The Kite RunnerThe Kite Runner
Score Modern
What it's about
Amir is the privileged son of a wealthy man in 1970s Kabul, and his closest companion is Hassan, the son of his father's servant. In the winter of 1975, Amir wins a kite-fighting tournament, and Hassan runs to catch the last kite for him. What happens to Hassan that day, and what Amir does and fails to do, haunts him for decades, through the Soviet invasion, his family's flight to America, and his eventual return to a Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the best-selling novels of the century, about 31.5 million copies. It's a story of friendship, betrayal and redemption that brought Afghanistan's history to millions of readers.
You'll love it if you liked
A Thousand Splendid Suns
The Covenant of Water
Half of a Yellow SunGood to know
It includes the rape of a child and other violence. It's emotionally intense.
By the numbers
- Readers94 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller87 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #14 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #14 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #65 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #116 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Khaled Hosseini
A Thousand Splendid Suns
And the Mountains EchoedIf you like this, read next
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Quick answers
Is The Kite Runner worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the best-selling novels of the century, about 31.5 million copies. It ranks #116 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 86.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Kite Runner about?
Amir is the privileged son of a wealthy man in 1970s Kabul, and his closest companion is Hassan, the son of his father's servant. In the winter of 1975, Amir wins a kite-fighting tournament, and Hassan runs to catch the last kite for him. What happens to Hassan that day, and what Amir does and fails to do, haunts him for decades, through the Soviet invasion, his family's flight to America, and his eventual return to a Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
How long does it take to read The Kite Runner?
About 10 hours (401 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Kite Runner?
If you liked it, try A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese or Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.