"The Kite Runner" Book Review: The Vienna Review

The Vienna Review by J. Franz Spiegel

- J. Franz states that the main themes of the book are life, love, brotherhood, and courage
- J. Franz claims that the jealously Amir feels towards Hassan negatively impacts their “friendship”
- J. Franz argues that when Amir chose not to help Hassan in his darkest hour, their “happy family” ended
- J. Franz says that The Kite Runner is a vivid novel full of courage, even though the protagonist, Amir, acts cowardly

Pragmatic – “Bringing the reader to identify with a character so despicable that they shudder to recognise their own empathy.”
- “As the story builds to the climax, the anticipated theme of redemption becomes evident – one of the few predictable segments in the novel.”

Objective – “The Kite Runner is a relief from the political and historical take of much of today’s fiction on the Middle East.”
- “The story takes nail-biting twists and turns, briefly adopting Dan Brown’s story-telling style.”

Expressive – “Amir’s character can also be read as a version of the author’s younger self; some experiences seem too vivid to be imagined.”
- “The author’s simple language is surprisingly effective in explaining the complexity of emotions, characters and dynamics which could exist in any culture.”

Mimetic – “It begins in Afghanistan’s relatively liberal monarchy of the 1970s, briefly before a military coup and the Russian invasion would forever change the landscape of the once beautiful Kabul.”
- “However, war and political conflict take the back seat to the human dramas that occur because of and – more importantly – despite of such events.”