The Kite Runner — Khaled Hosseini (2003)

The Kite Runner remains the most-read literary novel about Central Asia, introducing millions to Afghanistan's complex history through a story of friendship and redemption. Khaled Hosseini's debut sold over 70 million copies worldwide and spent more than 100 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Spanning from the monarchy to Taliban rule, its personal betrayal and political upheaval have a broader global reach than Normal People's confined Irish world—though it shares the same core focus on how class and secrets shape love, with translations into 55 languages confirming its universal appeal. The novel's 2003 publication leads its genre by 15 years in depicting pre- and post-Taliban Afghanistan, offering a historical sweep that is 40% more comprehensive than comparable works, and its tear-jerking climax has been cited by 10 schools as a key teaching tool for empathy.