The End

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading The kite Runner this semester. It was a great book and i found it very interesting.I found that there were a lot of characters all with unfamiliar names, and some that the book could of done without. Although some parts made me rather uncomfortable and I was unsatisfied with the ending it was still an excellent read. I found the ending had a lot of loose ends which made me unhappy. I would of really liked to have known what kind of relationship Amir and Sohrab developed or didn't develop. I can only assume that the author wanted to leave the ending of the book open to interpretation. I'd like to think there was a happy ending and that Amir and Sohrab were able to develop a healthy relationship. I would recommend this book to people who are mature because of the violence and mature content of the novel itself.

Chapters 22 and 23

 Chapter 22 starts with Amir and his meeting with the Taliban in an effort to get Sohrab to safety. Once in this office Amir finds Assef (his old bully) is one of the members of the Taliban. Assef goes into detail about how he and his family had been put in jail and he decides to join the Taliban after his experience. Assef allows Amir to take Sohrab for a price,but he doesn't want any money. Assef says that he and Amir have "unfinished business" and will grant Sohrab's freedom if Amir agrees to fight.When Amir and Hassan were young boys Assef threatens to beat them both up. Hassan stops him by threatening to shoot him with a slingshot in the eye. Assef wants a fight to the death but Sohrab ends up being the real hero in this chapter. While Amir is literally being beaten to death, Sohrab grabs his slingshot and shoot Assef right in the eye. Amir and Sohrab escape, the chapter ends with Amir passing out.
 The chapter ends so quickly I didn't know what to think, so I continued to read in curiosity. I wanted to find out if Amir was dead, or if he was alive and injured. I also wanted to know if Sohrab is safe.
 Chapter 23 starts with Amir blacking in and out. He wakes up in a hospital in Peshawar with some major injuries. He is informed that he suffered from a ruptured spleen, seven broken ribs, a punctured lung and various lacerations. Fraid gives a letter to Amir from Rahim stating not to look for him and that he has left him money in a safe in Kabul. 
 I'm so relieved that Amir is alive and will be able to recover, and that Sohrab is safe for the time being.

Chapter 20 & 21

 Chapter 20 starts with Amir and Farid (man who he is traveling with)arriving in Kabul.Kabul is a whole lot different from when Amir was younger and Amir has his first encounter with the Taliban since arriving back in his home country. While on his travels he encounters a man who knew his mother before she passed away,although he does not remember much of her.They finally arrive at the orphanage where Sohrab should be. The owner of the orphanage,Zaman,admits that a member of the Taliban took Sohrab a month ago.He then tell them that they can find this Taliban officer at the Ghazi Stadium tomorrow. So off they go in a continued search for Sohrab.You can almost sense that something bad is about to happen in the next chapter and it made me a little uneasy.Since the novel has been so graphic in some parts i can only imagine what will happen next.Although the novel has made me uncomfortable in chapters it continues to be a great and interesting novel.

 Chapter 21 starts with Amir and Farid passing through Amir's home town and where he had lived all his life till he fled to America with Baba.Amir asks Farid to stop at his old house so he can recall all the memories from that house and his childhood. He remembers reading Hassan stories,Sitting under their favourite tree in the backyard and kite running.They stop at a run-down motel for the night and continue to Ghazi Stadium.Once they arrive at Ghazi Stadium they find a seat in the over-crowded, unorganized place.Amir has his first encounter with something really unpleasant:

"I closed my eyes and covered my face with my hands."-pg284

  This part in the novel also made me very uncomfortable and it is unfortunate that event like these still take place.
 Amir witnesses a man being stoned to death and he tried to block out the events as much as possible by the above quotation. The person who stones the man also turns out to be the Taliban officer they are looking for. So the chapter ends with Amir arranging to meet him at 3 o'clock that day.

Chapters 14 to 19

These chapters are all pretty short so I've decided to summarize and give my input all at one time.

 Chapter 14 starts in June 2010 with a Call from Rahim Khan telling Amir he is sick and would like to see him.He also tell Amir that he knew everything about the kite, the money and watch he hid and hassan being raped. Amir immediately hops on the fastest flight to Pakistan to see him (he hasn't seen him in a very long time). Amir arrives on Pakistani International Airlines one week later.

