The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
This book has been on many, many reading lists since it was published in 2003. It has been on my list for awhile, but my book club chose it for our next meeting.
It was hard to read at first because I just could not get into the characters. I struggled through the first 50 or so pages hoping that it would get better. The writing was fine, I just was having trouble investing myself in the story. The turning point came for me at the same time that it does for the main character, Amir. He makes a tragic decision that haunts him for the rest of his life.
From that point on, I could not put the book down. It reminds me of something Joss Whedon was fond of saying. He said that his shows were only good when the characters were not happy and it is true of Hosseini’s novel as well. Amir is a character you care about because he is faulty, as are we all. The story is a reminder of why war can be so tragic, how immigrants fleeing their own countries fare in America, and the small acts that change lives.
Recommended – If you can get past the beginning, it is worth the read.