Top 30 Modern Classics - VII

The Kite Runner

By Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner, written by the Afghan-American author, Khaled Hosseini, was published in 2003.

Amir, a well-to-do Pashtun boy, and Hassan, a Hazara who is the son of Ali, Amir's father's servant, spend their days kite fighting in the hitherto peaceful city of Kabul. Hassan is an expert "kite runner". Amir's father loves both boys. 

Assef, an older boy with a sadistic taste for violence, mocks Amir for socializing with a Hazara. One day, he prepares to attack Amir with brass knuckles, but Hassan defends Amir, threatening to shoot out Assef's eye with his slingshot. Assef backs off but swears to get revenge.

After a few days while running for the kite, Hassan encounters Assef in a secluded place. Assef beats him severely and rapes him. Amir witnesses the act but is too scared to intervene. .

Amir begins to believe that life would be easier if Hassan were not around, so he traps Hassan in a theft. Hassan falsely confesses when confronted by Baba, Amir's father.  Although Baba forgives Hassan, to baba's sorrow Hassan and Ali leave anyway.

When the Soviet military intervenes in Afghanistan. Amir and Baba escape to Fremont, California, where they settle in a run-down apartment. Baba begins work at a gas station. After graduating from high school, Amir takes classes to develop his writing skills. Every Sunday, Baba and Amir make extra money selling used goods at a flea market. There, Amir meets fellow refugee Soraya Taheri and her family. Baba is diagnosed with terminal cancer but is still capable of granting Amir one last favor: he asks Soraya's father's permission for Amir to marry her. He agrees and the two marry. Shortly thereafter Baba dies. Amir and Soraya settle down in a happy marriage, but to their sorrow they learn that they cannot have children.

Amir embarks on a successful career as a novelist. Fifteen years after his wedding, Amir receives a call asking him to come to Pakistan.

Rahim khan, an old aquaintance had called Amir to Pakistan was to rescue Sohrab, Hassan's son, from an orphanage in Kabul.  Hassan had already died.

Amir learns that a Taliban official comes to the orphanage often, brings cash, and usually takes a girl away with him. Occasionally he chooses a boy, recently Sohrab. Amir meets the man, who reveals himself as Assef. Sohrab is being kept at Assef's house. Assef agrees to relinquish him if Amir can beat him in a fight.

Threader will find out the rest.

It is a gripping story so close to the soil. No wonder the book has been categorised as a classic.


Namaste


Prabir