Book Review: The Kite Runner

I just finished reading the epic novel by Khaled Hosseini called The Kite Runner and I am truly shocked by what happened towards the end.  Amir has to go back to the place where he grew up, back where he was happy. Back in the place where he had Baba, Rahim, Hassan, and Ali. It was where he kept his happiest memories, but also the one that scarred him for life.  Anyways, he went back to find Hassan’s son, Sorhab. He found out that Assef, a bully from his childhood who raped his best friend, Hassan, now “owns” Sorhab.  Amir has to fight Assef in order for him to grant Sorhab’s freedom. Assef nearly kills Amir; he bruises his face and destroys many of his bones.  But that was when Sorhab took out his slingshot and aimed it at Assef’s eye, right before he is about to pound Amir’s face. That was when I visualized Hassan doing the same thing for him back in Kabul. It was the same situation; Assef was ready to punch Amir’s face when he whipped out his sling shot. I remembered him taunting Assef, telling him that if he doesn’t leave they would have to call him “One-eyed Assef”.  It’s like Sorhab did both Amir and his father a favor. For Hassan, he did what his father should have done back when he was a kid. He made his father’s words come true; he was now “One-eyed Assef”.  For Amir, he saved his life. Not only that, but the fact that Sorhab stood up for him the same way that Hassan did most likely made Amir tear up, it reminded him of his best friend.  That event made me think of Sorhab as a mini Hassan, or Hassan in his childhood.

Another part of the book which I really like was the end, when Amir runs a kite for the first time in many years. The way Hosseini described it made me remember the day when Amir and Hassan won the kite tournament. It made me remember how skilled Hassan was at running those kites, and all the tricks he knew. I do like the ending. The way Amir introduces kite running to Sorhab, who was very silent at the moment. He gives him the kite, and runs it with him as he thinks of Hassan. The ending for me means that there is still hope for Sorhab to regain the strength he once had, and be happy. Now whenever he goes kite running with Amir, it is a time for both of them to remember Hassan.