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The Kite Runner

Written by: Khaled Hosseini
Narrated by: Khaled Hosseini
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Publisher's Summary

Taking us from Afghanistan in the final days of its monarchy to the present, The Kite Runner is the unforgettable and beautifully told story of the friendship between two boys growing up in Kabul. Raised in the same household and sharing the same wet nurse, Amir and Hassan grow up in different worlds: Amir is the son of a prominent and wealthy man, while Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant, is a Hazara - a shunned ethnic minority. Their intertwined lives, and their fates, reflect the eventual tragedy of the world around them. When Amir and his father flee the country for a new life in California, Amir thinks that he has escaped his past. And yet he cannot leave the memory of Hassan behind him.

The Kite Runner is a novel about friendship and betrayal, and about the price of loyalty. It is about the bonds between fathers and sons, and the power of fathers over sons - their love, their sacrifices, and their lies. Written against a backdrop of history that has not been told in fiction before, The Kite Runner describes the rich culture and beauty of a land in the process of being destroyed. But through the devastation, Khaled Hosseini offers hope for redemption.

©2003 Khaled Hosseini (P)2003 Simon & Schuster Inc. All Rights Reserved. AUDIOWORKS. is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division. Simon & Schuster Inc.
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What the critics say

  • Alex Award Winner, 2004

"A beautiful novel...ranks among the best-written and most provocative stories of the year." (The Denver Post)
"Powerful first novel...tells a story of fierce cruelty and fierce yet redeeming love." (The New York Times)

Editorial Review

When fate brings two young boys together, the cruel realities of life tear them apart in heartbreaking ways. Friendship, betrayal, and the beauty of hope run deep in this moving novel.

In his powerful first novel, Khaled Hosseini captures the complicated nuances of deep and abiding love and the cruel realities that challenge it. Punctuated by the heartbreaking backdrop of a changing Afghanistan, the friendship between Amir and Hassan is a moving reminder of the humanity that unites us despite circumstances and stations. One with a privileged upbringing, the other, the son of a servant and member of a shunned ethnic minority, Hazara, the boys’ lives are forever intertwined and transformed by the violent end to their once peaceful way of life. The Kite Runner is a testament to the struggles of the Afghan people and shunned ethnic minorities still struggling to conquer violence and tyranny.

But The Kite Runner audiobook isn’t all seriousness and heartbreak. There is a certain humour and warmth that comes from the lively depictions of a peaceful life in Afghanistan and the adventures of two little boys blissfully unaware of the changes to come. New York Times bestselling author Khaled Hosseini, who also wrote A Thousand Splendid Suns, narrates this unabridged version of The Kite Runner. His delivery is the perfect addition to this already great book.

If you want a conversation-stirring pick for a book club or an audiobook to get lost in, this is an excellent pick. The Kite Runner is one of those rare works of literature that takes you to places of untapped emotion and never really leaves you the same.

Featured Article: Inspirational Quotes About Hope

Check out Audible’s list of inspiring quotes about hope. These quotes, passages, and phrases from some of our favourite audiobooks are sure to inspire. The human capacity and need for hope is astounding. It is one of those universal truths that spans age, gender, and location. Everyone knows what it means to feel hopeless, and what it’s like to find that glimmering ray of hope when everything seems lost.

What listeners say about The Kite Runner

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beautiful tragic story

what a gut wrenching story. I cried many times in this book. what a vivid story of a world I couldn't even imagine. I learned so much from this book. I enjoyed the way it was written

the performance was a little hard to follow at times.

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Harrowing

I cried and smiled as the story weaves through time. Hard to put down but equally hard to listen to.

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Exceptional book

I've read this book in print several times and this is my second audiobook listen. Just a superb story.

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ADDICTING!!

Beautifully written, satisfying story. Loved all of the characters and all of their complexities. it started off a little slow, but instantly picked back up. Characters are well thought out, and the events that take place in the plot are so saddening but necessary to read.

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Enjoyable Book

It was an enjoyable book. The twists were on the nose but not bad. I loved all the cultural aspects that I got to learn about throughout the story. It was very immersive.

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Heartbreaking and hopeful

The Kite Runner is both heartbreaking and hopeful. The plot complex enough to keep you reading eagerly until twists and turns guide you to the end. The book also gives relevance to world history and gives you as the reader intense compassion and understanding for the Afghan people. Rich in detail, interest and emotion remain high as one reads this moving and rich novel.

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Thank you

Thank you for this excellent story and performance. I loved it and couldn't put it down.

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Fantastic audiobook

One of the best books in my library – excellent narration by the author!
#Audible1

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A Must Read!

I found myself taking the long way home everyday just to hear more of this book. Definitely worth reading!

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A page turner

this story is so well written and narrated. the author has a gift for connecting the reader to the characters in the book. it brought awareness to the emotional struggle people face while trying to rebuild their lives as refugees

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