My husband received The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini as a gift from his cousin several years ago. He never read it and had put it in a pile to bring to the used book store a couple of times, but I always stopped him saying that I would like to read it…someday.
Someday came last weekend when we went to the beach for the weekend. Not your classic beach read, I know, but then I’ve always been a bit contrary.
For instance, though it sounded interesting, I didn’t read The Kite Runner for ages precisely because so many people loved it so much. I am always skeptical about movies / books that get such rave reviews because even though something might be every bit as good as people say, once my expectations are raised, I’m inevitably disappointed. Too much hype isn’t always a good thing.
I’m glad to that I finally picked up The Kite Runner though. The first several pages of my paperback edition are filled with glowing reviews more thoughtfully written than anything I have the mental energy to come up with. Instead I’ll write a few of my gut reactions.
I was pleasantly surprised by the writing style; I’d been expecting a more challenging, obscure literary style and instead found very straight-forward and entertaining storytelling. I also found it engaging on a cultural level – though I’ve never visited Afghanistan, much of what was described in the book was similar to the culture of the Middle East, where I have lived for a decade. I don’t want to give anything away in case there is actually someone out there who hasn’t read the book yet, but it’s a wonderful human story about weakness, mistakes, regret, and redemption.
I read the book in two days and even convinced my husband that he ought to finally read it.
No reading in my immediate future – today I’m hosting an early birthday party for my daughter and having twelve 9-10 year old girls over to spend the afternoon dancing in my living room. It’s going to be a long afternoon!
Looooong afternoon, true. But you’re a good mommy!
by Mama Pea May 21st, 2010 at 1:48 pm