The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a powerful and emotionally resonant debut novel that follows Amir, a young boy from Kabul, and his complex friendship with Hassan, the son of his father's servant. Set against the backdrop of Afghanistan's turbulent history — from the fall of the monarchy through the Soviet invasion, the rise of the Taliban, and beyond — the novel explores themes of betrayal, guilt, class, ethnicity, and the possibility of redemption. Hosseini's vivid storytelling and compassionate portrayal of Afghan life and culture brought the country's human stories to a global audience. A deeply moving and important novel that has sold over 38 million copies worldwide.