Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

223 reviews

rberdan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The Kite Runner is devastating and beautifully written. There are many content warnings to heed. I had to take breaks because of the heaviness, but that speaks also to how rich the storytelling was. Set in Afghanistan and the United States, this is a story of family trauma and secrets, betrayal, redemption, unconditional love, friendship, war, violence, class, power, and immigration. Yes, it’s a lot, and woven together artfully. 

From the joy of kite running to graphic abuse to the complexities of relationship, I felt so much of this book deeply. I’m a white woman from the Global North, so there are many aspects of this book that are far from my own lived experiences, and yet the desire to undo regret and redeem oneself, to simply be loved by those we admire most, and to get away from kindness that feels undeserved… these are things I can relate to. While I know conceptually of the history of the Taliban and of issues with immigration, there is an immersive reality in the storytelling that allowed me to understand in a different way. There is a recurring theme of shame and being loved anyway that is truly beautiful and touching. 

Amir’s own self loathing is so beautifully captured that I found myself struggling to like him much. Seeing his family and Hassan through his eyes was so interesting as I got to love them along with him. I ultimately could feel compassion for him as he found his way to loving others. I struggled to forgive him as he struggled to forgive himself, even though his greatest regret was still something he did (or didn’t do) as a child. 

All of that said, I also felt that there was almost too much “other people are good and I’m bad” in the story. I get that it’s Amir’s point of view, and I also feel that there’s more nuance than this in who we are as humans. 

In the end, I absolutely adored Sohrab and my heart broke for all that he’d endured at such a young  age. I ended the book with so much hope for what could be on the other side of his early days. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, War, and Classism

xwritingstoriesx's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence and Infertility

kakankatten6000's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 I would like to preface this review by saying that I read the Swedish translation of this book, therefore some small details may be different from the original work.

I really enjoyed this book, it had a profound affect on me. In hindsight the plot is quite simple not that it does not allow for thought; Its simple yet impactful story is one of its biggest strengths.

There are few books that are emotionally powerful enough to make me cry, this book did make me tear eyed at several moments but one part made tears run down my face:

Amirs dad dies of cancer only a few weeks following Amir finally getting married to his long-spun crush. To see that Baba died a happy man felt so deserving and made me incredibly emotional.

I have immense respect for Khaled as a author, managing to summon such great emotion in me. I am incredibly grateful for the emotional experience this book gave me.

The book also documents Afghanistan's tragic history and the Taliban's brutal regime. Maybe not super accurately but it gives you a basic understanding, this really builds the world around you and you cant help but get consumed by the tail.

The book has quite large religious undertones which I enjoyed personally. I am not religious but I do find the the concept of fate very interesting which the plot is quite centralised around.

I did find the middle part of the story quite slow and boring. It did of course have several great moments, but I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe it could've been a little bit more densely packed. Despite this the build-up was worth it and the ending was truly amazing. To put in perspective if I could rate the parts of the story independently: 

Intro: 4.75
Middle: 3
Ending: 5

I recommend this book if you enjoy stories surrounding the complexity of human relations, fate, want to read a fiction built around real life events, or enjoy stories of characters going from assholes to heroes. 

Thanks Leo

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Pedophilia and Violence

cecereads__'s review against another edition

4.25

A mostly heartbreaking book but with a side of beauty and all the ups and downs and flaws that come with life and love and family.
Tragedy was always close by in this story, which is only respectful of reality. Sohrab is someone I will remember for a long time.

and someone I wish had been spared the heartbreaking experiences following (and including) the murder of his parents. Amir is a deeply flawed mc, who treated Hassan from a conflicted but ultimately jealous and unkind and unfair standpoint. Even though he is just a child and a child of his environment. Assef is socio- and psychopathic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Violence

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Infertility, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Terminal illness, Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, Islamophobia, Medical content, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

allison_18's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and War

rose_of_thenile's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

An easy read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Minor: Ableism

magimiel's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and War

Moderate: Cancer, Genocide, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Vomit, and Classism

kaylo88's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is truly remarkable. It's a gripping rollercoaster of a story, and Hosseini’s wonderfully descriptive storytelling vividly brings the narrative to life.

Amir, the protagonist, is not a likeable character. Despite growing somewhat fond of him later in the story, I find his actions unforgivable. He is a coward and a terrible friend. On the other hand, Hassan is faithful and kind, and my heart broke when the unthinkable happened to him.

The book excels in depicting the stark contrast between Afghanistan before and after the invasion. Whether it offers a completely unbiased view is debatable, and I recognise that the relationship between the two community groups featured (Pashtuns and Hazaras) is more complex in reality. Nonetheless, it serves as a poignant example of the racial and religious discrimination in Afghanistan.

Overall, the story is emotive, emotional, gripping, and reflective and I am so glad I've finally read it! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, Trafficking, and Suicide attempt

tamareadsbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Islamophobia, Suicide attempt, Murder, and War

atlanticgiantpumpkin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I try not to give every book I read a five star review, but this may be the best book I have ever read. Not my favorite, but definitely the best. I feel like everyone should read this. Maybe keep it among older high school students and college, but I feel like it should be required reading, up there with To Kill a Mockingbird. I cried for Hassan, I cheered on Sohrab, but most importantly, I empathized with Amir. I watched his growth and his change and watched his personality warp as did the political climate of Afghanistan. There are themes of love, family, fear, shame, justice, courage, and possibly most important, finding one’s home. There are metaphors and symbolism that rivals those of classic authors, and it’s astounding that this was the first book the author had published. This also makes me weep for all the Afghans who, after finally ridding themselves of the Taliban, were forced into their cruel subjection again. This book rarely holds back punches as it should. Sometimes, the reality of the world outside your little bubble needs to stab you repeatedly so you understand the truth.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail