Need Advice re: Kite Runner

MickeyC · 07-29-2010, 07:11 PM

Anybody read this one? A good friend recommended it. Would appreciate some feedback.

Author is Khaled Hosseini

edbro · 07-29-2010, 07:16 PM

I read it a while back. It was excellent but be forewarned; there is a brutal male on male rape scene.

bjones6416 · 07-29-2010, 08:12 PM

This was one of those books that I got about three-quarters of the way through before I thought, "Why?" Although the writing was good, the book just depressed me so bad, and from what I knew about it even before I read it, I knew that I wasn't likely to be any less depressed when I finished it. If I'm not going to be actually entertained or enthralled by a book, I at least want to learn something from it, and that didn't seem to be happening for me. But, as always, YMMV, because I'm not a big fan of that category of books I call "Oprah books," which always seem to feature someone with a wretched life story trying to find some redemption in the end. I've read plenty of sad books in my time, but now I want something a little different. Only my opinion, though, and lots of people love this book. :-)

Apollo · 07-29-2010, 08:27 PM

The Kiterunner is a brilliant tale of friendship, betrayal and a self-need for redemption. It's one of the few novels you'll remember throughout your life. The "rape scene" arguably isn't the most potent segment in terms of its ability to draw emotions from the reader. Once you finish the story you'll be wondering whether or not someone can truly redeem their past sins and if you, the reader, can ever forgive them. If there was one book I'd recommend anyone it would be this

lila55 · 07-30-2010, 12:56 AM

I read the book about three years ago and really loved it! I felt that it "introduced" me to Afghanistan, above and beyond the newspaper level.

Edit: Speaking about Afghanistan, I read another excellent novel recently that takes place in that country, "The Wasted Vigil" by Nadeem Aslan. I found it very impressive in the way it describes the brutal reality there, it is hard to imagine for me how people can bear to live like that.

sunnysmiles · 07-30-2010, 01:57 AM

I read it and enjoyed it very much .

thinkpad · 07-30-2010, 02:23 AM

Although Kite Runner is quite brutal in sections it's nothing compared to Khaled Hosseinis second book A Thousand Splendid Suns which makes you question humanity. This book got me seriously upset and was quite depressing.

neilmarr · 07-30-2010, 02:29 AM

A remarkable piece of work. Neil

banjobama · 07-30-2010, 02:35 AM

I haven't read it, but a lady in my book club did and she didn't care for it. She said it was not at all what she expected.

DArenson · 07-30-2010, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassidym

Anybody read this one? A good friend recommended it. Would appreciate some feedback.

Author is Khaled Hosseini

Loved it.

FlorenceArt · 07-30-2010, 09:56 AM

IMO, the writing is crap and does not justify having to bear the brutal story. BUT it seems I'm in a minority, so you should probably ignore me

There is absolutely no subtlety in the writing, nothing is left to the imagination, nothing is suggested, even the obvious is painstakingly laid out. I cannot stand that kind of writing, but most people don't seem to mind. If you're like me, don't bother with this book, otherwise just ignore this post.

suecsi · 07-30-2010, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinkpadx

Although Kite Runner is quite brutal in sections it's nothing compared to Khaled Hosseinis second book A Thousand Splendid Suns which makes you question humanity. This book got me seriously upset and was quite depressing.

- I cried at a Thousand Splendid Suns

JBNY · 07-30-2010, 11:48 AM

I thought the book was well written, but ultimately I didn't really like it. The book looks as if it will follow a very well used literary path, child born into privilege, has some bad things happen in his youth, is forced to flee, spends time in another land, then returns to his boyhood home for redemption and over coming his boyhood fears, while learning that seeing things through adult eyes casts a different picture of his childhood. But in this story nothing seems to work out in the end for the protagonist. I felt at the close of the book, that it was sort of like well what's the point?

I felt the book did do a good job of introducing a different culture to readers who might not know anything about it.

MickeyC · 07-30-2010, 05:19 PM

Okay, I'll give it a go and post my thoughts here.

Thanks all.

shanghaichica · 07-31-2010, 01:03 PM

Haven't read the Kite runner but am thinking of reading it. I have read A thousand Splendid suns by the same author and that was an emotional exprience. If I think about it for too long I get teary eyed. I remember reading it in the library at uni and crying in public.

I've actually seen the film version of the Kite Runner. I enjoyed it but the rape scene was way too much. I wanted to turn the film off after that but stayed with it.

I think I will go and buy it now as it seems to have good reviews. I hope it will be as good as a thousand splendid suns.

