The Kite Runner is probably on my all-time top 10 list of favorite or most memorable books. Before reading it, I, of course, had heard how wonderful it was, but it didn’t sound like something I wanted to read to take my mind off of my busy life as a stay-at-home mom of two young children.
In the summer of 2005, I finally purchased it and took it with me on our beach vacation. I knew it wasn’t exactly light beach-reading fare, but vacations are when I was typically able to get in a lot of reading, and I wanted to read something good, so into my beach bag it went.
Once I started it, I couldn’t put it down. I was drawn into Hassan’s and Amir’s world: young men growing up in Afghanistan in the late 70’s. It’s a novel of friendship and love, of insecurity and submission, fighting for one’s place and shying away from what is right. It’s a novel about regret and restoration.
Since it’s been many years and even more books since I read it, I didn’t remember the details, which made it an interesting experience. I remembered a couple of the basic plot points, but there were so many that had completely slipped my mind, for which I was grateful. I remembered being especially touched by the move to America and their time there but had forgotten much of what happened beforehand and after.
I loved the comfort of re-reading, for it is a comfort, but it was a perfect combination of the familiar and rediscovering many things as if for the first time.
We are hosting this giveaway of The Kite Runner, 10th anniversary edition sponsored by the publisher to help spread the word about Khaled Hosseini’s new book And the Mountains Echoed which comes out May 21. I can’t wait!
If you’d like to win a copy of The Kite Runner, just leave a comment here. Tell me if this will be your first time to read it or if like me, you want to re-read it. We’ll announce the winner in our book review giveaway column on April 3. The giveaway is closed.
- The winner of Jacqueline Winspear Maisie Dobbs giveaway is #5 Diane.
- The winner of The Girls’ Guide to Love and Supper Clubs is #4 Pearl.
Check out our current giveaways. Subscribe to our feed. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter or on Facebook.
It’s proabably unlikely I will win as the first comment! However I do want to read it and it will be my first time. I know it will be worth it as I have heard it is an amazing book!
Thank you for reminding me of a book I heard so much about and do want to read!
Thanks for this memorable book giveaway. I want to read this great novel.
Recently read A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini and would like to try The Kite Runner and, when published, And the Mountains Echoed . Thank you for the giveaway.
I would appreciate the Kite Runner and am looking forward to And The Mountains Echoed soon.
Anne–
You won this book! Congrats. Please reply to this email with your shipping address.
I have never read it, but i would like to. Thanks.
I am embarassed because I have never heard of this book. I would like to read it and hopefully enjoy it as much as you do.
I have heard of both of these books but haven’t had a chance to read them. I am very interested in Middle Eastern culture. Your review is great. It sounds like the Kite Runner covers a lot of emotions.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
Ooooh, ooooh, oooh! Don’t enter me as I already own it, but this is one of my all-time favorite books as well! I was a little disappointed in his second book, but am holding out great hope for the third to be in the class of the first. I have it pre-ordered! 🙂
Actually, this would be my first time to read
The Kite Runner…
Many thanks, Cindi
I’ve been wanting to read this for years and have heard so many great things about it. Thanks for the chance to win!
My wife has just finished this and said it was excellent so I may grab it off her after reading your review. Many thanks. I’ll report back when I finish.
I heard about this book(movie) but never read.
I loved this book, I read it around Christmas a couple of years back in a ski resort in Eastern Europe.
This would be my first time reading it; I’ve heard very good things about it and would like to check it out.
it would be my first time reading it
This will be my first time to read it. I have heard a lot of good things about this book. Thanks!
It would be my first time reading it. It sounds like a great book.