The Kite Runner — Khaled Hosseini

1970s Afghanistan Twelve year old Amir is desperate to win the local kite fighting tournament and his loyal friend Hassan promises to help him But neither of the boys can foresee what will happen to Hassan that afternoon an event that is to shatter their lives After the Russians invade and the family is forced to flee to America Amir realises that one day he must return to an Afghanistan under Taliban rule to find the one thing that his new world cannot grant him redemption A devastating masterful and painfully honest story DAILY TELEGRAPH It s remarkable It s like a condensed history of Afghanistan mixed with a Shakespearean tale of friendship and love brilliant DAILY EXPRESS A novel of unusual generosity honesty and compassion INDEPENDENT