Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

72 reviews

redefiningrachel's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and War

Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cannibalism

themrshedrick816's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 I wanted to read this book because I knew it had a lot of cultural aspects to it as well as being considered a “banned” book. It’s not my usual style/genre of reading, but with that being said, it was good. I did struggle some with the concepts and cultural differences and fully understanding them as I read but also enjoy that I feel more educated on them after reading this book. Overall, there were a lot of difficult, sad, and frustrating parts to read, but I do think the story was told well.  While not based on a true story, I did feel that all the aspects and hardships faced by the characters are real things that happen to Afghans and I feel that after reading this book I have an even deeper sympathy for what people of this origin faced during this time period. I do recommend this book, not necessarily as a “pleasure” read but as an expand your knowledge read, if that makes sense. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, and War

ienbdri'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and War

shiftycow1313's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

rainerasnic's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Toxic friendship, and War

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Infertility, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Animal death and Abandonment

mauricekofi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

This book absolutely broke me and made me whole, over and over again. All I will say is I should have listened to my friend when she told me she cried as a child reading this book, it's not for the light of heart. Yet still, Hosseini impacts a critical understanding of life and consequences for those in the global south, through the lens of an Afghan boy, grown into a man, who lived in privilege before his country turned to ruin by the policies of European and Western powers. My review does not do justice for how wonderfully sad, informative, and foundational this book is. In a post-Afghanistan war America, I dearly wish more Americans and young students read this book, to ask themselves why we are taught the things we know about other countries and challenge when and where American "intervention" is needed.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and War

Moderate: Terminal illness, Torture, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

dearbhlanoonan's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring sad fast-paced

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Racism, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and War

Moderate: Death and Rape

b3ttysbooks33's review against another edition

informative reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

This book is not only a relatable, emotional story about regret, but also a haunting and impactful insight into the tragic historical and ongoing conflict in Afghanistan.

note: some people criticize the depictions of religion and politics, but I feel that because most of these controversial opinions come from characters who is clearly deeply flawed, the author leaves room for such issues to be discussed rather than dictating a specific narrative.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Islamophobia, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, and Classism

hedyharper's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Genocide, Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Islamophobia, and Murder

Minor: Confinement, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

drashti_444's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, and War