Highest Rated Review by the Community
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community Aug 8, 2006
Pros: Compelling read
Cons: the end wrapped up too quickly.
Summary: My wife has been encouraging me to read this book ever since she finished it a number of months ago. She loved it. The past weekend afforded me some time to start the book and because I became so drawn into the story, I made the time to finish it. I ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jun 1, 2008
Pros: Wonderful characters in a fascinating setting.
Cons: A final third that's a little too contrived
Summary: This first novel, from an Afghanistan immigrant, feels like a memoir. I had to wonder how much of it was fiction, and how much came from Hosseni's own life, particularly the early passages. Either way, it is a stirring work and a wonderfully fast and ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Oct 24, 2007
Pros: Real characters and vivid writing
Cons: Predictable and slow story; not a culturally rich as I hoped
Summary: Early this year, I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns. I was mesmerized by the book and decided as soon as I finished to read The Kite Runner as well. I'm sorry to say this one ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Mar 17, 2007
Pros: Engaging narrative about Afghani culture in the first part
Cons: One ridiculous twist after another - becomes laughable before too long
Summary: Anyone who plays video games will tell you Final Fantasy IV is one of the all-time greats. There's a scene in Final Fantasy IV in which the main character, Cecil, gets shipwrecked and washes ashore in a kingdom his troops had recently terrorized. The ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jun 22, 2006
Pros: A very human story of guilt and redemption
Cons: At times difficult to read
Summary: I can remember times when I was a kid that I saw something happening that I knew shouldn't be happening. Usually it was something like cheating on a test or someone getting picked on. Like most kids, I rarely did anything to stop the infraction. It ... read more
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Rated a Somewhat Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Apr 3, 2006
Pros: Well-written and highly engrossing.
Cons: The young boy suffers needlessly in the end.
Summary: I was given this book by my sister for my 35th birthday. I had it sitting on the shelf for a few weeks. Then I started reading it and became completely absorbed in the story. It is a beautifully written fictional story about the friendship ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Apr 2, 2006
Pros: Prose.
Cons: That's all.
Summary: The film C
loser's
most wretched quality was that it tried too hard to be realistic. Yes, people do talk about sex. But does it fill every millisecond of every conversation? Do humans, without queue, effuse every ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Nov 22, 2005
Pros: Very engrossing tale, will give you a new perspective on a tough world.
Cons: Too many coincidences. Some loose ends.
Summary: When I was growing up in India, we would have discussions about partition of British India, which resulted in the formation of Pakistan. How things might have been different if this had not happened was the common theme. We would wish that the two ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Oct 14, 2005
Pros: Explains Afghanistan culture and life of Baba the father and his son Amir.
Cons: Some violence was necessary to explain the country during a trying time.
Summary: This book The Kite Runner is another recommendation from my Book Club for our November meeting. Although I first thought it was a non-fiction book about Afghanistan I soon learned it was the first novel by Khaled Hosseini an Afghanistan native. ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Aug 10, 2005
Pros: Beautifully written, interesting/unique plot and characters, moving story, suspenseful
Cons: none
Summary: Every so often, I read a book that has a real impact on me. I get a lot of book recommendations, but everyone’s taste in literature is different, so I never know what to expect. I had heard some of the buzz and accolades surrounding The Kite ... read more
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Rated a Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Aug 1, 2005
Pros: One learns about Afghanistan's recent troubles through the lives of ordinary humans experiencing them.
Cons: Some parts of the ending may seem to come together too perfectly.
Summary: Khaled Hosseini's debut novel, "The Kite Runner," is a compelling story told through the eyes of Amir, the son of Baba, a wealthy, charismatic Kabul businessman. Hosseini paints a vivid illustration of the boy's life from his 70s childhood in Afghanistan ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jul 24, 2005
Pros: Interesting and easy read. Completely different than any other book I've read.
Cons: Not a single one!
Summary: Wow. The Kite Runner is a book I won’t soon forget. No twisted, convoluted, connect the dots type of plotlines—no unrealistic, almost unbelievable characterizations—no neatly wrapped up ending and happily ever after group hugs. The Kite ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
May 18, 2005
Pros: a riveting story; well-written; utterly believable characters
Cons: so realistic it's harrowing (not really a con, but maybe not for the faint-hearted?)
Summary: To all outward appearances, Amir is a lucky boy. He lives in the most beautiful house in an affluent neighbourhood of Kabul. His Baba is a wealthy merchant, a well-loved and highly-respected man. Young Amir has as constant companion a boy his own ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 11, 2005
Pros: Well-developed and believable characters, nearly great writing
Cons: The ending is slightly weaker than the rest of the book.
Summary: The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini's powerhouse debut novel, was recommended to me by a friend whose literary tastes I'd never previously had the opportunity to compare with my own. It's always reassuring to me when I find that someone I respect ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 8, 2005
Pros: Beautifully written, engaging and moving; well-rounded characters; fascinating look at Afghanistan past and present.
Cons: None.
Summary: The Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini. 324 pages (2003) Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (Paper); London. ISBN: 0 7475 566533 Intro It is rare to come across novels about Afghanistan, and when this book appeared on the new releases shelf at the ... read more
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Rated a Somewhat Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jan 31, 2005
Pros: Excellent look at a different culture that is typically unattainable to westerners.
Cons: The coincidences that tie the story together are a bit fantastic in the end.
Summary: I found this book gripping, not only was the story interesting but the cultural details foreign to most American's experience added a level of interest and education. Toward the end of the book, circumstances turned out a bit too fantastic for belief ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jul 11, 2004
Pros: Gripping, moving, definitely a page turner
Cons: None
Summary: I wouldn't ordinarily have chosen this book to read. It was the first suggested as a good book discussion book at the UU Fellowship I'm member of however. I'm an American mom... I usually connect with a character and I wondered how I could connect to an ... read more
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- Express Reviews
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Rated Show by the Epinions community Jan 30, 2007
Pros: A novel that has historical background.
Cons: There are no negative concerns.
Summary: I picked up this book not having heard anything about the story. I was drawn into the story and the characters within a few pages. It is a haunting and beautiful novel. I read several weeks ago and I still think about the characters. Take the time to
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Rated Show by the Epinions community Oct 14, 2006
Pros: Will make people analyze their own friendships.
Cons: Might make you cry...
Summary: When I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. This book will captivate you until the very last page. This is a book about true friendship and regret. After reading this book, you may start to analyze yourself and your friendships. This
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Rated Show by the Epinions community Apr 21, 2005
Pros: Colorful and lasting descriptions. The narrator's genuine introspection. Love the ironic ending.
Cons: none really
Summary: Kite Runner was recommended by a friend though I rarely read fiction. It was difficult to put the book down in many instances. The colorful slice of life descriptions and the narrator's introspection was not overly garnished. In many instances it
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