Name: De vliegeraar
Rating: 4.261725067385445 (1855 reviews)
ISBN: 9789023426967

Khaled Hosseini

Miebeth van Horn

Een Afghaanse vluchteling in de Verenigde Staten wordt geconfronteerd met het verleden toen hij als kind een hechte band had met de zoon van zijn huisbediende, totdat een gruwelijk voorval hen voorgoed uit elkaar dreef.

De vliegeraar

sin h.

Amalie Elisabeth

Maryam

Aleena Khan

Sarah Campbell

fabiha

Elena Menendez

Pour toi, un millier de fois, m'entendis-je déclarer.

"Children aren't coloring books. You don't get to fill them with your favorite colors."

Huddled together in the dining room and waiting for the sun to rise, none of us had any notion that a way of life had ended. 

 way of life. If not quite yet, then at least it was the beginning of the end.

Baba and I lived in the same house, but in different spheres of existence. Kites were the one paper-thin slice of intersection between those spheres. 

Maybe Baba would even read one of my stories. I'd write him a hundred if I thought he'd read one.

The streets glistened with fresh snow and the sky was a blameless blue. 

 it, even more than in times of peace.”

jakuzi

arkamızda hareketlenen, itişip kakışan çocuklar; ağaçların üstünde yalpalayan, başıboş uçurtmanın peşine çığlık çığlığa düşen bir grup uçurtma avcısı. gözlerimi kırpıştırdım, tebessüm silindi. ama oradaydı. onu görmüştüm. "uçurtmayı senin için yakalamamı ister misin?"* diye sordum. yutkunurken, âdem elması inip çıktı. rüzgâr saçlarını karıştırdı. başını evet anlamında salladığını gördüm. 

"senin için bin tane olsa yakalarım."* dediğimi duydum. 

sonra döndüm, koşmaya başladım. yalnızca bir gülümsemeydi, hepsi bu. her şeyi düzeltmiş değildi. hiçbir şeyi düzeltmemişti.* belli belirsiz bir tebessüm. minicik bir şey. ormandaki bir yaprak; ansızın havalanan bir kuşun kıpırdattığı bir yaprak. ama kollarımı ardına kadar açıp onu kucaklayacağım. bağrıma basacağım. çünkü bahar gelince, karların tek tek, tane tane eridiğini biliyorum; belki de ilk kar tanesinin eriyişine tanık oldum. koştum. peşinde avaz çığlık bir çocuk sürüsü, deliler gibi koşan, yetişkin bir erkek. ama umurumda bile değil. yüzümü kamçılayan rüzgâra karşı, dudaklarımda pençer vadisi kadar geniş bir tebessüm, koştum, koştum.

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, caught in the tragic sweep of history, The Kite Runner transports readers to Afghanistan at a tense and crucial moment of change and destruction. A powerful story of friendship, it is also about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

Since its publication in 2003 Kite Runner has become a beloved, one-of-a-kind classic of contemporary literature, touching millions of readers, and launching the career of one of America’s most treasured writers.
source: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/83013/the-kite-runner-essential-edition-by-khaled-hosseini/

The Kite Runner

I have read it in one day. In one go. Absolutely brilliant, thoughtful, emotionally overwhelming and tragic story.

Victoria Denisova

I became what I am today at the age of twelve. I remember the precise moment, crouching behind a mud wall on a frigid winter day in 1975 . . . looking into a deserted alley. It's wrong what they say about the past, about how you can bury it, because the past claws its way out. I realize I've been looking into that alley for the last 26 years. Afghanistan is a divided country on the verge of war and two childhood friends are about to be torn apart. It's a beautiful afternoon in Kabul and the skies are full of the excitement and joy of a kite flying tournament. But neither Hassan or Amir can foresee the terrible incident which will shatter their lives forever. Khaled Hosseini's first and international best-selling novel has now been adapted into a stunning stage adaptation by Matthew Spangler. This edition was published for the production at Wyndham's Theatre, London, from 21 December 2016.

Hana Hansan

I don’t think I’ll ever forget this book. It completely broke my heart and put it back together. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in just a few days, even though it’s not a fast-paced story. Khaled Hosseini has an incredible gift for making every character feel painfully real—I felt every emotion as if I were living in their shoes. Beautiful, devastating, and unforgettable.

Afghanistan, 1975: Twelve-year-old Amir is desperate to win the local kite-fighting tournament and his loyal friend Hassan promises to help him. But neither of the boys can foresee what will happen to Hassan that afternoon, an event that is to shatter their lives. After the Russians invade and the family is forced to flee to America, Amir realises that one day he must return to Afghanistan under Taliban rule to find the one thing that his new world cannot grant him: redemption.

