The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner
First edition cover (US hardback)
AuthorKhaled Hosseini
Cover artistHoni Werner
LanguageEnglish
Genre
PublisherRiverhead Books
Publication date
May 29, 2003
Publication placeUnited States
Pages371
ISBN1-57322-245-3
OCLC51615359
813/.6 21
LC ClassPS3608.O832 K58 2003

The Kite Runner is the first novel by Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini.[1] Published in 2003 by Riverhead Books, it tells the story of Amir, a young boy from the Wazir Akbar Khan district of Kabul. The story is set against a backdrop of tumultuous events, from the fall of Afghanistan's monarchy through the Soviet invasion, the exodus of refugees to Pakistan and the United States, and the rise of the Taliban regime.

Hosseini has commented that he considers The Kite Runner to be a father-son relationship story, emphasizing the familial aspects of the narrative, an element that he continued to use in his later works.[2] Themes of guilt and redemption feature prominently in the novel,[3] with a pivotal scene depicting an act of sexual assault inflicted upon Amir's friend Hassan, which Amir fails to prevent, and which ends their friendship. The latter half of the book centers on Amir's attempts to atone for this transgression by rescuing Hassan's son two decades later.

The Kite Runner became a bestseller after being printed in paperback and was popularized in book clubs. It appeared on the New York Times bestseller list for over two years,[4] with over seven million copies sold in the United States.[5] Reviews were generally positive, though parts of the plot drew significant controversy in Afghanistan. A number of adaptations were created following publication, including a 2007 film of the same name, several stage performances, and a graphic novel. The novel is also available in a multi-CD audiobook read by the author.

  1. ^ Noor, R.; Hosseini, Khaled (September–December 2004). "The Kite Runner". World Literature Today. 78 (3/4): 148. doi:10.2307/40158636. JSTOR 40158636.
  2. ^ "An interview with Khaled Hosseini". Book Browse. 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Guthmann was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Italie was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Siblings' Separation Haunts In 'Kite Runner' Author's Latest". NPR. May 19, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2013.