Hosseini's writing pulls you in like you're living through every moment with Amir and Hassan. I found myself thinking about the story even when I wasn't reading - that kind of emotional pull doesn't happen often.

Funny enough, after finishing it, I needed something to clear my head a bit, so I switched over to speed stars game for a while. Total contrast, but it actually helped me unwind after such a heavy and powerful read.

If you haven't read The Kite Runner yet, do it - it's one of those books that stays with you long after you're done.