Stella M

Actual rating: 4.5/5 ⭐ This book is definitely a new favorite and will be sticking with me for a long time. I knew this book is going to hurt me, and it did - ten-fold.  As someone who studies IR, we sometimes study historical events in an objective manner - often detached from the horrors that happened to the people who lived through it. Hence, this book is like a splash of cold water for me, making me realize that there are individual lives who experienced the turmoil, whose lives were adversely changed. In terms of the characters, I hated Amir. However, I also felt sympathy for him at some points in the book - thinking that his actions are a product of his social disposition. Bottom line is, I feel like he got his long overdue karma.  There's so much to say about this book... it provided a lens on the cultural, religious, and social demarcations in Afghanistan. It also enunciated the individual-level experiences of Afghanis. Side note, this really piqued my interest in understanding Afghanistan's history further - specifically from the Soviet occupation to the Taliban. All in all, this is definitely not my last Hosseini.

though they try really hard to make u think otherwise the mc has 0 character growth

vindhya

Emilia Frisby

I did like this book, but I saw another review saying it's the kind of book that people read to feel worldly and I can't disagree but read it for school and it was one of the better books that i've read for school.

Twelve-year-old Amir is desperate to gain the approval of his father and resolves to win the local kite-fighting tournament, to prove that he has the makings of a man. His loyal friend Hassan promises to help him - for he always helps Amir - but this is 1970s Afghanistan and Hassan is merely a low-caste servant who is jeered at in the street, although Amir feels jealous of his natural courage and the place he holds in his father's heart. But neither of the boys could foresee what would happen to Hassan on the afternoon of the tournament, which was to shatter their lives. After the Russians invade and the family is forced to flee to America, Amir realises that one day he must return to find the one thing that his new wold cannot grant him: redemption.
-back cover

Edwin Lang

December 29, 2013 good – 3 stars The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini I took lots of notes while I read this, basically over the Christmas holidays, and found it a challenging but enjoyable read. After reading Monica Ali’s Brick Lane, and just this week, Sun-Mi Hwang’s The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly, I have become so intrigued by the diversity of the viewpoints of authors like Monica Ali and Khaled Hosseini that it’s my goal (for 2014) to make a concerted effort to read much more international literature than I have in the past (next is a book by Lisa See). I had the sense of history unfolding in the story and in that way it was an authentic tale of life in Afghanistan and in Pakistan and to a lesser degree of the life of immigrants in Western world countries. Monica Ali was more explicit, I think, in describing the desire of members of her book’s community wanting and hoping – dreaming – of one day going back home. There was in Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, a sense that there was no such possibility. That their watan is being destroyed by their own countrymen, but not in the sense of how Nazism destroyed Germany, in a seemingly temporary way from which Germans and the world could recover, but in a permanent manner, irrevocably as if the country comprises only sociopaths like Assef. We know this, as readers, but it is nonetheless interesting to read of it from Hosseini’s pen: that there seems lacking no hope that people can rise up and say No! Enough! It seems the Afghani’s lack Sun-Mi Hwang’s Sprout’s spirit, that they lack even Hassan’s spirit. It’s in this sense then that I found The Kite Runner frustrating: that while it was a good story, compelling, interesting, engaging, it didn’t speak truthfully as to why, for example, even the great Baba, with all his talent, had to flee: That he ended up, huddled on a truck, to Pakistan seemed to undermine everything he stood for, and this so that in America he would manage a gas station. Would it not have been far better for Baba, and General Sahib and Rahim Khan to mount some kind of Résistance to the Taliban, to the Assef’s takeover of Afghanistan, rather than simply run away? I found myself criticizing Khaled Hosseini’s writing in the Kite Runner as being too safe, that it seemed that author had to be careful not to ruffle the feathers of his community members, where in the West Bank recently ‘extended members of the woman’s family accused her (a young woman) of disgraceful and outrageous acts’ and such was the pressure her father felt compelled to appease the community (who had posted demands / petitions in five local mosques that he act to restore the family and community’s honour) and he did so by strangling, in a cold blooded conscious decision, his daughter to death. I would like author's like Hosseini's to take a stand: we are indeed cowards and this is why, and I was left frustrated that he didn't wrestle with such existential questions but felt seemingly comfortable skimming the edge with a story, albeit a good one. And this may be the gist of the issue: that to do so might result in his expulsion from his community, and could there be worse torture, a worse way to die, than that? In the Central Africa Republic this weekend, as reported by Paul Schemm, as Muslim – Christian violence escalated due to the Seleka’s takeover of the country in order to install A Muslim president in a majority (85%) Christian nation, some Christians in frustration razed a mosque, stating that all mosques should be and proclaimed ‘theirs is a culture of hat, we aren’t like that, all the mosques must go”. It is time that authors like Khaled Hosseini and Monica Ali, and good people like Baba, need to take a stand and speak more forcefully to the truth. Edwin

