Quadrifoil Competition X Kite

Advantages: Absorbing tale, characters unfold during the novel,
Disadvantages: Harrowing at times

...the respect and love of his father but feels that his father is disappointed in him because Amir is not good at sports and prefers to spend his time reading his dead mothers books. However Amir discovers that there is one way he can earn his fathers love and that is to win the kite tournament. Now in this country kite flying is a gentle pastime but in Afghanistan it is something altogether different, in fact I believe in certain areas it has in fact been banned because of the danger. The difference in a Afghanistan tournament is that the competition is to be the last remaining kite still flying. The strings of the kites are made from a combination of ground glass and glue so that the flyer can pull the kite down and cut the strings of another kite. The flyer will end up with their hands cut to shreds as they try to maintain their kite in... Read review

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Advantages: A must read!
Disadvantages: Not for kids due to some content

...The Kite Runner One of the best books I have read all year and a truly wonderful story. The Kite Runner is a 2003 book written by Khaled Hosseini and was his debut novel. It tells the story of a young boy called Amir. He is growing up in 1970's Afghanistan and faces many trials and tribulations. At first he lives a fairly great looking life on the surface of it. His father is well off and they live in a big pink house away from all the run down houses in the village. He has a great friend, one he can really rely on and trust, Hassan. Hassan and his father are actually servants for Amir and his father and although they have a great bond, Amir often feels embarrassed by Hassan and that embarrassment leads to shame when he questions his actions. Amir's father is very cold and shut off and he is always desperately trying to win... Read review

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Advantages: A beautiful story
Disadvantages: much of the film is subtitled

...I was lucky enough to catch this film by chance on my flight home from Canada last month. I had never heard of or read the book, so I feel unable to comment on whether it is true to the original story, but as a stand alone film I can summarise in one word: WOW. What a story! The Film follows the story of two young friends (Hassan and Amir) in Afghanistan. They have a knack for kite competitions, Hassan is one of the be best kite runners; hence the name of the film. Amir and his father are wealthy and Hassan and his father are their servants. Hassan is bullied by other boys and Amir feels unable to stick up for him. Hassan and Amir grow apart, and eventually Hassan and his father feel they need to leave. Around this time Afghanistan is taken over by the Russians, and then the Taliban - Amir and his father escape to America... Read review

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