169 Books: Afghanistan

The Kite Runner

These are my thoughts as I'm reading. Warning: there may be spoilers. 

• This is a really nice story. I'm sure it won't last.
• Aaaand there it is. Jesus, kid, it's a freaking kite.
• I always have to wonder a bit about the people who write this stuff solely from their imagination. Although I suppose it could be from real life. But...really? Is that how it works in some countries?
• It's getting really hard to like this protagonist. And a little bit his father, too. These two need therapy. 
• Seriously, this kid is a dick. 
• WHY is there so much ass rape?!?!
• When Kamal's dad is screaming that his son won't breathe I totally pictured Cedric Diggory's dad from HP Goblet of Fire. It always comes back to Harry Potter.
• And now Baba sounds a bit like Donald Trump. Charming.
• I'm actually really excited that Amir got a Grand Turino. I finally saw that movie a couple of weeks ago. Oh Clint Eastwood, you courageous son of a bitch. 
• Alright, Amir is becoming more endearing as he's growing up.
• Awww, he's in looooove!
• I love the way lovers are described in books. I wonder if Soldier ever looks at me with that kind of admiration. I look at him that way. I'm still in awe sometimes that I get to spend my life with him.
• Cancer?! Oh come on!
• The dad's kind of a dick too.Stubborn old git.
• Ugh. I'm a sucker for a good love story.
• I truly hope I never have to see someone I love go through cancer. What an awful, debilitating parasite. 
• Oh. Oh my word. That wedding part was beautiful. And his dad is finally proud of him!
• And then sad again. I'm not gonna lie, I teared up between the wedding and Baba's death.
• Oh Lord. Okay I read this kind of stuff and I can't help but think about my parents dying eventually (hopefully in a very, very long time). I don't care that I'm 30, I would still be absolutely lost without them. 
• If this is true to Afghan life and customs, it's really sad. Like I may not have made it. But I suppose you have to deal with the cards you're handed. 
• I like the wife, she's sassy. 
• I really like that he gets to see his/his father's old again, but I don't like that another person is dying.
• The plot thickens! I just told Soldier I wanted to finish the chapter, then sheepishly asked if he minded me reading another one. This book is hard to put down. 
• Oh my gosh, Hassan is the sweetest character in the history of ever. He just cares about his best friend. 
• As a Catholic this may be a bad thing to say, but I kind of like the tradition of passing under the Koran for all these important events. I'm not sure why...it just seems kind of peaceful. 
• There's a lot of talk about babies. I don't really like it...it makes me think about how much I want babies and what I'll do if we can't have them. I don't like to think about it but it's in the back of my mind a lot of the time. I can't really talk to Soldier about it...there are a lot of feeling type issues that he's pretty nonchalant about. But it is something I actually worry about. 
• It's weird to read the story from the Afghan perspective. But really, if the Taliban killed Hassan, I'm going to have to stop reading for a while. 
• NO.
• OH MY GOSH. THIS JUST GOT SO MUCH WORSE. IT WAS HIS BROTHER. 
• Well I hope he and his wife adopt their nephew.
• Oh taliban, and sharia law. The computer wants me to capitalize taliban, and I say nay. 
• Oh come on. The taliban took the nephew? Of course. Ugh. 
• This can't end well. 
• Oh you've gotta be freaking kidding me! I don't like this story anymore. I can't believe the big bad taliban guy is the original bully. 
• Well that was kind of graphic. 
• Crying again. This is crazy and tragic and beautiful all in one. 
• I know it would be more happy-ending-ish, but I'm kind of glad the adoption wasn't easy. It's a bit more realistic that way. 
• WHAT. WHY. WHY WOULD HE WRITE THIS. THIS IS AWFUL. 
• The pain of all these people is heartbreaking. 
• Ah, there's the happy ending.

Okay, first book in the challenge. I'm SO glad I started with this. I've kept hearing what a good book it is and kind of shied away from it after seeing some of the worst parts of the movie. (Like I knew the first ass rape was coming). 

This was an absolutely amazing story, and I had a hard time putting it down, except to collect myself after some of the sadder parts. And I surprisingly liked not entirely being able to tell if it was a true story...granted, it would be pretty miraculous if it was, but still. If you haven't read The Kite Runner, I definitely recommend it. Just have some tissues handy.