Khaled Hosseini's Reading List

"The collected “Poems of Hafez,” also called “Divan-e-Hafez.” Revered in the Persian-speaking world, Hafez is, for me, the supreme Persian poet. His verses of philosophy, mystical love and bold anti-establishment statements are filled with luxuriant images and magical rhythms that always enchant me."

"“West of Kabul, East of New York,” by Tamim Ansary; “Opium Nation,” by Fariba Nawa; “The Punishment of Virtue,” by Sarah Chayes; “The Sewing Circles of Herat,” by Christina Lamb; “The Patience Stone,” by Atiq Rahimi; “The Places in Between,” by Rory Stewart; “An Unexpected Light,” by Jason Elliot."

"“Opium Nation,” by Fariba Nawa"

"“The Punishment of Virtue,” by Sarah Chayes"

"“The Sewing Circles of Herat,” by Christina Lamb"

"“The Patience Stone,” by Atiq Rahimi"

"“The Places in Between,” by Rory Stewart"

"“An Unexpected Light,” by Jason Elliot."

"“I’m a Lebowski, You’re a Lebowski: Life, ‘The Big Lebowski,’ and What Have You.” This last book comes, needless to say, with a recipe for a White Russian and is indispensable for fans of the cult classic. But that’s just like my opinion, man."

"My father gave me a Farsi translation of “White Fang” when I was a boy in Kabul circa mid-1970s."

"My father gave me a Farsi translation of “White Fang” when I was a boy in Kabul circa mid-1970s."

"It has been years since I last read it, but the first time I did, in high school, “The Grapes of Wrath” really registered with me. Something about the struggles of the desperate migrant workers reminded me of the struggling people in my homeland of Afghanistan."

"The tragic Sohrab, the great warrior from Ferdowsi’s 11th-century “Shahnameh” (“The Book of Kings”), one of the crown jewels of classic Persian poetry."

"Dr. Manhattan from “Watchmen.”"

"This is an outstanding short story collection, much of it about men on the fringes and the splendid messes they have made of their lives. There are downtrodden divorcees, narcissistic teenagers, rivaling siblings, and men struggling to reconcile with their fathers, brothers, children, and the women in their lives. The collection is by turn bizarre, hilarious, unpredictable, all of it without a single note of artifice. The final story, about, yes, pillaging Vikings, is my favorite, both brutal..."