10 Intriguing Insights into Khaled Hosseini's 'The Kite Runner'

The Kite Runner is set in Afghanistan, unfolding amidst the nation’s volatile history—from the fall of the monarchy to the rise of the Taliban. First published in 2003, the book quickly became a New York Times best-seller, translated into 40 languages, and sold over 8 million copies. However, the novel also faced challenges after its release, primarily due to its provocative language and graphic depictions of sexual abuse. Here’s a closer look at Khaled Hosseini’s debut novel, which was also the first novel written in English by an Afghan author.

1. The Kite Runner began as a short story sparked by news reports.

In 1999, Hosseini saw a news story about the Taliban prohibiting kite flying in Afghanistan, which resonated deeply with him. As a child in Kabul, he had fond memories of flying kites with cousins and friends. This personal connection led him to write a 25-page short story that, according to Hosseini, “evolved into a much darker, more complex tale than he had expected.” He submitted the story to The New Yorker and Esquire, but both rejected it. In 2001, while rummaging through his garage, he rediscovered the story, and encouraged by a friend, decided to expand it into a full-fledged novel.

2. Hosseini penned the novel in the early mornings before heading to work.

Hosseini arrived in the United States as a refugee in 1980 following a communist coup in Afghanistan. At just 15 years old and knowing only a handful of English words, he and his family settled in California. Though he dreamed of being a writer, he thought it was unrealistic to earn a living writing in a language he didn’t fully speak. As he shared with The Atlantic, it seemed “outlandish.” Eventually, he chose a more “practical” career and became a doctor. Despite his medical profession, he continued to write The Kite Runner during the mornings before his shifts as an internist in Los Angeles.

His dedication paid off: The Kite Runner became a massive success, paving the way for his subsequent novels. Although Hosseini hasn’t practiced medicine since 2004, he finds that aspects of his medical career still serve him as a writer. “Qualities you need to get through medical school and residency: Discipline. Patience. Perseverance. A willingness to forgo sleep. A penchant for sadomasochism. Ability to weather crises of faith and self-confidence. Accept exhaustion as a fact of life. Addiction to caffeine a definite plus. Unfailing optimism that the end is in sight,” he told The New York Times. “Qualities you need to be a novelist: Ditto.”

3. The events of September 11th and the subsequent war in Afghanistan sparked increased interest in the novel.

In an interview with Salon, Hosseini revealed that he initially set out to challenge himself with writing The Kite Runner. However, after the events of 9/11, his wife began urging him to consider submitting the novel. While he was hesitant at first, he eventually agreed, believing that the story could offer a unique perspective on Afghanistan. As he explained, “Usually, stories about Afghanistan revolve around the ‘Taliban and the war on terror’ or ‘narcotics’—the same tired themes. But this is a story about family, about customs, about the drama within a household, offering a window into a different side of Afghanistan.”

These geopolitical developments helped bring the novel to the forefront, but Hosseini did not attribute their impact to its success. He remarked, “Being published and having readers continue to embrace the book years later are two very different things. People read it and recommend it to others because they connect with something in the story.”

4. The character of Hassan was (unintentionally) inspired by a real person.

As a child in Afghanistan, Hosseini formed a friendship with a Hazara man employed by his family. The man taught him how to fly kites, and in turn, Hosseini helped him learn to read. Those familiar with The Kite Runner may notice similarities between that man and Hassan—both belonging to the Hazara people, a marginalized ethnic group in Afghanistan. However, Hosseini insists that the resemblance was purely subconscious: “The truly striking part was that I completed the entire novel without once consciously thinking of him,” he told Salon. “When I finished, I realized, ‘Oh my God, of course that’s where this character comes from!’—which was an eye-opening moment for me, revealing the power of the subconscious.”

5. Hosseini faced criticism from some Afghans regarding his portrayal of Afghanistan.

In a 2013 interview with The Atlantic, Hosseini shared that he had received feedback from “older, more conservative, religious members of my community” who believed his books had tarnished Afghanistan’s image in the eyes of the West. However, he doesn’t share this view and feels that his Western readers do not either.

