A good portion of the books we read in high school are by authors which most of us haven’t heard of. Books with titles that haven’t crossed our paths. This is precisely what makes The Kite Runner different from the majority of books found in a high school classroom.
Not only does the content differ from what most of us are used to, the way it has been received by the public is different as well. The best way to explain this is through example. To begin with, I found this book on one of the shelves in my house, meaning it was good enough for my mom to buy, and not rent from the library. And let me tell you, this is a rare occurrence and it means a lot. The Kite Runner is one of those books that a lot of people are familiar with, even if they haven’t read it. It can start a conversation immediately, and from my experience, these conversations are whole heartedly filled with praise. I was in the car with my friend, her sister, and her mom and we were talking about school and books. I mentioned that we were reading The Kite Runner in English class, and this was immediately followed by sighs of “Oh what a great book,” and other forms of unanimous praise.
It’s hard to know what type of book will arouse such a reaction but I think the emotions in the story make it unforgettable. Khaled Hosseini takes us on a journey filled with love, admiration, guilt, fear, and liberation that is unlike most other experiences I have had with books. I think the praise and acknowledgement it repeatedly receives is completely justified.
A good book usually has great writing, but it needs more than that. It needs an interesting and captivating plotline, and on the same level, a great setting. The Kite Runner brings you to Afghanistan and for many people, this book is the first time their paths have crossed with such a place. The story is a powerful way to introduce the audience to another culture and another people.
Zoe, I agree with you that Kite Runner is much more popular than other books we've read. A point that you make is that Kite Runner is enjoyable for all ages, despite the somewhat mature content. I also think that maybe one of the reasons Kite Runner is so well liked at this moment of time is in fact because of the setting. There is so much conflict currently in Afghanistan, and the U.S. is very involved in it. You are right that many Americans have not experienced the Afghan life, and maybe this book is so popular because now people wish to deepen their understanding of this mysterious life that has become so intertwined in my own.
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