Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

"There is a way to be good again"...

In 70's in Afghanistan two boys, one is Amir and the other is Hassan, who is Amir's loyal friend and son of his father's servant Ali, are raised together in Amir's father house, playing and flying kites under a peaceful sky of Kabul. Amir feels that his wise and good father (who is addressed as Baba throughout the story) prefers Hassan to him. But Amir feels a great respect for his father's friend named Rahim Khan, who supports his intention to become a writer. After Amir's winning a competition of flying kite, Hassan runs to bring a kite to Amir, but he is beaten and raped by the brutal Assef in order to protect Amir's kite. The coward Amir witness the assault but doesn't help Hassan. Then comes the day after his birthday party, Amir hides his new watch in Hassan's bed to frame him as a thief and force his father to fire Ali. After that, Russia invades Afghanistan. Baba and Amir escape to Pakistan. Later, they have a simple life in California. Amir graduates from a local college, he has a successful career as a novelist and a happy marriage with his fellow refugee Soraya. Years later, Amir receives a phone call from Rahim Khan, Rahim tells Amir to return to Pakistan to rescue Hassan's son, Sohrab, from an orphanage. Amir has finally managed to take Sohrab to the US and introduces him to his wife. However, Sohrab refuses to speak or even glance at Soraya. Sohrab begins to interact with Amir when Amir talks about Hassan and shows off some off Hassan's trick. In the end, Sohrab only shows a smile, "One corner of his mouth had curled up just so. A smile. Lopsided. Hardly there. But there.", and Amir takes to it with all his heart as he runs the kite for Sohrab, saying "For you, a thousand times over."
The Kite Runner is a very good book. It gives you a new viewpoint about Afghanistan. The style and approach is something unlike anything else I've ever read. I rate this book 9 out 10.