Compare: The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns

Before starting, let me assure you that in this article you won’t find any spoilers about The Kite Runner or about A Thousand Splendid Suns.

So now, let’s start.

We had joined Instagram last year and seeing the hype around these books, I decided to give these books a try. And, I finished reading both the books last year.

I first read A Thousand Splendid Suns and then The Kite Runner. And, so here is the comparison.

The Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns. Compare The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. — Compare: The Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns

On various platforms like Quora and Reddit, I have seen people asking many questions like which book to prefer: A Thousand Splendid Suns or The Kite Runner, or asking for comparison or looking for opinions that will help them to pick up the book.

So in this article, I have decided to not just give my personal opinion but the comparison of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns based on facts and statistics as well. It will help you make your own opinion and decide if it will be worth spending your time and money on these books or not.

So, let’s get started by answering the basic questions. These questions I have seen people asking often on various forums, social media platforms, in the comments section, and many times in my DM on Instagram.

So, let’s get started.

But first let me answer this:

Both the books, The Kite Runner and, A Thousand Splendid Suns are not a part of the series. They both are different books, just written by the same author, Khaled Hosseini.

What are the books about?

The Kite Runner:

The Kite Runner is set in Afghanistan and the United States between the 1960s and early 2000s. At the core, this book focuses on the caste difference between Pashtuns and Hazaras, two of the ethnic groups residing in Afganistan. It also focuses on the life of people living in Afganistan and the people who have migrated from Afganistan to different countries due to war. The Kite Runner is the story of love, loss, violence, friendship, and redemption.

A Thousand Splendid Suns:

A Thousand Splendid Suns is set in Afghanistan from the early 1960s to the early 2000s. At the core, this book is trying to highlight the struggles that people faced after the fall of the monarchy and the rise of the Taliban. The story tries to highlight the struggles and difficulties faced by common people in Afghanistan especially women. A Thousand Splendid Suns is a story of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love.

When were the novels first published and by who?

The Kite Runner was first published on 29 May 2003 by Riverhead Books.

A Thousand Splendid Suns was first published on 22 May 2007 by Riverhead Books (and Simon & Schuster audio CD).

The Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns first published. Compare The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.

What is the genre of these books?

Both The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns are Historical Fiction.

Narration:

The Kite Runner:

The story is narrated by a male protagonist i.e. in this novel the main character is male and the story is said from his point of view.

A Thousand Splendid Suns:

The story has a female protagonist i.e. in this novel the main character is female and the story is said from her point of view.

Goodreads statistics

As of now,

The Kite Runner: Average rating: 4.3 / 5 from around a 2.5million ratings

A Thousand Splendid Suns: 4.3 / 5 from around 1million ratings

(Gosh, this is the first time I saw how many people have rated these books, like 2M, 1M! These books are extra popular. 😲)

So, now these are facts about both the novels. Now, let’s dive into the more personal aspects of the novels and what we liked and what we didn’t like so much about the novels.

The awesome part about the novels:

The Kite Runner:

From character description to storytelling to plot, everything about this book is just Perfect.

A Thousand Splendid Suns:

The most amazing thing about this book is the blending of the stories of two completely different generations and different times. It is very hard to blend stories of different generations, especially when they are nearly 30 years apart. But the author has done it soo flawlessly, it is Amazing.

Not so good part about the novels:

The Kite Runner:

Okay, honestly, I didn’t find a single part where I could say, oh, this could have been better or that could have been better. Everything was perfect. From character description to storytelling to plot, everything about this book was just Perfect.

A Thousand Splendid Suns:

In this story, there are two characters, Mariam and Laila. I loved the way Laila was introduced but felt the introduction to the early life of Mariam was a bit confusing and could have been better. But again, in the latter part, you start understanding Mariam. In the latter part, the character of Mariam is more convincing than it was at the start.

The obvious question: Is the story going to be imprinted on your mind?

Yes, both books are going to stay in my heart forever. Though The Kite Runner will be a little more.

Are the books going to make me cry?

Yes, they will. Both the books will. Though I didn’t cry, because usually, I don’t. But, these books are surely very touching, and their story is surely going to stay in your heart forever.

Another obvious question: Is it worth spending your time and money on these books?

If you ask me, it is. They are wonderfully written stories of a tragic time in Afganistan. Both the books are a wonderful mix of reality and fiction. And you are going to remember their stories for years and years to come.

Which book should you read first?

There is no order as to which book to read first. You can pick up any. Because both the books are awesome.

Which is the book are we going to re-read?

Both. Both books are awesome and worth re-reading. Even though I don’t usually re-read books, if I had to, I would surely pick both of them. Without even a second thought!

One of our all-time favorite quote from the book:

“For you, a thousand times over,” I heard myself say.
– The Kite Runner

” But, mostly, Mariam is in Laila’s own heart, where she shines with the bursting radiance of a thousand suns.”
– A Thousand Splendid Suns

Our personal opinion:

Won’t you agree? There are only a few books whose stories you will remember for years and years to come. And these two are that kind of book.

I saw these books recommended by many when I started the bookstagram page on Instagram. And, that is when I decided to read these books. And now that I have read them, I now know why there is so much hype around these two books. It is worth it. If you ask me, both books should be read by everyone at least once in a lifetime. They are just awesome and heart-touching.

So in detail, if you want to know our personal opinion, you can check out the review of both the books: The Kite Runner Review, A Thousand Splendid Suns Review. Here we have given in a detailed review of both these books. And don’t worry both the reviews are spoiler-free.

Do you have any other questions related to these books that you want us to answer? You can ask them in the comment section below. We would surely love to address it.

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