The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, 2003, Anchor Canada (Random House Canada)

A gripping historical fiction novel, revealing the history of Afghanistan from 1975, before the Shah was overthrown until 2002. The protagonist starts out as a young boy in Kabul, Afghanistan in 1975. His father, a wealthy and generous entrepreneur, is able to bless many others. They live in a lovely home with a garden large enough to also contain a small shack which houses their servant and his son, who are Pashtuns and Sunni Muslims. The Pashtun people are typically servants to the Hazara, Shi’a Muslims, considered a lower class, and openly discriminated against. In this case, however, there is a close personal tie between these two fathers and sons. It is not until near the end of the almost 400 page novel that the true nature of their relationship is revealed.

Kite running was an annual competition in Kabul in which young boys made and flew kites held by glazed strings. Competitors would cut down others’ kites with these glazed strings over the course of several hours until finally only one was left flying. Kite runners would run after that kite and whoever retrieved it where it came down would take it home and mount it on their wall. Sounds like an innocent game but it reveals the evil natures of some and the extreme faithfulness of the servant/friend of the protagonist.

Through this competition and other, increasingly more adult and horrific events over the years, the author skillfully brings out themes of human relationships and connections and human nature, including jealousy, power struggles, kindness, deep regret, redemption, and relationships with God. The changing political powers in Afghanistan cause living conditions for all to progressively worsen as evil and fear grips the country.

Ending up in America, the protagonist and his father are reduced to poverty, but by persistent hard work together they make their way. Life is not easy and America is not heaven. There is poverty of spirit until truth, regret, and life-threatening cleansing redemption occur.