BOOK REVIEW:
There
are some things which you thought you have long forgotten,
but the when it comes back to haunt you, you’ll realize
that the guilt never left. And if you truly believe in atonement,
there is a way to be good again.
Like Ian
McEwan’s novel which has been made into an Academy Award-nominated
movie, Khaled Hosseini’s 2004 debut work narrates a
heartbreaking story of love, guilt, fear and redemption. Amir,
the son of a rich man in Kabul, and Hassan, the son of Amir’s
family servant, are seemingly best friends in 1970s Afghanistan.
They spend carefree days flying kites and telling imaginative
stories. One day, an appalling event changes both their lives
forever. When Amir and his father move to America, Amir remains
haunted by what happened. Eventually, he is brought back to
his homeland under circumstances and made to face the consequences
of what happened in the past. The only difference is: The
land he used to call home is now under Taliban rule.
The story
makes for great drama, and is definitely a captivating read.
Written memorably chilling like an autobiography told from
Amir’s point of view, the little quotes here and there
will make you reflect on lives’ many regrets and laments.
The only thing is, whether you have done anything about it?
Such is the power of an affective and potent novel. The vivid
and engaging storytelling makes this novel a must-read for
all literary fans (although we’d think that it would
not have flown past your radar if you were really an avid
reader).
Already
made into a movie directed by Marc Forster, the book has clinched
several accolades, like the San Francisco Chronicle Best Book
of the Year and the American Place Theatre’s Literature
to Life Award. The book also scores in its stunning portrayal
of a globalizing world where geographical boundaries no longer
signify separation and division.
You’d
laugh at the idealistic first part of Amir and Hassan’s
childhood days. You’d cry at the unfortunate incident
that tears them apart. You’d feel bittersweet and sorrow
at the second part of the novel. Most importantly, you’d
see redemption from guilt in a different light.
CHOICE XCERPT:
“Baba stirred in his sleep. Kaka Homayoun grunted. A
part of me was hoping someone would wake up and hear, so I
wouldn’t have to live with this lie anymore. But no
one woke up and in the silence that followed, I understand
the nature of my new curse: I was going to get away with it.
I
thought about Hassan’s dream, the one about us swimming
in the lake. There is no monster, he’d said, just water.
Except he’d been wrong about that. There was a monster
in the lake. It had grabbed Hassan by the ankles, dragged
him to the murky bottom. I was that monster.”
VERDICT:
A heartrending and poignant novel that is remarkably
unforgettable.
 
Review
by John Li
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