“Most readers have walked away with a deeper empathy for Afghanistan and its people. There’s been an increased awareness of its rich culture, heritage, and history,” he explained. “Through connecting with the characters in my novels, they’ve gained a more nuanced understanding of Afghanistan and certainly feel a personal connection when they hear of an Afghan village being bombed. I’ve received emails and letters expressing this sentiment.”

6. The author realized The Kite Runner was a success when he saw someone reading it on an airplane.

Although The Kite Runner had been out for a year, Hosseini didn’t fully grasp its success until a chance encounter on a plane. “A woman sitting next to me pulled out a copy of my book from her bag. I thought, ‘This is strange,’” the author told Rotten Tomatoes. “She started reading it and clearly enjoyed it, getting misty-eyed. That was the moment it hit me—people were actually reading this book. Leading up to its release, I thought everyone would read it. The reality was, only a few would, if I was lucky. Then, this happened, and it suddenly felt like everyone was reading it. That was when it really sunk in.”

7. Hosseini was initially skeptical about The Kite Runner making a good film.

The Kite Runner was turned into a 2007 film directed by Marc Forster, with a screenplay by David Benioff. However, Hosseini had his reservations about how well his book would translate to the big screen. “I had my doubts,” he admitted to Rotten Tomatoes. “I always felt much of the novel is internal, reflecting the struggles within Amir’s mind.” His doubts were eased when he read Benioff’s screenplay: “Once I read it, I thought, ‘There’s a real movie in this story.’” (The film holds a rating of 7.6 out of 10 on IMDb and 65 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.)

While Hosseini didn’t want to interfere with the filmmakers' creative process, he made himself available as a consultant. “I knew I could offer a unique perspective as the author,” he explained. “They consulted me on various aspects like religious issues, attire, and food. One of the more dramatic moments came when I flew to Los Angeles and spent hours with the producers, going through hundreds of pictures of locations around the world to recreate 1970s Kabul. When I saw images of Western China, I knew, ‘This is it!’”

8. The Kite Runner has also been adapted into a graphic novel.

In 2011, The Kite Runner was adapted into a graphic novel. Hosseini shared with Book Passage that his Italian publisher proposed the idea, which he eagerly embraced due to his childhood love of comics. The illustrations were created by Fabio Celoni and Mirka Andolfo, with Hosseini himself adapting the text. “The goal was to use the novel’s existing dialogue to drive the story forward, complemented by Fabio’s artwork,” he said. “Some dialogue became iconic for readers, like Baba’s speech on sin or Rahim Khan’s ‘way to be good again’ line. In other instances, there were scenes that naturally lent themselves to visual storytelling—these required no dialogue or narration, just imagery. For example, I spent pages describing the kite-fighting scenes, but Fabio captured the energy and excitement so well that no additional dialogue was needed.”

9. The Kite Runner is frequently banned and challenged.

Since its publication, The Kite Runner has been listed on the American Library Association’s list of frequently challenged books four times—in 2008, 2012, 2014, and 2017. The reasons for its challenges range from “offensive language” and “unsuitable for certain age groups” to concerns that it could “lead to terrorism” or “promote Islam.”

In response to the book's bans, Hosseini commented, “Books are our most powerful educators of empathy. They allow us to experience the lives of others and gain insights into worlds vastly different from our own.” He added, “High school students are far more perceptive than these parent groups believe. Instead of imposing our biases, we should encourage students to grow by developing empathy for others. Banning books like ‘The Kite Runner’ is a misguided disservice to students, and I support those who are fighting for the freedom to read and learn.”

10. Hosseini would now make significant revisions to The Kite Runner.

It's common for writers to look back on their earlier works and wish to make changes, and Hosseini is no different. In an interview with The Guardian about both The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, Hosseini remarked that the books seemed like “the work of someone younger than me.” He continued, “If I were to write my first novel now, it would be a different story—one that might not be what readers expect. But if I could go back with a red pen, I would dismantle it completely.”