# 50 The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini without a doubt, is my favorite book of all time. 

A story of intense sadness, but also joy.

Although I was desolate at the end, Hosseini still left me feeling hopeful.

I feel we all are a little like Amir, the boy who is afraid to stand up and lives with regret, more than we'd like to admit.

And we all have a friend similar to Hassan who is just so good.

Khaled Hosseini is a masterful storyteller.

His two other books also take place in Afghanistan.

Anyway, The Kite Runner was published in 2003, and according to the Today Show, it spent two years on the New York Times Best Seller List, and according to National public Radio, more than 7 million copies have been sold.

However a book, with such large popularity, can hardly escape the eyes of critics, and critical adults around the United States.

According to the Marshall University Library, it has been challenged for sodomy rape in graphic detail, vulgar language, violence and religious content.

While it's true there is a rape scene in The Kite Runner, it is very brief; spanning little more than a page.

And I know what you're thinking, "Brief can still be graphic."

While that's true, Hosseini glosses over this part of the book, the scene is not sensationalized, for good reason.

There's no caressing, no more a vivd description than naming body parts (hips and buttocks), and removal of clothes.

In the end, Hassan is bleeding, but wouldn't that be expected of the aftermath of any rape?

Whenever I re-read this book, I always dread this part, not only for Hassan, but also for Amir.

For paying the price of not acting, and living with the grief and guilt for the next 30 sum years.

While people object to The Kite Runner, anything that happens in this book is no more graphic than Titanic, no more violent than Iron Man and no more profanity filled than The Bourne Supremacy.

Most of these movies are watched by teenagers, and even children younger than that.

Some might think The Kite Runner is just a book and isn't worth spending time on.

But I declare it's not true.

The Kite Runner has so much wisdom; we can learn so much from it.

The Kite Runner is more than an action movie or a romance novella.

The Kite Runner is about guilt, redemption and sacrifice.

It's a call to rise above the past and forgive yourself as well as others.

It's a book that reminds us to remember that we all make mistakes, and although some are bigger than others, there is always "A way to be good again."