The Kite Runner

| 4.50 | 3,120,637 ratings and reviews

Recommended by James Altucher, Vanessa Keng, Magda Marcu, and 4 others. See all reviews

Ranked #1 in Modern Fiction, Ranked #1 in Betrayal — see more rankings.

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in 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; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

A sweeping story of family, love, and friendship told against the devastating backdrop of the history of Afghanistan over the last thirty years, The Kite Runner is an... more
Buy on Amazon

Reviews and Recommendations

We've comprehensively compiled reviews of The Kite Runner from the world's leading experts.

James Altucher Founder/StockPickrExcellent novel. (Source)

Vanessa Keng I've always loved fiction - mainly crime and legal thrillers, but there's something wonderful about reading a completely different style of writing from what I'm used to. I found myself absorbed in the narrative of guilt and love in The Kite Runner, and The Curious Incident told me a story from a completely different perspective. (Source)

Magda Marcu I’m currently reading “The Kite Runner”. I never have expectations from books, I let them surprise me as I get into the story. Learning about characteristics of different cultures, in this case the Afghan one, it’s one aspect I am interested in. (Source)

Ann Miura-Ko [Ann Miura-Ko recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

Rankings by Category

The Kite Runner is ranked in the following categories:

Similar Books

If you like The Kite Runner, check out these similar top-rated books:

Learn: What makes Shortform summaries the best in the world?

Learn More