Product Description

A deluxe collector's edition of the phenomenally bestselling The Kite Runner, filled with striking and memorable photographs that bring Khaled Hosseini's compelling story to life.

Since its publication in 2003, The Kite Runner has shipped over four million copies and spent more than two years on the New York Times bestseller list. Taking us from Afghanistan in the final days of the monarchy through the horrific rule of the Taliban, The Kite Runner is the heartbreaking story of the unlikely and inseparable friendship between a wealthy Afghan boy and the son of his father's servant, both of whom are caught in the tragic sweep of history. Published in the aftermath of America's invasion of Afghanistan, Khaled Hosseini's haunting writing brought a part of the world to vivid life that was previously unknown.

Now this beautifully produced, collectible hardcover enhances Khaled Hosseini's story with unforgettable color and black-and-white photographs of the people of Afghanistan and their surroundings, further illustrating the world in which the story is set and heightening the already powerful experience of reading this incredible book.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13215 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

About the Author
Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and moved to the United States in 1980. His first novel, The Kite Runner, was an international bestseller, published in forty countries. In 2006 he was named a U. S. envoy to UNHCR, The United Nations Refugee Agency. His second novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, will be published on May 22, 2007. He lives in northern California.

Customer Reviews

Difficult story to read, but worth it
I was given a copy of this book as a gift. I had heard from several people that it's a good book -- a "hard" read, but well worth it. For that reason, I held off reading it, because I just didn't want to read anything "hard" or difficult or upsetting, or whatever, at the time. When I finally did pick it up and started to read it, I couldn't put it down. What an amazing story. Excellent "word pictures." As mentioned above, difficult story to read, but worth it.

What a wonderful book!
I couldn't put this book down! I was so emotionally involved in this book. There were times I couldn't stop reading, yet there were times I didn't want to read anymore. There's no way to predict what's going to happen next. I cried like a baby while I read this book...I felt like I was in 6th grade reading Where the Red Fern Grows again. READ THIS BOOK!

AN INCREDIBLY HONEST STORY OF CRUELTY, GUILT, & FORGIVENESS
One of the best books I've read in years. The author is adept at making you feel rage, disgust, fear, pity, sadness (at one point, I was outright sobbing).

The first third of the book is really hard to read; it was so depressing that I didn't know if I could finish it. But the back cover promised it was a story of redemption, so I plugged on--even though I didn't believe it was possible for Amir to be redeemed. I found myself appalled at his cowardice and his mental cruelty toward Hassan, which seemed to spring from both jealousy and a sense of superiority.

Early in the novel, the young Amir learns what irony means. It's not until near the end of the book that we realize irony was at play all along--Amir felt his blood status made him superior to Hassan; he later learns that they have the same father, the same blood running through their veins.

Khaled Hosseini crafts a wonderful villain. His brutally honest portrayal of Amir's thoughts (and his resurgent guilt) is something few authors could describe so intimately. His creation of the sadomasochist Assef was equally expert.

Because this book is set in today's Afghanistan, the Taliban of course plays a role in the story. Hosseini's descriptions of how this fanatic group has destroyed his country and left its citizens filled with blind dread of the Taliban shows how ignorant Americans are when we say or think that all Muslims are extremists who support terrorism. Like us, they are human beings seeking love, acceptance, friendship, happiness, and, sometimes, forgiveness.