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The Kite Runner
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The Kite Runner Hardcover - 2003

by Khaled Hosseini

An epic tale of fathers and sons, of friendship and betrayal, takes readers from Afghanistan in the final days of the monarchy to the atrocities of the present. As emotionally gripping as it is tender, "The Kite Runner" is an unusual and powerful debut.


About this book

Hosseini’s first novel takes place in Afghanistan and spans over several decades. The story follows the life of Amir, a young boy from a wealthy family, and his friend Hassan, the son of his father's servant. Despite their different social backgrounds, the two boys have a close friendship and bond over their love for kite fighting. However, after witnessing a traumatic event, Amir betrays Hassan, causing their friendship to fall apart.

The novel then follows Amir's journey as he grows up, moves to America, and tries to come to terms with his past actions. When Amir returns to Afghanistan as an adult, he must confront his guilt and make amends for his past mistakes. Throughout the story, Hosseini explores themes of redemption, betrayal, and the power of friendship. He also sheds light on the cultural and historical context of Afghanistan, including the impact of the Soviet invasion, the rise of the Taliban, and the mass exodus of Afghan refugees to the United States. Overall, "The Kite Runner" is a poignant and powerful story about personal growth, forgiveness, and the human experience. It was adapted into a film in 2007.


Summary

The New York Times bestseller and international classic loved by millions of readers.

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

A sweeping story of family, love, and friendship told against the devastating backdrop of the history of Afghanistan over the last thirty years, The Kite Runner is an unusual and powerful novel that has become a beloved, one-of-a-kind classic.

 

From the publisher

The #1 New York Times bestselling novel beloved by millions of readers the world over. "A vivid and engaging story that reminds us how long his people [of Afghanistan] have been struggling to triumph over the forces of violence--forces that continue to threaten them even today." -New York Times Book Review The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant, caught in the tragic sweep of history, The Kite Runner transports readers to Afghanistan at a tense and crucial moment of change and destruction. A powerful story of friendship, it is also about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons--their love, their sacrifices, their lies. Since its publication in 2003 Kite Runner has become a beloved, one-of-a-kind classic of contemporary literature, touching millions of readers, and launching the career of one of America's most treasured writers.

First Edition Identification


Riverhead published a First US Edition, First Printing hardcover in 2033, New York. 


Bloomsbury Publishing published a First UK Edition, First Printing hardcover in 2003, London.


Details

  • Title The Kite Runner
  • Author Khaled Hosseini
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition First Edition
  • Pages 336
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Riverhead Books, New York
  • Date 2003-06-02
  • ISBN 9781573222457 / 1573222453
  • Weight 1.22 lbs (0.55 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.28 x 6.36 x 1.13 in (23.57 x 16.15 x 2.87 cm)
  • Ages 18 to UP years
  • Grade levels 13 - UP
  • Reading level 840
  • Themes
    • Cultural Region: Asian - General
    • Topical: Family
  • Library of Congress subjects Boys, Afghanistan
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2003043106
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

Media reviews

"Soaring Debut." —Boston Globe



"Exquisite. A wonderfully conjured story that offers a glimpse into an Afghanistan most Americans have never seen, and depicts a side of humanity rarely revealed." —The Philadelphia Inquirer



"A beautiful novel. Ranks among the best-written and most provocative stories of the year so far. Hosseini is an exhilaratingly original writer with a gift for irony and a gentle, perspective heart." —The Denver Post



“A moving portrait of modern Afghanistan, from its pre-Russian-invasion glory days through the terrible reign of the Taliban."—Entertainment Weekly

Citations

  • Booklist, 04/01/2004, Page 1360
  • BookPage, 06/01/2003, Page 7
  • Chronicle of Higher Education, 12/02/2011, Page 20
  • Entertainment Weekly, 08/13/2010, Page 79
  • Kirkus Reviews, 05/01/2003, Page 630
  • Library Journal, 04/01/2003, Page 0
  • Library Journal Prepub Alert, 02/01/2003, Page 62
  • New York Times, 08/03/2003, Page 4
  • People Weekly, 12/17/2008, Page 62
  • Publishers Weekly, 05/12/2003, Page 43
  • School Library Journal, 11/01/2003, Page 171
  • SLJ's Best Books, 12/01/2003, Page 51
  • USA Today, 10/06/2004, Page 1

About the author

Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and moved to the United States in 1980. He is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns, and And the Mountains Echoed. He is A U.S. Goodwill Envoy to the United Nations Refugee Agency, and the founder of The Khaled Hosseini Foundation, a nonprofit that provides humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.
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The Kite Runner
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Kite Runner

by Khaled Hosseini

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ISBN 13
9781573222457
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The Kite Runner
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The Kite Runner

by Hosseini, Khaled

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The Kite Runner

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The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner

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ISBN 13
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ISBN 10
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The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner

by Hosseini, Khaled

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ISBN 13
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ISBN 10
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The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner

by Hosseini, Khaled

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  • Hardcover
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Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9781573222457
ISBN 10
1573222453
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The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner

by Hosseini, Khaled

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  • Hardcover
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Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9781573222457
ISBN 10
1573222453
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The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner

by Hosseini, Khaled

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  • Hardcover
Condition
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Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
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ISBN 10
1573222453
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The Kite Runner
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The Kite Runner

by Khaled Hosseini

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  • Hardcover
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Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9781573222457
ISBN 10
1573222453
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