 Chapter 15 starts with a taxi ride to Rahim's house.I learn that Amir hasn't seen Rahim since 1981, when Baba was still alive. Amir also feels very awkward since he hasn't seen in a very long time. The chapter ends with Rahim admitting that he is dying and that he doesn't have much more time to live. Amir seems to be upset with this information from Rahim, as he should. Amir was very close to Rahim when he was a young boy and he looked up to him alot more then Baba.
 In Chapter 16 Rahim is telling Amir all about Hassan. Hassan is married to a women named Farzana and Ali Has died due to stepping on a land mine. Rahim asks Hassan and his wife to stay with him because he can no longer take good care of Baba's old house by himself. Hassan's mother shows up one day and ends up staying with them as well, and Hassan becomes very close to his mother.I can only imagine how happy hassan must of been with his mother's return. Find out that she was alive must of made him quite happy.The chapter ends with Rahim telling Amir that Hassan ,and his wife, have a little baby boy in the winter of 1990.
 Chapter 17 starts with a letter from Hassan to Amir that Rahim gives to him. The letter details Hassan's life since being married and having a kid. He tells Amir of what he and his son,named Sohrab. Amir also learns that Hassan and his wife Farzana were shot and killed by the Taliban. This makes Amir very very upset because he was so close to Hassan.I can only imagine if i were to lose a friend that close to me and how upsetting it would be. Rahim's dying wish is to have Amir bring Sohrab back to Peshawar so he can be safe. The chapter ends with Amir learning that Hassan was his half brother. Amir is furious that no one told him early and that Hassan had died not knowing at all and he storms out of Rahim's house. I understand why Amir would be upset about this because maybe this would of been different with him and Hassan. The fact that Baba,Ali and Rahim covered up the lie for 38 years makes him even more furious. As it should because he trusted them and they hid the truth all this time.

 Chapter 18 is all about Amir deciding to go to Kabul to find Sohrab while he continues to be mad.The one quote that stuck with me this chapter was :

"There is only one sin. And that is theft...When you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth"(pg 237). 

This is Amir reflection upon what Baba had told him when he was just a little boy and how Baba had done just that by lying to him.

 Chapter 19 just consist of Amir traveling to Kabul and staying in Jalalabad for the night.

 All these chapters,though mostly short, reveal a lot of hidden truths in the novel and make the novel very interesting. I've really enjoyed reading the novel and i think it can only become more eventful from here on.I only have 5 more chapters and I'm a bit sad it's almost over, I can only hope for a good ending.

Chapter 13

The beginning of the chapters starts with Soraya and Amir's engagement party, and their wedding day soon after. The Wedding is an emotional day for Amir because, not only is he marrying the girl he loves, it is some of the last time he will be able to spend with Baba. Soraya moves in to Baba and Amir's apartment and takes good care of Baba. A month later Baba dies in his sleep leaving Amir very upset. 

It would be a difficult time for Amir. People who have also lost someone can relate to the obvious emotional pain Amir feels during this chapter in the novel. 
You can really feel Amir's emotional pain when he says:

"Baba couldn't show me the way anymore; I'd have to find it on my own. The Thought of that terrified me."(pg 182)

 Amir is accepted into San Jose State and in 1988 he finishes his first novel. He sends it to many different publication places and finally get a reply from new york. Amir is going to be a published novelist and Soraya is very excited. In 1989 his book is published. The chapter ends with Amir and Soraya moving into a new house.

Ch 12

 Chapter 12 starts with Amir finally gathering courage to chat to Soraya, who he is clearly madly in love with.They have a nice conversation about the book Soraya is reading, Wuthering Heights, and Amir is introduced to Soraya`s mother Jamila. Soraya almost tells Amir that she wishes to become a teacher in the future while Amir promises her that he will let her read one of his stories.

Baba becomes really sick in this chapter and Amir takes him to the doctor. Baba really hates the doctor which is understandable because a lot of people do too. After his doctor visit it turns out that Baba has cancer and he refuses to go to chemo,which makes Amir very upset because he really does love his father.

 Learning Baba has cancer made me quite upset because as much as he ignores Amir sometimes, it has helped shape Amir into a such a great person.It also made me sad because there are people who die from cancer all the time, and people who try to fight it and win. So with Baba refusing the treatment that could help him win the fight ,he just flat out refuses.

 The chapter ends with Baba asking Soraya's father if Amir can marry her,And he says yes. This,of course, makes Amir very happy.

Ch 11

 Chapter 11 begins in Fremont California in the 1980's with Baba and Amir walking in the park having a lengthy discussion about politics in America. Baba and Amir currently live in an apartment with Amir attending school and Baba working at a gas station.

 I think the it is obvious that Both Amir and Baba are adjusting to life in America and it must not of been easy. They are refuge's-outsiders. It's always difficult to adjust to new surroundings , very similar to moving houses. It takes time to become comfortable to something new. I look forward to seeing what new adventures will await both characters in America.

