js reviewed De vliegeraar by Khaled Hosseini
Review of 'De vliegeraar' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Gaandeweg aangrijpend, en met het hoofdkarakter meegroeien van stuntelend naar magistraal.
Paperback, 383 pages
English language
Published Sept. 21, 2005 by Riverhead Books.
Taking us from Afghanistan in the final days of the monarcy through the horrific invasion of the Taliban, The Kite Runner is the heartbreaking story of the unlikely and inseperable friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant, both of whom are caought in the tragic sweep of history. It isa also about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, the possibility of redemption, and the influence of fathers over sons, of a country ofver men - and the sacrifices, loyalty and lies that bind them.
--jacket flap
Gaandeweg aangrijpend, en met het hoofdkarakter meegroeien van stuntelend naar magistraal.
I think the first two thirds is a four star book and the last third is more of a three star book. I just found the end a little too fantastical. Also, my ignorance of the historical parts makes me wonder how much social/political/religious commentary I am just not picking up on and what the real perspective is. But those things aside, it is a page turner. He really nails guilt, what happens when you don't do the right thing out of fear, what happens when you let bullies and sociopaths do their worst.
For good or ill, this is the type of book that I'm going to compare to [book:Midnight's Children]. This is not a fair comparison, I'll admit. In the end, though, this book feels more like John Irving than Salman Rushdie. That's not a bad thing, if you're a fan of Irving's neat and tidy, overly contrived plot resolutions.