The Reading Challenge Group discussion

The Kite Runner is perhaps one of the best known Middle Eastern books published in the recent years.

Discussion starts Feb 1st!

Read this last year and was blown away by the plot, the characters, and most of all the superb storytelling! Definitely on my favorites list. I have his other book A Thousand Splendid Suns and will probably read that this year. Enjoy!

I haven't read this, Hosseini's most famous book, but I have read Splendid Suns. It was absolutely fabulous. The writing just envelopes you from the first page and you can't put it down. Even when your eyes are so swollen from crying that you can't see the the words. Seriously. It's that good.

Its one of those big books it seems everyone but me has read

I've got it but hadn't gotten around to reading this. Excited that it's the February read.

I'm so glad this one was picked because I've had it sitting on my physical bookshelf for months now.

May I be the discussion leader for this one?

That would be great, Jenny. Thanks for volunteering!

just borrowed this from the library. I will start it this week.

Your welcome Renne! When should I start posting prompts?

Just started reading this book and I can't put it down! I don't know how this slipped under my radar.

Tina, how far are you in the book?

Ok, does it bother anyone else the way Ali and Hassan are treated? I'm only at chapter five, and already dislike Amir for several things he has done to Hassan such as He makes Hassan shine mirrors in the neigbors house, shoot stones at the neigbors dog, shoot stones at the nonads camels, tells him words mean something completly different than they do, prevents him from going with his fater and him to the lake and makes him take the blame for everything

I am on chapter 10. I am sadden by how Hassan was treated.

I completly agree. It seems like Ali was not treated much better by Baba either though. Sure, he keeps him there, but he still has him as a servant in a hut, and does not bother with school for either Ali or Hassan and never calls him friend.

I agree. Seems like the son mimics how the father treats his servant.

Hello! I didn't notice the thread so couldn't comment earlier - I've already read this novel but I'd love to join the discussion, if that's OK. It's amazing, you'll love it!

Also I think Amir not only copies Baba's actions, but the rest of the Pashtun society and their dislike towards Hazaras.

Of course Val and yes that us true how Amir imitates everyones attitudes towards Hazaras. It just bothers me hiw he always reasons it all away by "Oh Hassan is just a Hazara"
So what do you all think about the handeling of the characterization? Do any stand out as good or bad so far? Any cliches with any of them so far? Any favarite quotes?

So far, for me at least, most of the characters seam pretty much one deminsonal. Baba is distant, Amir is cowardly, Hassan and Ali are respectiful servants, Rahim is the kindly uncle and Assef and Wali are bullies. Kamal is the only one who changed, but as soon as he did he died.
My favarite quote so far is Baba's about sin and theft, how every crime is a type of theft.

I hated Assaf. I am almost done the book and I am not sure anything happens to him.

I don't want to spoil the book if you are not as far as I am but there's a part that made me cry on the subway home today.

Jenny wrote: "So far, for me at least, most of the characters seam pretty much one deminsonal. Baba is distant, Amir is cowardly, Hassan and Ali are respectiful servants, Rahim is the kindly uncle and Assef and Wali are bullies. Kamal is the only one who changed, but as soon as he did he died."

I agree, but I am hoping that we will see more character development as Hassan and Ali become adults.

Yes, it would be nice Chase and Tina I am on page 125 or so

I am on page 296. So much happened. I will wait for you guys to catch up.

Ok! Hope by thursday!

I finished mine today. I really liked it. (view spoiler)[I guess you don't see much character development seeing as Hassan is no longer around but I thought Ali changed a bit. There needed to be more because the good guys are obviously good, and the bad guys are obviously bad and there isn't much depth beyond that. (hide spoiler)]

I am just about.

I would have to say that this is one of my favourite books I think it is very well written and keeps you hooked all the way through.

I think what's most heartbreaking about this story is that it can always get worse. You think something terrible happened but then something even worse happens. I can't understand how it is that anybody can have such bad luck in life. But at the same time I absolutely appreciate how they can stand through it all and keep persevering.

Chase, I agree, although there was a little depth added to Amir. Assef was just bad, as were the other bad people. It was an ok story over all.

Louise- It does have some pretty good writing, I was not really hooked till halfway though.

Val- Yes, there is a lot of bad luck. I think Amir just runs from it though

What is everyone's impressions of the story? Do you think the betrayals of Amir and Baba were bound to happen, seeing as how they involved servants, or was it something else?

I'm halfway through. Such a sad book that is beautifully written.

Renee wrote: "I haven't read this, Hosseini's most famous book, but I have read Splendid Suns. It was absolutely fabulous. The writing just envelopes you from the first page and you can't put it down. Even when ..."

Since I like his writing style, I'll have to try out Splendid Suns as well.

Ugh the book is just annoying me now with its continued depressing developments. It's almost like it's written mainly for shock effect with some of these tragedies. I'm 60% through. Hopefully will be able to finish it tomorrow and see what I think about it in its entirety when it's all done.