All the Light We Cannot See vs The Kite Runner: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Historical Fiction, Fiction
All the Light We Cannot See
More
From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, a stunningly ambitious and beautiful novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the…
The Kite Runner
“I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975.”
More
The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of…
Side by side
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- The Kite Runner is the quickest read — about 7 hours vs 10 for All the Light We Cannot See.
- All the Light We Cannot See has the widest readership — 2061893 ratings behind its score.
- The Kite Runner runs the darker storyline; All the Light We Cannot See stays the lighter read.
Affiliate links: we may earn a commission on purchases.
How to choose
Scores by source
| All the Light We Cannot See | The Kite Runner | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 4.3 (2061893) | 4.4 (120327) |
| Hardcover | — | 4.0 (1) |
| Google Books | 4.5 (4) | — |
| Apple Books | 4.5 (11862) | 4.5 (4404) |
| Check price → | Check price → |
Reception
| All the Light We Cannot See | The Kite Runner | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 2061893 | 120327 |
| Editions | 72 | 125 |
| Film adaptations | 1 | 1 |
| Want to read | 2133539 | 1517703 |
| Reading it now | 119150 | 148 |
| Written reviews | 128411 | 120327 |
| Wikipedia attention | 29517 | 37222 |
| Pages | 544 | 386 |
| Check price → | Check price → |
Questions readers ask
Which is rated higher: All the Light We Cannot See or The Kite Runner?
The Kite Runner has the higher combined reader rating across sources (The Kite Runner 4.4/5, All the Light We Cannot See 4.3/5).
Which is shorter to read: All the Light We Cannot See or The Kite Runner?
The Kite Runner is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: The Kite Runner (386 pages, ≈ 7 h 09 m); All the Light We Cannot See (544 pages, ≈ 10 h 04 m).
Which is harder to read: All the Light We Cannot See or The Kite Runner?
Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — All the Light We Cannot See: Moderate; The Kite Runner: Moderate.
Have both books been made into films?
All the Light We Cannot See: 1 film adaptation; The Kite Runner: 3 film adaptations.