The Kite Runner follows the story of Amir, the privileged son of a wealthy businessman in Kabul, and Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant. As children in the relatively stable Afghanistan of the early 1970s, the boys are inseparable. They spend idyllic days running kites and telling stories of mystical places and powerful warriors until an unspeakable event changes the nature of their relationship forever, and eventually cements their bond in ways neither boy could have ever predicted. Even after Amir and his father flee to America, Amir remains haunted by his cowardly actions and disloyalty. In part, it is these demons and the sometimes impossible quest for forgiveness that bring him back to his war-torn native land after it comes under Taliban rule. ("...I wondered if that was how forgiveness budded, not with the fanfare of epiphany, but with pain gathering its things, packing up, and slipping away unannounced in the middle of the night.")

This book was stunning! I'm so glad I read it. I have a better understanding of Afghanistan's recent history.

"A sadness came over me. Returning to Kabul was like running into an old, forgotten friend and seeing that life hadn't been good to him, and that he'd become homeless and destitute."

This is a powerful book. Past mistakes/decisions do not have to define as a people.

Accepted by alsgal as part of the "Cliff1976.com TOP 50 HOT TITLES" Relay

Received in the mail yesterday. Since accepting this one on the relays, I was given an audio copy so I'm going to offer this copy up as a RABCK over on the relay forums.

Sending off to Apolonia for paganfrog's M-bag.

**Update 12/30/05** Mailing off tomorrow

Received for Paganfrog's M-Bag. I probably won't be sending it for a month or two.

after a rather hectic 2006 i realised i never got around to journaling this book is in my possesion. thankyou apolonia for hosting my m-bag. i will journal again after i have finished reading.