The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (2003)

The word Afghanistan itself brings about strong emotions in most people around the world. Now couple this word with a story that grips you by the heart and doesnt let go even after you have finished reading the book. The main "hero" is Amir, a very very relatable character. A boy growing up in Kabul, privileged and with a friend who is also the servant boy and undiscovered half brother. The tale shifts from afghanistan to pakistan to the US and then back to afghanistan. It is a story of redemption without the glorified unrealistic drama that most redemption stories use. The prose is beautiful and the emotions beautifully potrayed. Wish I could etch out characters like him. 8/10