that way. Quote
Michelle Posted May 19, 2006 Posted May 19, 2006 It's about two hundred and fifty pages so, if an average reader, you should get through it in a couple of sessions. I'm not sure I agree with this - for people with busy lives / jobs / families a book can take many sessions to be read! Quote
Guest Anonymous Posted May 19, 2006 Posted May 19, 2006 I'm not sure I agree with this - for people with busy lives / jobs / families a book can take many sessions to be read! I have a busy life and a job too. 8-) Quote
Michelle Posted May 19, 2006 Posted May 19, 2006 Well I get about 20 mins in the car waiting for my daughter, 10 mins in the bath, then 10-20 before sleep (depending on how tired I am), and so it takes me more than 2 sessions to finish a book. 1 Quote
Janet Posted May 19, 2006 Posted May 19, 2006 Well I get about 20 mins in the car waiting for my daughter, 10 mins in the bath, then 10-20 before sleep (depending on how tired I am), and so it takes me more than 2 sessions to finish a book. I'm the same, Michelle. It'll probably take me a couple of weeks to get through. I'm always amazed at people who read a book in a day. 1 Quote
Margo Posted May 19, 2006 Posted May 19, 2006 It can take me upto a week or two to finish a book, although I have finished a few in 3 days before (meaning one book in 3 days), but thats rare for me. Thanks for the review stewart. Quote
Sarahrob Posted May 22, 2006 Posted May 22, 2006 I absolutely loved this book. I loved the fact that the first part of it was so matter-of-fact, I think it would have felt far too contrived had there been any attempt to make it more emotional. I thought the attempts by Amir's father to live an afghani life in America were heartbreaking, and that the book truly showed a personal view of the atrocities which have taken place. I have watched the news, I know some of the statistics, but to see it from such a personal viewpoint - it took my breath away. I can see your point about coincidences - some of them were very hard to swallow. Even taking that into account, this is still my favourite book so far this year. Quote
Kell Posted October 8, 2006 Posted October 8, 2006 The Kite Runner Author: Khaled Hosseini ISBN # 1594480001 Publisher: Riverhead Books First Published: 2003 371 pages Rating: 9/10 (Olympic Challenge Quote
Janet Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 I loved this book. It's my favourite read so far this year. We discussed it in my real-life bookworms group last month, and it sparked the most discussion so far. I'd also urge anyone to pick it up. I was a bit worried about the Afgan setting, but I needn't have worried at all - it's very clear. I think I gave it 9½ out of 10, but on balance, I think it's definitely a 10 for me! Quote
Marilou Posted February 16, 2007 Posted February 16, 2007 The Kite Runner was such a touching book. I cried on several occasions. I couldn't believe the degree of humn hatred and destruction glorified by religious beliefs and of course, power. A sad but powerful book which will change many readers mind on Afghans and their struggle to revive their land as independant and humane. Quote
happyanddandy Posted November 3, 2007 Posted November 3, 2007 I had this on mount TBR - then OH was looking for something to read so I gave him this - he has been completely engrossed ever since - he was up very late last night reading!! Quote
SteffieB Posted November 3, 2007 Posted November 3, 2007 I wasn't in a hurry to read this either, until the BF read it at all hours, often in tears. Then I had to! Powerful is definitely the right descriptive word. Gripping. Satisfying. Really very good. Quote
JudyB Posted November 3, 2007 Posted November 3, 2007 And then from there go on to his second novel A Thousand Splendid Suns - easily as good as The Kite Runner. Quote
sib Posted November 4, 2007 Posted November 4, 2007 And then from there go on to his second novel A Thousand Splendid Suns - easily as good as The Kite Runner. What Quote
JudyB Posted November 4, 2007 Posted November 4, 2007 This time his two main characters are women - theirs is a moving, emotional often sad story and highlights the severity of the system in terms of those women's rights. Quote
Child.of.God.1989 Posted December 15, 2007 Posted December 15, 2007 I perked up at this review since I just read an approving/moderate review of the new movie. This was very well-written! Thank you for the recommendation, Kell. My reading scope is so small, and only within contemporary and classic American, and classic British literature. I was thinking my first foreign book would be Don Quixote, but this one sounds very sweeping, emotionally speaking! Quote
kateleopald Posted December 17, 2007 Posted December 17, 2007 definitely go with the kite runner. don quixote is a classic but it takes a real labour of love to read! (i had it on my bedside table for over a year and fou the first half very heavy going!!) Quote
Inver Posted January 4, 2008 Posted January 4, 2008 The Kite Runner was such a touching book. I cried on several occasions. I couldn't believe the degree of humn hatred and destruction glorified by religious beliefs and of course, power. A sad but powerful book which will change many readers mind on Afghans and their struggle to revive their land as independant and humane. Couldn't agree more...I cried too. Hope they don't spoil it with the movie version. Quote
writeoff Posted January 19, 2008 Posted January 19, 2008 This has to be one of my favourite books ever. When I read his favourite books it wasn't a great surprise to see Steinbeck and Shelley amongst them. I must be the only person in the world not to agree that his follow up is better. It's a great story but I cared more about Hassan and Amir in The Kite Runner At times I felt it was almost as if I was being told what to think rather than persuaded. I probably haven't explained that very well but maybe someone else could. Quote
Esiotrot Posted February 4, 2008 Posted February 4, 2008 The Kite Runner was such a touching book. I cried on several occasions. I couldn't believe the degree of humn hatred and destruction glorified by religious beliefs and of course, power. A sad but powerful book which will change many readers mind on Afghans and their struggle to revive their land as independant and humane. Well said! I absolutely loved this book, after feeling like I had lost my reading mojo this has given it a new lease of life! I keep thinking about the characters and I am sure I will for a long time to come. If its in your Mount TBR ~ lift it to the top Quote
Purple Princess Posted February 5, 2008 Posted February 5, 2008 I am about half way through The Kite Runner and have to say I am really enjoying it. It is not the type of book I would usually choose for myself but my sister gave me her copy and I am very pleased she did. I find myself thinking about Amir and Hassan at random points during the day - I think that is the effect a really good book has on me, that I just can't stop thinking about it Quote
JudyB Posted February 5, 2008 Posted February 5, 2008 but I cared more about Hassan and Amir in The Kite Runner At times I felt it was almost as if I was being told what to think I think friendship is so precious and that comes across in the book and that's why the events that follow are so shocking and upsetting. Quote
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