Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Les cerfs-volants de Kaboul by Khaled Hosseini

74 reviews

noahfence's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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

the kite runner is an absolutely heartbreaking and tragic exploration into taboo friendships, guilt, social and political turmoil, boyhood and manhood and, eventually, redemption. it follows the story of two boys, the underprivileged hazara hassan and the fortunate pashtun amir—and the seemingly irreparable rift that forms between them due to a tragic incident on what is meant to be a day of victory and celebration. it leaves amir reeling with guilt and self-hatred, of which stubbornly pervades into his adult life, and that he eventually goes to extreme lengths to atone for.

this was required reading for my a level course and i wasn’t sure what to expect before i read it. however, i can confidently state that i am left a changed person after reading the kite runner. it moved me to tears on multiple occasions and left me to reflect on the relationships i hold with those i hold most dear in my life, and how i need to hold them tight and never let them go.

broadly this book is the story of a troubled man learning that ‘there is a way to be good again’, and grasping that opportunity with both hands. i feel that, with its initial themes of self-hatred and lacking parental love, it resonates with many of us very deeply. and after the book has done this, it then jumps at the chance to show us how to learn to love ourselves again, and how to build and nurture that same, previously missing, parental love within ourselves so we may find the courage to atone for the bad things we have done… and, after all that, eventually find we are able to forgive ourselves.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Gore, Rape, Suicide, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Drug use, Genocide, Infidelity, and Abandonment

heidi0770's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and War

drewhowerton's review against another edition

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

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Absolutely amazing. What a journey. What a story. I’m so emotional. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Islamophobia, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

beatriceku's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

this book is many things. a waste of time is not one of them. the story is an overwhelming and heart wrenching tale, one that i feel is relatable, but other-worldly at the same time. you’ve heard it said before, but this is truly one important book. does anything ‘good’ necessarily happen in this novel! i would probably argue not. but it is filled with complexity and layers of human emotion that are unreachable in your typical YA novels and arguably, the most renowned classics. it speaks to the immigrant experience, the heartbreak of war, guilt, shame, class, and so many more in a gripping, nuanced, and eloquent manner. not only so, but is a riveting read, with twists and a fair share of devastating turns. all in all, although the term is cliche - it is an important read. to not only understand the history of Afghanistan, and the story of Amir, but also as a guide in how to navigate our own burdens and deepest shames.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, and Classism

space_bandit's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Medical content, and Pregnancy

Minor: Homophobia and Infidelity

madisonham's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Infertility, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Murder, and War

charlott_e's review

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Blood, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, and War

carina_shal's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and War

Moderate: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Abandonment

jemmathompson's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad

• 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

Amazing book, studied it for A level, absolutely adore Hosseini’s writing style. But fair warning, this book can be very graphic and content-heavy at times, will most likely make you cry. Make sure to check any trigger warnings before you decide to read, but I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants an authentic insight into life in Afghanistan both before and after their conflicts.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and War

bookswithgeorgia's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, and War