Many of the articles expanded my horizons and deepened my concern for various issues today. It took me beyond my little well of a relatively safe country, myopic occupation of keeping my home and family in order, routine service to God and to man. But more than anything, features of groups of people who have been marginalized, cruelly treated or scarred left me affected to some degree. One such feature was entitled Hazaras: Afghanistan's Outsiders. The article mentioned that the book The Kite Runner "depicted a fictional Hazara character" and it was then that I remembered reading the synopsis of a highly acclaimed film, based on a book by the same title, and a book review by Karen Cheng. That got me going to the nearby library for my fourth book in a month (the first three were mysterious appetizers by Agatha Christie).
The Kite Runner, a novel by Khaled Hosseini, is about the lives of two Afghan boys and how an event changed their lives forever. It is a very easy read, and you can almost picture being there in the story, as the author skillfully paints the scenes of childhood innocence, betrayal, wars, fears, heart-wrenching pain and racism in its extreme. I'd give it five stars; two thumbs up. But here's a warning if you decide to pick up the book: don't expect to be dry-eyed.
Let me know if you intend to read it!
