Book Review: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

 

The Kite Runner really stuck with me because it’s a brutal reminder that once war comes, nobody is safe. 

It doesn’t matter how rich, powerful, or secure you think you are; war doesn’t care. 

It turns people into refugees overnight, tears families apart, and reduces years of hard work into nothing more than stories you tell yourself. 

Imagine building a home with your own hands and hard-earned money, only to one day find strangers living in it. That kind of loss isn’t just about property; it’s about losing your sense of belonging.

It also features stories of people who stayed and those who left as refugees, 

highlighting the different hardships they endured.

And the most heartbreaking aspect is that these stories aren’t just part of history.

They mirror the ongoing realities faced today.

What makes this book hit even harder is how it weaves those big truths about war into something deeply personal. 

At its heart, it’s about Amir and Hassan. Hassan’s loyalty is pure and unwavering, but Amir’s insecurity and his desperate need for Baba’s approval push him to betray the one person who loved him most. 

Those scenes hurt to read because they remind us how our weaknesses, like fear, jealousy, and silence, can destroy the people who least deserve it.

Then there’s Amir and Baba’s relationship, which is just as heartbreaking. 

Amir spends his childhood feeling like he’ll never measure up, craving Baba’s approval, only to later learn that Baba himself was carrying secrets too heavy to share. 

The revelation that Hassan was Amir’s half-brother completely changes how you see everything,

the distance between father and son, Baba’s quiet guilt, even the invisible lines drawn by class and ethnicity. 

It’s betrayal layered on betrayal, of family, of trust, of truth itself.

The book also doesn’t shy away from the ugly realities of Afghanistan’s history: ethnic cleansing, the Shia-Sunni divide, and war fought in the name of religion. These aren’t just “political” issues; they’re human tragedies, and they leave scars that don’t just fade away with time.

By the end, I realised The Kite Runner isn’t just a story about Afghanistan. 

It’s about what it means to be human, how war can take everything you thought was permanent, how betrayal never really leaves you, and how painful redemption can be, but also how necessary. 

I closed the book with this ache in my chest, but also with the reminder that love, loyalty, and forgiveness, even when buried deep, are what keep us human.

Now, compared to A Thousand Splendid Suns, 

I didn’t cry while reading The Kite Runner. 

Both books overlap slightly (the orphanage with Zaman), 

but they tell such different stories. 

For me, the themes of motherhood and marriage in A Thousand Splendid Suns resonated so much louder, which is probably why I ended up favouring it. 

So while The Kite Runner is a great read, powerful, moving, and unforgettable, it’s not quite a full 5-star for me. More like a solid 4.

The book is also available here :)

Book Review: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

 I cried so much reading the latter part of this book. 

The earlier chapters stirred more rage than tears, rage at Rasheed, at the cruelty he inflicted, and at the twisted plans he concocted. I cursed the sky for the injustice of it all.

I’m grateful that Laila at least had a father who supported her dreams, though those dreams ultimately collapsed under the weight of war, a power-hungry society, and people who misused the name of God and religion to justify chaos, heartbreak, and suffering.

Then there’s Mariam, “the daughter of a harami,” as they called her. I could never understand men like her father, who already had three wives yet still pursued lust, made a maid pregnant, and refused to take full responsibility for his actions. Mariam’s only “sin” was being born, yet she bore the burden of shame and pain until her death. Married off against her will because her father would not protect her, his eventual attempt at reconciliation came far too late.

I was relieved when Mariam and Laila found companionship in each other, even within the suffocating walls of that abusive household. They became each other’s lifelines. Yes, what Laila did with Tariq was wrong, but Rasheed’s reaction; his twisted plots and unforgivable cruelty; revealed his selfish, violent nature. And the worst part? The system enabled him, in a world where women had no rights at all.

The values upheld by the Taliban were a far cry from true Islamic values, and reading this made me even more thankful to be born in Malaysia. Yet it also left me questioning: what can I do for my Muslim sisters around the world who are still suffering, oppressed, and silenced by such systems?

To be fair, it is wrong to judge all Muslim men as Rasheeds. There are Tariqs, and there are fathers like Laila’s and Tariq’s, men who value kindness, respect, and equality. At the end of the day, it comes down to individual character.

The part that broke me completely was Mariam’s punishment, the quiet courage she showed in her final moments, and Laila’s return to Mariam’s old home, imagining her younger self there. Those scenes left me speechless, powerless, and aching, because while this is a work of historical fiction, I know there are countless Mariams and Lailas still living similar tragedies today.

Rating: ★★★★★

A solid 5 stars. Khaled Hosseini masterfully wove plot, subplot, and character arcs with historical depth and emotional weight. It is dark, haunting, and heartbreaking, yet profoundly human. I understand why this book comes so highly recommended, but I’m glad I read it in my 30s. Through the lens of motherhood and marriage, the story resonated even more deeply, making it not just a novel I read, but one I felt.

Book Review: The Little Liar by Mitch Albom

 

I've shared this on my IG Story before, but I'm posting it here so it can reach non-followers who might find this review helpful.

This is my first book of historical fiction on the Holocaust, and it truly broke my heart. It breaks my heart that “Never Again” remains such a powerful lesson from history, yet one of the least heeded in the time we’re living in now. I wept reading this book. Not just for what was, but for what still is. I cried in a way words can’t fully capture because Mitch Albom’s descriptions echoed the reality faced by the people of Gaza today.

I don’t know where Mitch Albom stands on the issue of Palestine, but I hope that one day, he might write a story for them too 🇵🇸. Truth be told. Truth be told. Free free Palestine! 