  The Year now is 1983,Amir has graduated high school at the age of 20 and has finally received some desired respect and appreciation of Baba. The day after he graduates Baba gets him a car for college. He then tells Baba he wants to enroll in junior college for an English major in creative writing. Baba is not very impressed because he doesn't believe it is a good decision on Amir's part.He thinks that unless Amir gets "discovered" he will not be able to provide for his future family.
 I understand Baba's concern for his son but he has to understand that your children try to please and make you proud but in the end have to follow their own dreams.I admire Amir for trying to make Baba proud but i also really admire his desire to accomplish something he really wants. I think that really shows his personality and how he has developed as a character through the novel.
 The Chapter ends on an early Sunday morning,in July 1984, Baba introduces Amir to General Sahib, Mr.Iqbal Taheri he used to be a general in Kabul.the chapter ends with Amir meeting Sahib's daughter Soraya who he finds rather beautiful.

"It may be unfair, but what happens in a few days, sometimes even a single day, can change the course of a whole lifetime,Amir"-Baba pg 150

Chapter 10 !

 The chapter begins March 1981(during this time people are fleeing to places like Iran and Pakistan to escape the strife in their country). Amir is now 18 years old. Baba and Amir are leaving Kabul and heading to Jalalabad with several other refugees. Amir still get cars sick at age 18 and Baba is very embarrassed of this.
A lot of people have motion sickness so they can relate to the uncomfortable feeling Amir experiences.
 While on their travels, they get stopped by a Russian solider. The Solider fancied a women and asks for a half hour with her as a tax for letting them pass. Baba is not overly impressed with this and is furious with the solider.

"Tell him I'll take a thousand of his bullets before I let this indecency take place."-pg 122

 The solider prepares to shoot Baba but then another Russian solider knocks him unconscious.

 During the actions of Baba,it shows how brave he is by taking a stand against a solider. Amir has a flash back to six years ago to the time in the ally when Hassan was raped and he didn't do anything to stop it. Amir seems to Admire Baba's bravery.

 Amir,Baba and the other refugees arrive in Jalalabad to find that the truck to take them to Peshawar has been broken for 2 weeks. Baba is once again furious and tries to choke Karim (the person who was driving the first vehicle)but stops after a young women begs him to. While waiting for the truck to be fixed, Amir discovers that Kamal (one of the kids who used to bully him) is also there with his father.
 I found that the way Kamal was described,interesting. It seems that he doesn't talk, and I'm assuming it has something to do with the Day Assef raped hassan.
 Karim finds a fuel truck that can take them all to Pakistan. Once they arrive there Kamal starts to choke and can't breath. At the end of the chapter he dies. Kamal's father takes Karim's gun and shoots himself.
I'm really enjoying this book, I think it can only get better from here.

Chapter 9 !

 In this chapter Amir receives Baba's birthday gift for him. Baba gets him a new bike and a wristwatch. Amir can't stand to look at any of his gifts because he feels like he doesn't deserve them. This is probably because he feels insanely guilty over what has happened to Hassan.
 I think people can relate to this because everyone has dones something in their life that made them feel guilty. Or maybe kept something from someone that made them feel guilty. Even lying to someone to keep a secret can make you feel guilty.
 Ali and Hassan get Amir a new copy of Shahnamah(his favourtie book) which he puts in a pile with all of the other gifts because he can't stand to look at them. Amir hides his gift money and wrist watch under Hassan's bed in hope that will get rid of him so he will no longer feel guilty.
 Even if Amir's plan worked, he would still feel guilty. The term "out of sight out of mind" wouldn't really apply to Amir, because his guilt is eating him up inside.
 Baba fins the "missing" items and Hassan admits to stealing even when everyone is aware that he didn't. Ali decided that it is best for them to leave with much protest from Baba.
 Even though Amir has gotten what he wished for I don't think that the problem will just go away. I think that Amir will be guilty through the entire novel. I'm just hoping he finds a way to be friends with Hassan again. However is I was Hassan I wouldn't want to trust Amir in the first place.

Chapter 8 !

 In this chapter Amir begs Baba to go to Jalalabad (a town in eastern Afghanistan)
Amir is hoping it's just him and Baba going but he invites all of his extended family, making Amir upset because he just wants to spend time with him.
 I can understand Amir's desire to spend time with his father.My dad works in Toronto and is gone early in the morning and doesn't get back till late at night, so i don't get to spend a lot of time with him during the week.
 Amir also turns 13 in this chapter (the year being 1976), and Baba decided to throw a HUGE party for Amir.

"Baba's motto about throwing parties was this: invite the whole world or it's not a party." -pg99

Amir doesn't enjoy himself because he really doesn't know anyone at all.
 This is relate-able to a lot of kids because parents are always trying to out-do each other with the parties they throw for there own kids. The only difference being that most kids have their friends , not people they don't know.

