Amir and Hassan are best friends in 1970s Afghanistan. Their times spent under the pomegranate tree, lost in the tales of far away lands and warriors are ideal and seemingly untouched by outside forces. For a while, their lives appear perfect, but the real world slowly seeps into their childhood and changes things forever. Finally, the obvious boundaries of social and ethnic classes lay a path that helps lead to the separation between Amir, the son of the household master and Hassan, the son of the master’s servant.

It is Amir who falls under the prey of jealousy and prejudice, leading him to betray his friend in a horrible manner. Amir’s actions destroy their relationship and set in motion the destruction of the meaningful, long-standing bond between Amir’s father, Baba, and Hassan’s father, Ali. It also threatens to further wedge the gap that has existed between Amir and his father who always seems to be just a bit disappointed in his son. Ironically, it is on the same day that Amir finally wins his father’s approval, through the kite running competition, that he tears apart everything else that is good in his life and those around him.

As a result of the invasion of Afghanistan, Amir and Baba move to Northern California, leaving behind their friends, financial security, and social position. Left to their own wits, the two men finally form a bond that failed to develop in their homeland. Amir and his father find a way to make a living in a new land and Amir discovers love. But, the distance and new environment cannot erase Amir’s guilt and the continuing ripple effects. A series of unexpected events finally give Amir a chance to gain some form of redemption and peace. Yet, the question remains – Can we ever fully atone for our transgressions?

…I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975. I remember the precise moment, crouching behind a crumbling mud wall, peeking into the alley near the frozen creek. That was a long time ago, but it’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the past twenty-six years…”

First-time novelist Khaled Hosseini wrote an incredibly gripping and disturbing tale that offers a glimpse into Afghanistan and the changes that have occurred in the past thirty years. The often brutal and consistently brilliant story captures the reader with touches of hope mixed within the vivid tragedies that strike Amir and Hassan’s families. While heartbreaking at times, The Kite Runner is simply wonderful.