The Kite Runner
Registered by allbookedup of Wien Bezirk 21 - Floridsdorf, Wien Austria on 7/6/2005
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
6 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by allbookedup from Wien Bezirk 21 - Floridsdorf, Wien Austria on Wednesday, July 6, 2005
Synopsis
Twelve-year-old Amir is desperate to win the approval of his father and resolves to win the local kite-fighting toumament, to prove that he has the makings of a man. His loyal friend Hassan promises to help him? for he always helps Amir? but this is 1970s Afghanistan and Hassan is merely a low-caste servant who is jeered at in the street, although Amir still feels jealous of his natural courage and the place he holds in his father's heart. But neither of the boys could foresee what would happen to Hassan on the afternoon of the tournament, which was to shatter their lives. After the Russians invade and the family is forced to flee to America, Amir realises that one day he must return, to find the one thing that his new world cannot grant him: redemption.
Twelve-year-old Amir is desperate to win the approval of his father and resolves to win the local kite-fighting toumament, to prove that he has the makings of a man. His loyal friend Hassan promises to help him? for he always helps Amir? but this is 1970s Afghanistan and Hassan is merely a low-caste servant who is jeered at in the street, although Amir still feels jealous of his natural courage and the place he holds in his father's heart. But neither of the boys could foresee what would happen to Hassan on the afternoon of the tournament, which was to shatter their lives. After the Russians invade and the family is forced to flee to America, Amir realises that one day he must return, to find the one thing that his new world cannot grant him: redemption.
Journal Entry 2 by allbookedup from Wien Bezirk 21 - Floridsdorf, Wien Austria on Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Wow, what a book!
It took me very long to read, even though it's only 340 pages, but it was so "hard to digest" for me.
So many sad things happened in this book and some descriptions made me wince, the characters had to endure so much hardship...
Still, the overall theme and message is love and hope, I wished for a happy end for young Sohrab so badly!
I have never read any book set in Afghanistan before, so it was also interesting to read about that.
I never heard about the difference between Hazaras (the "servants") and Pashtuns (the "masters") and it must be difficult to understand why there should be a difference, we're all just people, we're all just human.
I think this book is a great piece of work, on so many different levels.
The only thing is, it is really sad, so prepare yourself for that.
I am going to pass this book on to Sunneschii in August.
It took me very long to read, even though it's only 340 pages, but it was so "hard to digest" for me.
So many sad things happened in this book and some descriptions made me wince, the characters had to endure so much hardship...
Still, the overall theme and message is love and hope, I wished for a happy end for young Sohrab so badly!
I have never read any book set in Afghanistan before, so it was also interesting to read about that.
I never heard about the difference between Hazaras (the "servants") and Pashtuns (the "masters") and it must be difficult to understand why there should be a difference, we're all just people, we're all just human.
I think this book is a great piece of work, on so many different levels.
The only thing is, it is really sad, so prepare yourself for that.
I am going to pass this book on to Sunneschii in August.
I got it today ( no.. yesterday.. oops) at Abu´s birthday! Thank you very much, it was a nice day (and thank you for the books)!
I haven't read often in the last weeks, and it normally took me days to finish a book. But not with this one. I read it all in one night, I just couldn't put it away.
I like the people in there, I like the way the story is told.... a wonderful book!
I like the people in there, I like the way the story is told.... a wonderful book!
Journal Entry 5 by Sunneschii at Café Gloria (OBCZ) in Zürich, Zürich Switzerland on Thursday, August 10, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (8/10/2006 UTC) at Café Gloria (OBCZ) in Zürich, Zürich Switzerland
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
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Am Meetup
Am Meetup
I brought the book from a Zurich meet-up some time last year. I am really enthralled by it. It's an amazing story, and the character of the story changes in the middle of the book, but it nevertheless remains interessting, a trait only few authors achieve. I liked the romantic childhood story in the first part of the book and I found the more political second part very interessting - I have since long wanted to read a good book about Afghanistan, and now I had it.
The book has been that praised by everybody ... I couldn't resist as it eventually remained on the stack
This engaging story of corruption, guilt and «the way to be good again» was a real find, methinks. Although the protagonist Amir is a procrastinating coward and rather the opposite of a charming hero; it is easy to follow him through the perilous grounds of Afganistan, when it was subjugated by the Talibs. It is a true page turner.
Though a bit short for the huge amount of war, crime and punishment. The actions happen so fast you hardly follow - that is, sometimes you would like to read more of it, more tiny details, if only to strain the story. Since you wish it would not end so quickly ....
