Martha Barnette, host of public radios A Way With Words, interviews best-selling author and UCSD graduate Khaled Hosseini at the Museum of Contemporary Art on June 26.

By Pat Sherman

Khaled Hosseini, author of the best-selling novel, The Kite Runner (basis for the 2007 film of the same name) was in La Jolla June 26 for a discussion and book signing at the Museum of Contemporary Art on Prospect Street.

During the sold-out event, hosted by Warwicks bookstore and moderated by radio host Martha Barnette, the 1993 UC San Diego School of Medicine graduate spoke of returning to his former stomping grounds.

Its great to be back, Hosseini said. I really loved my time here at UC San Diego. I made some amazing friends and had four really unforgettable years here. I ended up practicing (medicine) for a good eight-and-a-half years.

Asked if he wrote during his time at UCSD, Hosseini chided Barnette, Your even asking that question shows me that you know very little about medical school. I took a seven-year sabbatical from writing during medical school and my three years of residency training, but I was writing pretty much my whole time in the U.S. outside of those seven years, he said.

Born in Kabul, Afghanistan Hosseini came to California with his family at age 15, as part of an initial wave of immigrants seeking asylum in the wake of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. He spoke almost no English though curiously, he said, he knew the word gluttony.

Khaled Hosseini signs copies of his new book, And the Mountains Echoed for attendees at Warwicks sold-out author event at the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla.

Its sort of the very by-the-book immigrant story, he said. My family arrived in the U.S. essentially stripped of all belongings and possessions and title. Like any other firstborn son of an immigrant family, I had my choice of three careers and I couldnt imagine being an engineer or a lawyer.

Before signing copies of his new book, And the Mountains Echoed, Hosseini fielded questions from the audience.

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‘Kite Runner’ author, UCSD alumni returns to La Jolla for talk