The Kite Runner is an excellent yarn--hardly anyone can deny this--yet is it of sufficient literary merit for an AP English class? While the book does possess many positive qualities, I am inclined to think that it is not deep enough for an AP English class. That being said, I believe that an argument can be made for either side.
The Kite Runner can really be split into two parts. Up until Rahim Khan’s “call to adventure,” where he urges Amir to return to Pakistan to “be good again,” the book seems to demonstrate a somewhat dubious claim to its value as an book worthy of an AP English class. There is certainly some historical worth, as Hosseini manages to quietly depict the changes undergone in Afghanistan’s tumultuous recent history. The increase in Soviet “soft power,” the nonviolent spread of culture and economic influence, is seen rise before the eventual Soviet invasion, and Khaled Hosseini doesn’t miss his chance to compare pre-war Kabul with Taliban-controlled Kabul, yet the book could have gone farther in this respect. Hosseini was limited because the narrator is a man remembering the past, all the way back to his childhood. As a child, Amir was understandably unconcerned with Afghani politics.
In my mind, The Kite Runner’s biggest claim to literary value may come through it’s themes and irony. The theme that, for better or worse, things are not always as they seem is an idea seen countless times in the book. Baba may be the most prominent example, as his god-like respect is tempered when Rahim Khan tells Amir that he fathered an illegitimate son, Hassan. Irony and this theme weave together in the book, as we see that the United States, the grand land of opportunity, is not hugely helpful to Baba and General Taheri, as neither are very wealthy. The appearance vs. reality theme continues with them, as they were once powerful in Afghanistan yet are a gas station manager and jobless, respectively, in the U.S.
While its themes and irony may be of literary merit, its motifs are woeful and the second half of the book devolves in quality. The book shifts from a deep storyline, to a journey myth. With this change, the book becomes a fast-paced read and the plot becomes more dynamic, but these changes come at the expense of the literary value of the book as a whole. The second half feels like a retrogression as The Kite Runner becomes more of a Dan Brown-esque book than one worthy of our attention.
Despite its drawbacks, The Kite Runner is by no means a book without value. It has become one of my favorite books, even if I think its literary merit to be second-rate.
I'm surprised at your decision; everyone I've talked to has liked the book. From what I've heard, the book's true value lies in its description of and commentary of character relationships. But my family members are not exactly AP-evaluators, so do you think family dynamics or other relationships elevate Kite Runner, if not bringing it to AP-status entirely? On the whole your comments and arguments against the book were well-supported and convincing, so I guess I'll have to read the book myself to truly form an opinion.
ReplyDeleteI think there is a lot of power in Hosseini's novel, as it is has a powerful effect on one's emotions. I appreciate your not giving too many details away at the end, which would support your explanation of how the ending devolves a bit. I think Hosseini's writing abilities improve with each book he writes. I'd be interested to hear what you think about his other books.
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