Does 'The Kite Runner' remain true to its essence ?

Recently I watched 'The Kite Runner', the 2007 film directed by Marc Forster. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Khaled Hossein. I haven't read the novel yet, so I really don't know how much the filmmaker has remained truthful to the soul of the story.

Has anybody read the novel and seen the film as well? Can the film be cited as the best adaptation of the novel? Has the filmmaker given the complete justice to the novel ? Is the film an exemplar of the way of making novel-based films?.... Your thoughts are welcome.