The Kite Runner
by Khaled Hosseini
Riverhead Hardcover, 2007
www.khaledhosseini.com
Sad Stories Make Good Books
The overview:
The Kite Runner is that big famous novel by that Afghan dude who fled after the Soviets invaded and settled in America. Oh yeah, that one those people talked about on my favorite channel. That novel about a return years later during the Taliban days to set old wrongs right.....
The hype:
(left blank, already so comprehensively covered elsewhere)
The counter-hype:
"I used to delight that the Russians were mired down in a Vietnam of their own. But I've just read The Kite Runner! I understand everything now! If only someone would write one to make me feel so much better about Iraq…."
The truth:
Few readers can dislike The Kite Runner:
Crime fans: horrendous crimes? Here they are. Watch how scores get set even.
Literary Snobs: privilege, guilt, cultural awareness, dispossession, identity and isolation, redemption.
Fantasy/sci-fi fans: take a note! This method of world building leaves a fleet of crappy spacecraft in orbit. Readers engage and are drawn into a vivid picture of an alien land.
Discovery Channel fans: See above, As good as a documentary.
Sports fans/outdoorsmen: Early on, they play ball with THE CARCASS OF A DEAD SHEEP! Just like in Rambo III
Romance fans: there are kissy bits, pure and innocent enough for monks.
Mick appreciated The Kite Runner. Picky prick that he is, He has got to point out that The Kite Runner is predictable and repetitive. This novel sets out with points to make, and boy it makes sure they are made. The sound bytes of politicians have more subtlety.
The verdict:
The Kite Runner did engage even as crusty a fuck as Critical Mick. Though he delighted when prompted, and despised when the horrendous violation at the core of this sad story was done, the effort was not enough to win this novel a place amongst the best books Critical Mick read in 2007. He is left not minding having a few beers with the author, though, and distilling whatever occurred therein into an unruly interview.
Man, sometimes secret messages are just plain obvious on the printed page....
Literature prompts people to make changes in their real lives. I suspect, then, that The Kite Runner is real literature. I hope to comes from a genuine source and not a scheming manipulative mind bent on imposing another goddamned government on a nation that just does not need any more interference.......
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Yo! This review and all content on the DFA Guide site are copyright 2007 Mick Halpin. All links to other sites and documents are copyright to whatever source wrote something cool enough for Mick to give it a referral. Try to claim them as your own work and bad karma will catch up with you, baby. Believe it.
Irate, huh? Managed to piss off another one? Direct your hatemail to mick @ mickhalpin dot com.
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