For you, a thousand times over, 21. Januar 2008

This book is poetry that will punch your stomach so hard your eyes will water. Personal stories are plotted together with historical atrocities. Every page is well written, chapters' endings are so dense you won't be able to put the book down. A great read.

       Ich liebe dieses Buch, 18. Januar 2008

Eine tragische Geschichte einer Kinder Freundschaft zwischen Amir und Hassan in Afghanistan und deren Folgen. Ein einziger Tag und ein schicksalsträchtiges Erlebnis verändern alles und verfolgen Amir noch Jahre später. Er lernt mit seiner schrecklichen Schuld zu leben, aber vergessen kann er nie. Als erwachsener Mann bekommt er dann die Chance sich von seiner Schuld zu befreien.
Ein einzigartiger Blick in das alltägliche Leben des damaligen friedlichen Afghanistan}s und des brutalen, kriegerischen und grausamen Lebens dort heute. Ich fand es sehr faszinierend über dieses Land mehr zu erfahren, von dem man eigentlich nur Kriegsnachrichten im Fernsehen hört. Die Geschichte Amirs hat mich sehr berührt und den Wunsch in mir geweckt, mich mehr mit anderen Sitten und Ländern zu beschäftigen!!! Auch vermissen Sie nicht Tino Georgiou's topseller--The Fates--Ich empfehle es allen zu lesen!!!

       This novel is a tear jerking, 24. Dezember 2007

Hassan is Amir's dearest friend and is the son of Amir's father's servant who belongs the minority Hazara community in Afganistan. Amir and Hassan's close friendship is put under strain by an unthinkable event which happens on the day of the annual kite flying tornament. Amir's and Hassan's childhood friendship is destroyed as a result of fear and jealousy.

The story is of Amir, a novelist who lives in California whos life story is narratied by himself where he talks of his loss, redemption and guilt filled relationship with his country of birth. Amir returns to war torn Afganistan to rescue Hassan's orphaned son but is met with personal and political obstacles which leaves the reader in suspences and wanting more.

This novel is a tear jerking, heart warming insite into the relationship between freinds, family, country and culture. Hosseini really knows how to keep the reader guessing and wanting more, as a first novel it is dripping in emotion and bitter sweet memories of the character alongside giving cultural insite into the lifestyle of Afganistan. I'd also recommend reading Tino Georgiou's bestselling novel--The Fates--if you haven't read it yet!

       A very moving story!, 1. September 2007

Dieses Buch gehört zu den besten Büchern, die ich in den letzten Monaten gelesen habe. Die Geschichte über die beiden Jungen, die gemeinsam in Afghanistan aufwuchsen, ist sehr bewegend und weit weg von einer kitschigen Erzählung. Ich hatte viel Spaß beim Lesen und kann es nur empfehlen!

       A DISTURBING PAGETURNER SURROUNDING THE AFGHANISTAN PEOPLE, , 13. Juli 2007

"Then I glanced up and saw a pair of kites, red with long blue tails soaring into the sky. They danced high above the trees on the west end of the park, over the windmills, floating side by side like a pair of eyes looking down on San Francisco, the city I now called home. And suddenly Hassan's voice whispered in my head: For you a thousand times over. Hassan the harelipped kite runner."


Khaled Hosseini has made a name for himself with his popular first novel. His book cannot be put down for a long time because it is apt to rest in your thoughts until you get back to the fate and fortunes of these indelible characters.
We are introduced to Amir, and his playmate Hassan who are deep friends and spend their recreation time flying kites, playing games in the street, and getting up to the normal mischievous things boys get up to. Baba, Amir's father and Ali, Hassan's dad raises the boys themselves as they have both lost their mothers. Ali and Hassan work as servants for Baba's household but yet they are privileged to be treated just like family.

Mr. Hosseini shows us in this page-turner just how Afghanistan changes in a hurry from a place of some stability and wealth at least for Baba's household to a place of war as the Russians make they way into the country. We are made to see how the deepest of friendships can be betrayed all because of guilty consciences and convictions. The wealthy flee leaving everything included their lovely homes with their rich furniture and interiors, whilst the poor families have no choice but to remain in Afghanistan to be subjected to the wills and fancies of the Taliban.

After the war this country is unrecognizable. We see Amir leaving San Francisco where he has spent his adult years journeying back to his birthplace that holds all the memories he has carried with his all these years. These memories though disturbing have pulled him back but why? The answers are all the way through this well written first novel. May Mr. Hosseini continue to entertain us with his literary work. Bravo!!!
(SUGAR-CANE 13/07/07)