I just finished reading Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner, a story about an Afghan boy who betrays a childhood friend, then as an adult tries to redeem himself.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. It spans over 30 years of personal history against the backdrop of changes in Afghanistan over that time, and it manages to tell a great story at the same time. And it's this guy's first book!

Anyway, it was recommended by a friend, and now I'm recommending it to you. Have a look.