Abdelaziz Almulla

If you are planning on reading The Kite Runner, then get ready for an emotional rollercoaster. The book is filled with happiness, sadness, love, and desperation. The story is told from the point of view of Amir, the protagonist of the story. In the story, he talks of his early life in Afghanistan, until 1980 when he moves to America with his father and finds a new life. The book will take you through the beautiful childhood friendship of Amir—the son of a rich Pashtun businessman—and Hassan—the son of a Hazarat servant. You will see in their friendship a lot of innocence, like most childhood friendships are. However, a devastating event—in the winter of 1975—separates the two boys, after which, the story unfolds. Amir, in America, gets a call from his father’s old friend Rahim Khan. He tells him he’s sick, dying, and needs Amir to come to him in Pakistan. Amir decides to go to Pakistan to visit Rahim Khan, but little did he know Rahim Khan intended more for Amir than just a visit. Amir, after the news that Rahim Khan revealed to him, embarks on a new journey.

Nadine MacDonald

so heart wrenching but such a worthwhile read. great story. Had I not been super busy the last few weeks I would have whipped through it in no time. I did finish it in like three sittings

THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER 'Devastating' Daily Telegraph 'Heartbreaking' The Times 'Unforgettable' Isabel Allende 'Haunting' Independent Afghanistan, 1975: Twelve-year-old Amir is desperate to win the local kite-fighting tournament and his loyal friend Hassan promises to help him. But neither of the boys can foresee what will happen to Hassan that afternoon, an event that is to shatter their lives. After the Russians invade and the family is forced to flee to America, Amir realises that one day he must return to Afghanistan under Taliban rule to find the one thing that his new world cannot grant him: redemption.

This might be my favorite book of the year… the plot itself and its historical elements are written so beautifully. It’s truly devastating and heartbreaking :-')

خير

Lovac na zmajeve

Natalija

the parrarels killed me so delicate and beautiful

Haley

One of the best written books of modern times without a doubt. It’s heart-wrenching and evocative. Every character is complex and realistic which makes every sentence of the book as gripping as the last. Took me 10 years to reread the book and it was just as devastating as the first time. After finishing the book, you will sit in silence with a heaviness in your heart as you peel back the layers of the story.

what it means to be a brother—khaled hosseini, as always, writes with a careful craftsmanship, weaving a story of brothers and fathers, of unbreakable faith, of crushing guilt and the cruelty of violence and survival. 

love love love this book so much, from the vivid imagery to the beautiful story! it gives good insight on afghanistan culture and politics, and of the life of immigrants weary from war. poignant and moving. khaled hosseini will always be one of my favorite writers! 

jade shen

what it means to be a brother—khaled hosseini, as always, writes with a careful craftsmanship, weaving a story of brothers and fathers, of unbreakable faith, of crushing guilt and the cruelty of violence and survival. 

love love love this book so much, from the vivid imagery to the beautiful story! it gives good insight on afghanistan culture and politics, and of the life of immigrants weary from war. poignant and moving. khaled hosseini will always be one of my favorite writers! 

Drachenläufer

Great read while getting to know the old Afghanistan. 

Julian

Emily Lucie

Finia

shen

My favourite book of all time.. while im not a very emotional person myself, i cried reading this. What a book.

“For you a thousand times over” - sobs.

Painful and beautiful - tragic and devastating while also being inspiring and hopeful(?). Would like to read it again in my own time as the first time was for my A Levels English Lang&Lit course which makes me feel like I couldn’t enjoy it as much as I would’ve liked to. 

“For you a thousand times over” - sobs.

Painful and beautiful - tragic and devastating while also being inspiring and hopeful(?). Would like to read it again in my own time as the first time was for my A Levels English Lang&Lit course which makes me feel like I couldn’t enjoy it as much as I would’ve liked to. 

This book was devastating. It exposes the very worst things about the human condition, but still manages to give you hope that people can be good. “For you, a thousand times over” 😭

Kaitlyn Wendler

devastating. loved this book though, a thousand times over.

De vliegeraar

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