Kite Flyer

Howdy,

Well I finished the Kite Runner, and I can say its a very good book. The over arching theme to me seems not to judge a book by its cover, or the danger of assumptions. The first short chapter sets your mind ticking about what is going to happen at the end. Basically the main character, Amir, an Afghan living in America in June 2001, is contacted by someone from home and told there is a way to be good again, to atone for his sins. And its left at that and the story jumps back in time to his childhood in Kabul. Reading the book I was thinking ok this is how this guy turns out to be a suicide bomber, one of the 911 guys. But its only my own prejudices that are shown up as the source of his redemption is entirely good.

The book is the story of a family and a country. The depiction of Afghanistan is beautiful during the start of the novel but once the Taliban move in the imagery is shocking and devastating.

So yeah go out and get this one. Also I really like the "Points for Discussion" at the end and the authors top ten novels.

Now back to Kafka 8(

Also I have started on the crusade to work my way through the American Film Institutes (AFI) top 100 moves. I bought Citizen Kane for €9 during the weekend. I'm keeping to the rule that I'm only going to buy a dvd if it costs less than €10. I don't think there is much to say about Citizen Kane, its a brilliant movie, Welles is brilliant in it, the story line is gripping and the photography is still evocative.

Next on the list is the Godfather. Think I'll buy the box set as part two is also on the list.

Here is the list for your perusal

1 CITIZEN KANE

2 GODFATHER, THE

3 CASABLANCA

4 RAGING BULL

5 SINGIN' IN THE RAIN

6 GONE WITH THE WIND

7 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA

8 SCHINDLER'S LIST

9 VERTIGO

10 WIZARD OF OZ, THE

11 CITY LIGHTS12 SEARCHERS, THE13 STAR WARS14 PSYCHO15 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY16 SUNSET BLVD.17 GRADUATE, THE18 GENERAL, THE19 ON THE WATERFRONT20 IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE21 CHINATOWN22 SOME LIKE IT HOT23 GRAPES OF WRATH, THE24 E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL25 TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD26 MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON27 HIGH NOON28 ALL ABOUT EVE29 DOUBLE INDEMNITY30 APOCALYPSE NOW31 MALTESE FALCON, THE32 GODFATHER PART II, THE33 ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST34 SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS35 ANNIE HALL36 BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI, THE37 BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES, THE38 TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE, THE39 DR. STRANGELOVE40 SOUND OF MUSIC, THE41 KING KONG42 BONNIE AND CLYDE43 MIDNIGHT COWBOY44 PHILADELPHIA STORY, THE45 SHANE46 IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT47 STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, A48 REAR WINDOW 49 INTOLERANCE 50 LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, THE51 WEST SIDE STORY52 TAXI DRIVER 53 DEER HUNTER, THE54 M*A*S*H55 NORTH BY NORTHWEST 56 JAWS 57 ROCKY58 GOLD RUSH, THE 59 NASHVILLE60 DUCK SOUP61 SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS62 AMERICAN GRAFFITI 63 CABARET 64 NETWORK 65 AFRICAN QUEEN, THE 66 RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK67 WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?68 UNFORGIVEN69 TOOTSIE70 CLOCKWORK ORANGE, A71 SAVING PRIVATE RYAN72 SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, THE73 BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID74 SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, THE75 IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT76 FORREST GUMP77 ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN78 MODERN TIMES79 WILD BUNCH, THE80 APARTMENT, THE81 SPARTACUS82 SUNRISE83 TITANIC84 EASY RIDER85 NIGHT AT THE OPERA, A86 PLATOON87 12 ANGRY MEN88 BRINGING UP BABY89 SIXTH SENSE, THE90 SWING TIME91 SOPHIE'S CHOICE92 GOODFELLAS93 FRENCH CONNECTION, THE94 PULP FICTION95 LAST PICTURE SHOW, THE96 DO THE RIGHT THING97 BLADE RUNNER98 YANKEE DOODLE DANDY99 TOY STORY100 BEN-HUR