9 Times Our Heart Broke While Reading "The Kite Runner"

The Kite Runner Cover

Author Khaled Hosseini has his own way of captivating a reader's attention in his books. “The Kite Runner” was his first novel, and rightfully, a best-seller. There are so many instances where you absolutely have to stop reading, because most of the time, your heart cannot just take more of it. And that is the beauty of this novel. It holds your attention so much that you get to be a part of it.  

"For you, a thousand times over."

"The Kite Runner” is set in Afghanistan, at a time when the Taliban regime was about to end, and the location shifts to California in the later part of the story. Stressing upon a friendship, a father-son relationship, and bullying due to racial differences, the novel is bound to break your heart more times than you can think of. And if you have already read it, here are a few instances that were heartbreaking to us:-

1. Hassan being bullied by Assef. The novel emphasises on the fact that Assef was a violent bully, and he had bullied Hassan in extreme ways, for being a Hazara, a different race than his, that he considered inferior. And when I say that he was bullied in an extreme way, I mean it.

2. When Amir knows of Hassan being bullied but doesn't ever do anything to help him, just because he is too coward. What's more? He tries to stay away from Hassan because of his own guilt.

3. When Amir planted money under Hassan's mattress and then falsely proving to his father that he is a thief. All because he thought of getting rid of his guilt by getting rid of Hassan. Not that it happened.

4. Amir says nothing when Hassan leaves for Hazarajat. 

5. All was well and good when Amir and Soraya married, but quite soon after, the situation is marred by the further revelation of the fact that Soraya can never be a mother.


6. The death news of Hassan, his wife, and his father Ali. It is Rahim Khan who brought in the news to Amir. Amir also gets to know of Hassan's son, Sohrab, who was in an orphanage.

7. When Rahim finally tells all the truth about Hassan to Amir. Not getting into the details of what the truth was because that's going to be a spoiler, and let's keep it as it is for those who are yet to read it. Just that, the truth will break your heart. But not just the truth. It is the fact that the truth has been spoken when Hassan, his father, Amir's father have all died. It is at a point when there is nothing to fight for anymore, when he finally gets to know the reason why he should have fought.

8. The fact that the Taliban took away Sohrab. And as if this wasn't enough, guess who the Taliban Chief is. Assef.

9. Sohrab tries committing suicide by the thought of going back to the orphanage. After being in terrible conditions in the orphanage earlier and later being taken away by Assef, he didn't want to get back to an orphanage.

"There is only one sin, and that is theft... When you lie, you steal someone's right to the truth."

Somehow, a part of me will never get over this novel. So if you haven't read it till now, you absolutely need to read it! And if you have already read it, let know of all the things you liked about the novel in the comment box below. This post was a result of a collaboration. Details can be found in the Instagram post regarding this blogpost.

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