grelobe, thanks for this information. I really liked his "Kite Runner."

Someone on one of the other forums that I frequent has already read the book for preview and really enjoyed it. He said great things about it and the writing-he has not read The Kite Runner, but says that he now will since he enjoyed this one so much!

Thanks grelobe. My local library anticipates a huge interest, they have ordered 176 copies.

"Latest", not "last". I thought for a moment that Hosseini had died or quit writing, and I hadn't heard of it.

I'm embarrassed to admit I've yet to read The Kite Runner. I'd previously avoided books set in strange foreign countries, as the settings just didn't appeal to me. However in the recent couple of months I've been reading books set in South Africa (Coetzee) and Israel (Khadra) and have really enjoyed them. So I purchased a copy of The Kite Runner, but haven't had a chance to read it yet. Now luckily if I enjoy it as much as I expect, I'll be able to go right out and get his second book. I'll look forward to hearing all of your reviews of this one.

Curious, what is it about books on strange foreign countries that didn't appeal to you? (glad you over came your reluctance. Theres literally a whole world waiting for you! :)

Kite Runner had its problems, but its certainly worth the read if for nothing else the look it gives people in Western countries of the civilization and culture of another.

Dorie, does this mean you used only to read books set in the USA?
As Cindy says Kite Runner does give people in the US an introduction to day-to-day life in a now sorry war-torn country, although I was put off it by the low standard of 'English'.
I suppose if a book does give people an understanding of the ways of life of other civilisations it can only be a good thing.
Sebastian Faulkes was on the radio the other day, he quoted Ambrose Bierce saying "War is God's way of teaching Americans geography."

I have tried twice to read Kite Runner because of the almost universal praise it received from friends-but have not been able to persevere and complete it. I know I have not given it enough of a chance-less than 25 pages each time-but I just didn't want to pick it up when I had reading time. Not sure if I was just being an ostrich, or if it was the style-but I do still have it and someday perhaps I'll pick it up again. Just the other day, though, I discovered that a fellow library volunteer and friend has had the same experience-and she is also a voracious reader.

Cindy and Veer, I've usually tried to limit my reading to books set either in the US or the UK, where IÂm more familiar with the settings and the customs. There are two problems I've previously encountered with foreign settings. Either the author does nothing to explain things which might not make sense to people outside that culture, or they explain it in such detail that it ends up getting in the way of the plot. (I can get bored quickly.) However, I was encouraged by the accessibility of the two previously-mentioned authors' books which managed to avoid these two traps. So I'm doing my best now to read outside my "comfort zone".

I guess I will reveal my American blue collar roots by saying that while I can see some valid criticisms and problems with The Kite Runner (which I enjoyed much more than I expected, by the way) I did not in any way find the language /quality of writing in the novel 'low standard'. In fact, I thought it had some beautiful passages. I'll probably try his next book, but not until it comes out in paperback. I find I'm often not as disappointed by hype if I wait until the "newness" of a book wears off.

dorie, I understand what you are saying. Its just so different from my experience. I've been in love with reading about other cultures since elem school, had wonderful teahchers who encouraged it, and a dad who used to discuss them with me. I suspect that I was bored with my way of life (the southwest is not exactly the cultural mecca of the country). Learning about other cultures opened new doors for me, and often opened new opportunities to learn, as I found that geography, culture and history were tied to one.

BTW I am going to start a new thread just for you - UnAmerican books - favorite reads about different cultures. Stay tuned

georgia, I also didn't find problems with the language. It was dealing with a very unlikable narrator, and seeing an overabundance of coincidences that didn't need to be there. I wasn't always sure what or who the story was about - except that its focus on the history of the country was so strong that it didn't matter to much for me.

Just chiming in to say that I also had no problems with the language/writing style. I must say that I could hardly put the book down, once started, as I found the narrative so compelling.

Ditto Cindy's comment about the novel: "It was dealing with a very unlikable narrator, and seeing an overabundance of coincidences that didn't need to be there." The "overabundance of coincindences" and some of the cliche characters and plot twists detracted from the novel and certainly kept it from my Keeper Shelf. I would read another by this author, tho - this was a first novel.

Hello Grelobe! I think you are the sole Italian (well, one who actually lives in Italy) on this board and it is always a pleasure to hear from you.