All in all, it’s a 4 out of 5 stars for me! I only wish we had more stories about Nico. Still, here are my 10 favourite quotes from the book.

I also posted my review on Goodreads.

In a world full of lies, honesty glimmers like silver foil reflecting the sun 

Never be ashamed of a scar. In the end, scars tell the story of our lives, everything that hurt us and everything that healed us.

By the time you share what a loved one longs to hear, they often no longer need it.

A man, to be forgiven, will do anything.

Sometimes a lie is merely truth that is yet to happen.

A hard truth of war: grief does not take sides.

Sometimes, it is the truth that we don’t speak that echoes the loudest.

Dead men tell no lies, but their truths must be unearthed.

It’s easy to be nice when you get something in return. It’s harder when nobody knows the good you are doing except yourself.

Evil travels like dandelion seeds, blowing over borders and taking root in angry minds....all humans are inclined to hate others if they believe they are the cause of their unhappiness. The trick is to convince them.

Book Review: As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

I decided to be realistic and aim for one book per week, and proudly, I did it!

This week, I finished As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow, even while feeling under the weather. And what a powerful read it was.

Before I publish any review, my husband is always my number one listener. Page by page, chapter by chapter, he listens to my raw reactions and unfiltered emotions as I process the story. It’s become part of my reading ritual, and this time was no different.

Set in Syria, the book is a poignant, eye-opening narrative. In her acknowledgements, the author speaks of how little the world knows about Syria and how the media has failed to portray the full extent of the atrocities committed during the civil war. I have to admit, I too wasn’t fully aware of the depth of the conflict. This book served as both a wake-up call and a learning experience.

The pain endured by the civilians in Syria felt heartbreakingly similar to what we’re seeing in Gaza today. It crushed my soul to read about children living in fear, hospitals being bombed, and premature babies needing to be rescued from exploding medical centres. People running for their lives, leaving behind everything they knew, their homes, their memories, their identities, just to survive.

Many of us don’t truly understand the trauma refugees live with. Through the character of Khawf and the haunting experiences of Layla and baby Salama, the author paints a brutally honest picture. I had literal goosebumps. Imagine living every day with death surrounding you, never knowing if you or your family will be next. The lines between nightmare and reality blur. The horrors described when women were raped in public, civilians were slaughtered in the streets, all were so disturbing that I had to pause and breathe. Why do people commit such evil in the name of war? There is no dignity in it, only the cruelty of power-hungry men.

Reading this while I was sick made it hit even harder. It reminded me how privileged I am to have a roof over my head, clean water, warm meals, and the ability to visit a clinic whenever I feel unwell. They’re struggling to find even a Panadol.

Amid all the horror, the love story between Salama and Kenan offered a sliver of light. Their connection felt like a form of resistance, a small but powerful reminder that even in the darkest times, love still blooms. Their relationship wasn’t just romance; it was hope.

Overall, I give this book 4 stars, not because it lacked anything major, but because the pacing in some parts felt slightly uneven. That said, the emotional depth, the storytelling, and the importance of its message make it an incredibly worthwhile read.

Stay in Touch : Your Greatest Assets are the People Who Love and Care for You

 My beloved mentor recently shared with me a meaningful and beautifully written article by Michael Kouly.

Despite being caught up in workloads and long hours, I'm reminded of how grateful I am for the wonderful support around me; even from former colleagues.

I used to think that colleagues were just that: people you work with, and eventually, people you used to know. While that understanding isn't entirely wrong, it's not completely right either.

Some people genuinely care, even years after no longer being on the same team, they still check in, offer support, and remind you that connection doesn’t always fade with time.

We may not talk every day, but when we do, it feels like no time has passed.

Some may struggle with this version of adult friendship, but to me, it’s real, and I deeply appreciate those who’ve stayed in my corner.

Here’s the article! I hope you find it as inspiring as I did. 

And don’t forget to share it with those you care about. 😊

In the relentless pursuit of professional success— titles, portfolios, investments — we often misidentify our true wealth. The best assets aren’t stocks or skills; they’re the people who genuinely love and care for you. And these aren’t limited to family or close friends; they could be anybody—a mentor from a chance meeting, a colleague who checks in during tough times, even a stranger whose kindness sparks lasting connection, and most recently, your academy cohort. Recognizing and nurturing these bonds isn’t sentimental—it’s strategic for enduring fulfillment and resilience. (Read this again)

Material assets depreciate or vanish, but human connections compound value. Lose a high-value client or gadget? Recoverable. Lose someone who enters and enriches your life? The void lingers, eroding well-being. The Harvard Grant Study, spanning 85 years, concludes: Positive relationships drive happiness, health, and longevity more than any material gain.  Director Robert Waldinger says, “Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period.” 

This echoes attachment theory by John Bowlby: Humans are wired for emotional bonds; their presence fosters security, their absence profound loss.  The World Health Organization equates social isolation’s mortality risk to smoking 15 cigarettes daily—worse than obesity. 

Treat caring people as irreplaceable assets. Seek them beyond obvious circles—networking events, online communities, daily interactions. Express gratitude, invest time. Communicate openly, resolve conflicts. Remember, mature people. Audit your “portfolio”. Who truly cares? Invite more “anybodies” in to help you become and grow as “somebody”

Bottom line: People who love you are your best assets—cherish, protect, love and cultivate them for a richer life. (Read this twice, reflect and msg someone you wish to keep in your life)

Don’t you think?

Michael 

GCA