How effective is Hosseini’s presentation of place/setting in ‘The Kite Runner’?

... How effective is Hosseini's presentation of place/setting in 'The Kite Runner'? There are two primary locations for the novel - San Francisco & Kabul - which illustrate the themes they relate to in the context of the novel. They represent the different stages throughout the life of Amir and other characters from the early 1960s to the present day in the early 2000s. The United States, the place of solace in this instance, is juxtaposed to the turbulent, antithetical landscape of Afghanistan with some effect - each location is detailed and symbolises the rise and fall of love for each country by Amir and Baba. When focussing on the former, there is imagery of striking, sweeping landscapes, whilst Afghanistan becomes a portrait of the desolation brought upon a country by the dictatorial leadership of the Taliban, who ultimately destroy the way of life that Amir was accustomed to. It is also

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