Customer Reviews:
 An Epic November 24, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Told in breath taking prose, this is an epic story of family, friendship, and redemption. Hosseini gives us a good sense of what Afghanistan was like both pre and post Taliban, the good, the bad, and the devastating.
Khaled Hosseini was the reader of this audio book. At first his reading seemed a bit choppy to me however, within the first few chapters he spoke pitch perfect. I felt as if I was right there, in the story.
I saw the movie version, which I liked a lot. If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and see it. However, the even better treat, is this book! Highly recommended. I am looking forward to reading A Thousand Splendid Suns!
 Light and Darkness in Afghanistan October 18, 2008
Opening in Afghanistan in the mid-seventies, this novel tells the story of a young Afghani man's struggle to win his father's approval, against a background of his country's turbulent politics, where control passes through the hands of various kings into those of Russia, and finally into the hands of the religiously fanatical Taliban.
Yet to me the appeal of the story lies not the changes of government, nor in the depiction of a different, Islamic culture, but in the all too human story of the hero, Amir, as he is caught in his own personal turmoil. Love, fear and ambition war together, and the price of his success is betrayal and guilt. Were he to have acted out his life in any other time, place or culture, it would have made little difference. The happiness and pain of his life are personal, and the background of violent change from feudalism to communism to theocracy remains just that - a background.
This sets me to thinking - as a good novel should, - that we are all much the same. Skin colour can change, the language in which we express our belief in God, or the lack of it. Though these change, the essentials of our lives do not.
It seems to me that the real politics, the real struggle in life, is between two spirits. One is optimistic and cheerful, that recognises love and says to strive for a better world, and one is dark and full of fear, and says to lash out and hurt, and destroy the world in hatred and despair.
These two are universal, and greater than all differences in culture or religion, and this novel speaks to me because I find that these two spirits also live in me, and battle with each other.
Graham Worthington, author, Wake of the Raven
non-stop July 16, 2008
I could not put this book down, and I am a very busy mom!!! Great story!
Never would have thought... June 8, 2008
This is a book that I never would have set out to purchase myself, but a friend insisted that I read it. Wow! Definitely one of the best books I have ever read. A page-turner, suspenseful and heart-felt. A world I honestly did not know a lot about, but am so very glad I took the time to read up on. It was a simple read and difficult to put down. I hope that my children will read this book in a couple of years when they are older...I believe this is a story that all parents will appreciate, and all children need to be made aware of.....highly, highly recommended.
Amazing! March 28, 2008
I don't think I've ever read a book that was so moving and so surprising. There were times where I was in such awe because of what happened in the story! I'm surely gonna remember this book!
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