The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

If you’ve heard about The Kite Runner, but haven’t read it yet, we offer a brief review:
Kite Runner is the first novel written by Khaled Hosseini, a practicing physician, whose family fled Afghanistan prior to the Taliban. Set in Kabul, Afghanistan in the 1970’s, the story focuses on Amir, the son of a wealthy merchant, and Hassan, the son of one of Amir’s father’s servants. The day in 1975, when 12-year-old Amir wins the annual kite-fighting tournament, is the best and worst day of his young life. The title refers to the competitive kite-flying young people participate in, generally in teams, where the kite-flyer uses his specially-equipped kite string to cut down opponents’ kites, and his teammate attempts to collect the fallen kite as a trophy. Hosseini's harrowing story evokes the irony of life that makes a masterpiece: the brutality and compassion of man, cowardice and courage, freedom and oppression, loss and love.

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Etown Literati has chosen Mary Shelley's Frankenstein as its next selection. They will be meeting during the week of January 22nd. Details to follow.




On rainy evenings before a fire, Mary Shelley, her half sister Claire, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Byron and his doctor Polidori entertained themselves by reading German/French ghost stories. Discussions between Byron and the Shelleys focused on natural philosophy--the nature of life. They spoke of the experiments of Dr. Erasmus Darwin, who preserved a piece of vermicelli in a glass case until by extraordinary means it began to move with voluntary motion! In this setting, Byron challenged his colleagues to write a horror story. Mary Shelley's work is the masterpiece arising from that challenge. Reading her work has brought forth these questions.

In an era of technological advancement such as cloning, what responsibility does a scientist have towards his/her new creation?

How are Victor and the monster similar--their relationship with nature and their desires for family, etc?

Does the monster's eloquence and persuasiveness make it easier for the reader to sympathize with him? How is the monster portrayed in the film versions of this story?

Post other questions and comments here.


Let us know what you think.




(Thanks to Amazon for the images.)