One Community, One Book: 2004 Selection
The Kite Runner
by Khaled Hosseini
A story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, “The Kite Runner” describes the rich culture and beauty of a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal and the possibility of redemption. It also demonstrates the power of fathers over sons – their love, their sacrifices, their lies.
The first Afghan novel to be written in English, “The Kite Runner” tells a sweeping story of family, love and friendship against a backdrop of history that has not been told in fiction before, bringing to mind the large canvases of the Russian writers of the nineteenth century. But just as it is old-fashioned in its narration, it is contemporary in its subject by capturing the devastating history of Afghanistan over the last 30 years – from the last days of the monarchy, to the Soviet invasion, and on to the atrocities of the Taliban. “The Kite Runner” invites contemplation of a range of issues, including human rights concerns and aesthetic questions, which will spark lively discussions in a wide array of readers.
Resources
A list of discussion questions is available.
Sponsors
In addition to The University of Iowa Center for Human Rights, other project sponsors are the UI International Writing Program, Prairie Lights Books, Coralville Public Library, The Gazette, Hancher Auditorium, Iowa Book LLC, Iowa City Human Rights Commission, Iowa City Public Library, UI Charter Committee on Human Rights, UI International Programs and University Book Store. The West High School Library is also participating.