However at the end I was somehow released. Ouch, what an agonizing climax! It took turns and turns to kill those monsters guilt and selfish pride in Amir; little Shoran had nearly to die for it. But ... suicide? An only ten year old boy using razor blades? Ghastly. Seems so far-fetched and unlikely, even considering the circumstances.
Why has to be so much exaggeration in the story line? Why set yet another calamity upon all the calamities (which already drew flows of tears from readers)? It is not enough that one refugee suffocates in the poisonous air of an empty fuel truck: there has to be a wailing father too ... and shooting himself. An orphanage which sells children (for feeding the remaining orphans) is not enough: there has to be a righteous idiot assaulting the superintendent and nearly killing him. Uuh! Orientally blooming Bollywood. One tragedy bears another one. Somehow quite a lot of straining within the small place provided by this novel. And ... eww, why had the author eventually to insert vows and worship? Amir’s way leads from reasonable common sense into superstition ... whatever this means. For that and for the wallowing in bloody drama (not least the disgusting slaughtering of lambs) I give The Kite Runner one point less. ... but here are my three additional points for:
- having written a history of which was never told in fiction before
- a subtle guidance through the rich culture and beauty of a land in the process of downfall and devastation
- successfully ripping my heart into a bloody pulp
Of course I’m eager now to see the pre-praised movie by Our Boy in Hollywood (and hope that Forster skipped the boy’s suicide ;)
... and of course A Thousand Splendid Suns is on my wishlist.
Though a bit short for the huge amount of war, crime and punishment. The actions happen so fast you hardly follow - that is, sometimes you would like to read more of it, more tiny details, if only to strain the story. Since you wish it would not end so quickly ....
However at the end I was somehow released. Ouch, what an agonizing climax! It took turns and turns to kill those monsters guilt and selfish pride in Amir; little Shoran had nearly to die for it. But ... suicide? An only ten year old boy using razor blades? Ghastly. Seems so far-fetched and unlikely, even considering the circumstances.
Why has to be so much exaggeration in the story line? Why set yet another calamity upon all the calamities (which already drew flows of tears from readers)? It is not enough that one refugee suffocates in the poisonous air of an empty fuel truck: there has to be a wailing father too ... and shooting himself. An orphanage which sells children (for feeding the remaining orphans) is not enough: there has to be a righteous idiot assaulting the superintendent and nearly killing him. Uuh! Orientally blooming Bollywood. One tragedy bears another one. Somehow quite a lot of straining within the small place provided by this novel. And ... eww, why had the author eventually to insert vows and worship? Amir’s way leads from reasonable common sense into superstition ... whatever this means. For that and for the wallowing in bloody drama (not least the disgusting slaughtering of lambs) I give The Kite Runner one point less. ... but here are my three additional points for:
- having written a history of which was never told in fiction before
- a subtle guidance through the rich culture and beauty of a land in the process of downfall and devastation
- successfully ripping my heart into a bloody pulp
Of course I’m eager now to see the pre-praised movie by Our Boy in Hollywood (and hope that Forster skipped the boy’s suicide ;)
... and of course A Thousand Splendid Suns is on my wishlist.
Journal Entry 9 by spy-there at Controlled release (Zürich) in -- controlled release --, Zürich Switzerland on Sunday, February 24, 2008
Released 16 yrs ago (2/24/2008 UTC) at Controlled release (Zürich) in -- controlled release --, Zürich Switzerland
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RELEASE NOTES:
on its way to HoneyBunny42 ...
on its way to HoneyBunny42 ...
Today I received this book from spy-there via a kind friend who offered to act as courier (this really adds to the adventure of Bookcrossing :-)
Although I've started to turn the first couple of pages, it will take some time until I will be able to read this book, though...
Although I've started to turn the first couple of pages, it will take some time until I will be able to read this book, though...
Journal Entry 11 by HoneyBunny42 at Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Saturday, April 11, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (4/12/2009 UTC) at Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg Germany
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
The book will become a birthday present for an Australian girl who currently lives in Karlsruhe. Maybe the book will travel to the other side of the world with her?
The book will become a birthday present for an Australian girl who currently lives in Karlsruhe. Maybe the book will travel to the other side of the world with her?
This book was given to me as a birthday gift by my friend. I had already seen the film when I read this book, and I am impressed at how well the film captured the heart of the story. Sometimes I found the characters to be a little lacking in depth, which is strange because the story centres on the complexity of being human. I think maybe this is a novel that people will have very different personal responses too. It was well-written though and I couldn't put it down! Nearly missed my tram stop one more than one occasion :)
Journal Entry 13 by Caitim at Amerikanische Bibliothek in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (4/29/2009 UTC) at Amerikanische Bibliothek in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg Germany
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Away!!
Away!!