07-29-2010, 07:11 PM	#1
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Need Advice re: Kite Runner Anybody read this one? A good friend recommended it. Would appreciate some feedback. Author is Khaled Hosseini

07-30-2010, 12:56 AM	#5
lila55 Fanatic Posts: 595 Karma: 456534 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Stuttgart, Germany Device: PocketBook 360° , iPhone 5, PRS-650, Sony PRS-T2, Sony PRS-T3, Tolino	I read the book about three years ago and really loved it! I felt that it "introduced" me to Afghanistan, above and beyond the newspaper level. Edit: Speaking about Afghanistan, I read another excellent novel recently that takes place in that country, "The Wasted Vigil" by Nadeem Aslan. I found it very impressive in the way it describes the brutal reality there, it is hard to imagine for me how people can bear to live like that. Last edited by lila55; 07-30-2010 at 01:00 AM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
New to all this and I need some advice	S-F	PDF	7	03-18-2010 09:27 AM
Help, I need some advice	usagi_chan	Which one should I buy?	2	08-19-2009 01:23 PM
Advice !!!	Lector	Upload Help	1	02-22-2008 08:42 AM
Looking For Advice	Thevor	Which one should I buy?	2	02-18-2008 11:41 PM

07-29-2010, 07:16 PM	#2
edbro Banned Posts: 640 Karma: 4911 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Grapevine, TX Device: iPad4	I read it a while back. It was excellent but be forewarned; there is a brutal male on male rape scene.

07-29-2010, 08:12 PM	#3
bjones6416 ↓↓ Skirt!! Earrings!! Posts: 3,394 Karma: 17432172 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Georgia, USA Device: Acer netbook, JetBook Lite, Sony PRS-300, Kindle 2, Kindle Fire	This was one of those books that I got about three-quarters of the way through before I thought, "Why?" Although the writing was good, the book just depressed me so bad, and from what I knew about it even before I read it, I knew that I wasn't likely to be any less depressed when I finished it. If I'm not going to be actually entertained or enthralled by a book, I at least want to learn something from it, and that didn't seem to be happening for me. But, as always, YMMV, because I'm not a big fan of that category of books I call "Oprah books," which always seem to feature someone with a wretched life story trying to find some redemption in the end. I've read plenty of sad books in my time, but now I want something a little different. Only my opinion, though, and lots of people love this book. :-)

07-29-2010, 08:27 PM	#4
Apollo Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: iPad	The Kiterunner is a brilliant tale of friendship, betrayal and a self-need for redemption. It's one of the few novels you'll remember throughout your life. The "rape scene" arguably isn't the most potent segment in terms of its ability to draw emotions from the reader. Once you finish the story you'll be wondering whether or not someone can truly redeem their past sins and if you, the reader, can ever forgive them. If there was one book I'd recommend anyone it would be this

07-30-2010, 01:57 AM	#6
sunnysmiles Addict Posts: 279 Karma: 1188010 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: London Device: I pad air, kindle pw2 and kindle touch , kindle had fire Nook pad nook	I read it and enjoyed it very much .

07-30-2010, 02:23 AM	#7
thinkpad David Posts: 1,808 Karma: 8916183 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Norway Device: Kindle, E.Edge (sold), Irex Iliad (retired)	Although Kite Runner is quite brutal in sections it's nothing compared to Khaled Hosseinis second book A Thousand Splendid Suns which makes you question humanity. This book got me seriously upset and was quite depressing.

07-30-2010, 02:29 AM	#8
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	A remarkable piece of work. Neil

07-30-2010, 02:35 AM	#9
banjobama Busy Read'n Posts: 980 Karma: 5039283 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Auburn, WA Device: Pocketbook Touch Lux 5	I haven't read it, but a lady in my book club did and she didn't care for it. She said it was not at all what she expected.

07-30-2010, 09:56 AM	#11
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,761 Karma: 5042529 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 6 Plus	IMO, the writing is crap and does not justify having to bear the brutal story. BUT it seems I'm in a minority, so you should probably ignore me There is absolutely no subtlety in the writing, nothing is left to the imagination, nothing is suggested, even the obvious is painstakingly laid out. I cannot stand that kind of writing, but most people don't seem to mind. If you're like me, don't bother with this book, otherwise just ignore this post.

07-30-2010, 11:48 AM	#13
JBNY Member Posts: 21 Karma: 12 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindel, iPad	I thought the book was well written, but ultimately I didn't really like it. The book looks as if it will follow a very well used literary path, child born into privilege, has some bad things happen in his youth, is forced to flee, spends time in another land, then returns to his boyhood home for redemption and over coming his boyhood fears, while learning that seeing things through adult eyes casts a different picture of his childhood. But in this story nothing seems to work out in the end for the protagonist. I felt at the close of the book, that it was sort of like well what's the point? I felt the book did do a good job of introducing a different culture to readers who might not know anything about it.

07-30-2010, 05:19 PM	#14
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Okay, I'll give it a go and post my thoughts here. Thanks all.

Advert

Advert

07-31-2010, 01:03 PM	#15
shanghaichica Guru Posts: 991 Karma: 5782970 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Scribe,Kindle Oasis 3, iPad Pro 11,15 Pro Max,iPad mini 7,colorsoft	Haven't read the Kite runner but am thinking of reading it. I have read A thousand Splendid suns by the same author and that was an emotional exprience. If I think about it for too long I get teary eyed. I remember reading it in the library at uni and crying in public. I've actually seen the film version of the Kite Runner. I enjoyed it but the rape scene was way too much. I wanted to turn the film off after that but stayed with it. I think I will go and buy it now as it seems to have good reviews. I hope it will be as good as a thousand splendid suns.