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What is the relevance of The Kite Runner in contemporary times?

One way that The Kite Runner is relevant to modern times is in its depiction of Afghanistan's complex reality.


Afghanistan's involved history is a significant part of The Kite Runner. Reviewer Ronny Noor argues that part of the novel's appeal is how it "gives a vivid picture of not only the Russian atrocities but also those of the Northern Alliance and the Taliban."  Afghanistan had a complex history even before coalition forces entered in 2001.  It experienced nearly a decade under Taliban rule, and then more than that in its war against the Soviet Union. Adding to this was how rival ethnic tensions and social stratification had always defined its narrative.  For example, the novel is direct in depicting the tension between Pashtun and Hazzara groups.  In depicting all of these realities in The Kite Runner, Hosseini communicates an intricacy that must be understood before any type of change is going to come to Afghanistan. Acknowledging and working through its nuanced past is the only way to figure out where Afghanistan goes from here.


There is a tendency to view places like Afghanistan and Iraq as locations that just need a "quick fix."   Sometimes, those in the position of political power claim to have "the answer" and discard delicate issues.  Hosseini's work is relevant because it shows that nations such as Afghanistan are very complex, with tensions and a sad history that goes back for decades. The Kite Runner shows that the path to be "good again" is very difficult.  As Amir does, the only way is to embrace its sad and beautiful history.  Hosseini's work is relevant to contemporary Afghanistan because, like its setting, it lacks easy answers to complex questions.

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