The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, follows Amir, a privileged boy in 1970s Kabul, and his loyal friend Hassan, the son of his father's servant. Their childhood bond shatters when Amir witnesses Hassan's assault and fails to intervene, an act of betrayal that haunts him forever. Fleeing to America after the Soviet invasion, Amir carries his guilt into adulthood. Years later, he returns to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan to rescue Hassan's son, finally seeking redemption. A powerful story of friendship, betrayal, guilt, and forgiveness, the novel vividly portrays Afghanistan's turbulent history while exploring how the past permanently shapes and defines us.
