Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

63 reviews

caramelcopp's review against another edition

This book was really hard to read, and although I know it’s a beautiful and impactful story, I found the things described in it to be far too graphic for me. As someone who has experienced some of what is mentioned in this book, the beginning of chapter 7 was really difficult to read and due to recommendations from friends who had read more, I decided I couldn’t handle the lengths this book went. I was reading this for school and had to talk to my teacher and make an exception (and she is beyond amazing for being so accommodating with it) so this was not a light decision. However, if you can handle it, the writing is beautiful and impactful. It will be an experience to read for you and I recommend you to try it if you are able to tolerate what’s in it. Keep in mind the content warnings are understatements for the most part.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, and Classism

kooday's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.75

I can't believe this is Khaled's first novel... It was amazing, so so incredibly heart wrenching.

I suppose it's really a story of a father and a son in the end. I really enjoyed learning about Afghanistan and it's decline over the years, contextualised within the story.

I resented Amir so so so much at the start but I'm happy he found absolution. My favourite quote from the book by Rahim Khan:

A man who has no conscience, no goodness, does not suffer.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt and Abandonment

gabriella_'s review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.75

This book made me incredibly emotional. I wish I read it sooner. Really satisfying read, excellent character development, and the writing was beautiful and haunting. I absolutely could not put this book down when I was reading it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Islamophobia, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

kirj's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

milele23's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious 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: Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Cultural appropriation

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Incest, Physical abuse, Islamophobia, Death of parent, Murder, and Deportation

Minor: Chronic illness, Infertility, Slavery, Torture, Blood, and Abandonment

seapotatohowisitalrtaken's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective relaxing sad medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug use, Infertility, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Cursing

2000sgirl's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Trafficking, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

mirandyli's review against another edition

dark reflective sad 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

4.75

This is a beautifully written, devastatingly sad story that I remember reading and crying over in high school. Back then I probably would have given this book 5 stars. After reading some other reviews, however, I think it's prudent to amend that rating. To quote another person's review: "This is the sort of book White America reads to feel worldly."

I will say, however, that there is a reason that thousands of people have raved about this book. Khaled Hosseini writes gorgeously. I loved this book and his other books as well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, and Classism

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Whew, this one is rough af, and absolutely not for anyone sensitive to anything assault-related. The writing style wasn't my fav, and I'm not sure if I loved the author narrating either. But it did give me some historical context, which was useful. Sometimes it feels a little like books that do really well are just extremely distressing, and folks mistake that for being enthralling. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infertility, Rape, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Body horror, Body shaming, Miscarriage, Torture, and Antisemitism

mxcopmy's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

5.0

Oh yes, Khaled Hosseini has once again stirred my tear ducts like I had never known my tears before. This book put a burn mark on my soul so deep inside. Once again, I closed a story of his with a heavy heart, a lighthearted laugh and a hearty tear.

I really can't get over how much I love Hosseini's work. Having read my all-time favourite (which really can never be surpassed, A Thousand splendid Suns) last summer, I was so enchanted by his writing that I couldn't help but read more of his stories. And this I did by reading the kite runner, or 'de vliegeraar' in dutch. An incredibly affecting story about Hassan and Amir living as friends in Afghanistan and losing their path in friendship. It introduces you to the raw meaning of friendship and the hard divides some people face in terms of social classes. How Hosseini portrays the setting of the wars in Afghanistan also really makes you gasp. He is able to make these enormously vivid and make the pain and suffering tangible. I really can't describe how hard I enjoyed this book. Or at least how much I enjoy Khaled Hosseini's writing style and inspirational stories. His books are a heartfelt experience that touch you deep in your heart and limbs.

I beg everyone to pick up a book by Khaled Hosseini one day. They are so worth it, I promise you.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Rape, Torture, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Abandonment, War, and Deportation