2003: The Kite Runner
Author/Editor: Khaled Hosseini
The Kite Runner tells the story of a young boy in Afghanistan and his experiences growing up there after the fall of the monarchy and as the Taliban regime rose. Political and cultural tensions during this time are examined, as well as the relationships between the various ethnic and social classes. This book depicts, in graphic detail, the horrors that the Afghani people endured at this time and describes how, after many of them emigrated as political refugees, they adjusted to life in America.
This work is significant because it provided a very personal look at the Afghani experience, especially at a time when the American war on terror was focused on this region. The popularity of this book resulted in a deeper understanding of the culture and history of the country and its people.