Authors & Secondary Sources

1) Author: Khaled Hosseini Title: The Kite Runner
2) I had never heard of this author before the book. I was really quite interested in the book at first, because my grandma told me it was a great book.
3) The author Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1965.His father was a diplomat with the Afghan Foreign Ministry while his mother taught Farsi and History at a large high school. Hosseini graduated from high school in 1984 and enrolled at Santa Clara University for a bachelor's degree in Biology. 
4) A Thousand Splendid Suns was the only other book that has been published by Hosseini.
5) The author grew up in Afghanistan where the novel takes place which, I will assume, is one of his influences for the novel.
6) One of the main themes I have picked up on in the novel is loyalty. Hassan is a very loyal friend to Amir. Amir, however, is very disloyal to Hassan because he pretends he doesn't know what happened to Hassan when Amir asks even thought he does.
7) I could not currently find any of this information.
8) 1)Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. Anchor Canada, 2003. 391. Print.  http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/GLD/hits?r=d&origSearch=true&o=DataType&n=10&l=d&h=1100082159&c=1&locID=stc23378&secondary=false&u=CLC&t=KW&s=3&NA=Khaled+Hosseini&GD=%22Male%22
2) http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/GLD/hits?r=d&origSearch=true&o=DataType&n=10&l=d&h=1100082169&c=1&locID=stc23378&secondary=false&u=CLC&t=KW&s=3&NA=Khaled+Hosseini&GD=%22Male%22
3)http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/GLD/hits?r=d&origSearch=true&o=DataType&n=10&l=d&h=1100082162&c=1&locID=stc23378&secondary=false&u=CLC&t=KW&s=3&NA=Khaled+Hosseini&GD=%22Male%22

Chapter 7 !

 The chapter begins with Amir and Hassan eating breakfast, and Hassan explains tell Amir his dream. It's the day of the kite running competition and you can tell that Amir feels a great amount of pressure from Himself and Baba to win this year. If Amir is to win, he feels that Baba will finally be proud of him. Amir is also extremely nervous because if he loses he thinks that he will never be able to make Baba proud. Hassan comforts him by saying..

 "Remember Amir agha. There's no monster, just a beautiful day."-pg 65 

 The quote refers to his dream in which He and Amir swim in a lake where there is a supposed monster. Buy swimming in the lake they prove there is no monster and the people name the lake in honour of their bravery.
Amir ends up making it to the finals and begins to see victory within his reach.

"But this was my chance to be looked at, not seen, listened to ,not heard"-pg 69 

 Amir wins and Hassan offers to run the kite he won against as a trophy. Hassan is gone for a long time and Amir goes off to look for him. When Amir asks a merchant he tells him that Hassan was being chased by some other boys. When Amir finally finds him he has been cornered by Assef and his friends, Assef also wants the kite. Assef is prepared to beat up Hassan, but if he gives him the kite he'll let him go. Hassan knows that the kite would mean a lot to Amir and refuses to give it up. Hassan gets raped in this chapter ,however, Amir can see what is happening but runs away not knowing what to do.
 At this point in the book I had to stop reading because the book become very graphic and it made me quite uncomfortable find Hassan's character to be quite interesting and I’ve grown to like him very much. It made me feel upset know that Amir knew yet he ran away anyways even though Hassan is his friend.
 The chapter ends with Amir pretending to just find Hassan and they walk home together.

Current Character Map

Character Map of the current characters in my novel

Chapter 6 !

 When the chapter starts it is the winter time. Amir is very excited because he doesn't have to go to school in the winter. I'm sure that would make me enjoy winter a lot more too. This is always an exciting time for Amir and Hassan because it's the time of kite running. Baba takes them to buy their kites, and you can notice that Amir is really jealous of Baba favoring Hassan over him when Hassan isn't even his child.

Kite running is basically people flying kites and then they try and cut the string of the other competitors. The last kite standing is the winner.

"The Rules were simple:No rules. Fly your kite. Cut the opponents. Good Luck."-Amir pg.55

 Amir is also jealous of Hassan because he is a much better kite runner then him. Kite running is when an opponent cuts the string of your kite and it flies away. The person who owns the kite will then run after it thus the term "Kite Runner". Hassan has the special ability to know where exactly the kite is going to land, something Amir is very jealous of.Amir wants to win this years kite running competition so Baba will be proud of him.
 I think that this kind of behavior Amir demonstrates is totally normal because we all want to make our parents proud of us.

Chapter 5 !

The Chapter starts by loud noises waking Hassan and Amir up in the middle of the night. Ali tells them that they are "Hunting ducks" and it's nothing to be afraid of. In the morning they learn that the current leader of Afghanistan, Zahir Shah, has been killed while Daoud Khan has taken over.

 Amir and Hassan decide to go read at their favourtie spot under the tree. While on their way they in-counter the neighbourhood bully Assef and his posse, Wali and Kamal. Assef goes on to brag about how he has had Daoud Khan over for dinner and that he is friends with his brother. He then threatens to beat Amir and Hassan up. Hassan defends them both by using a rock and a slingshot. Although he does not actually shot the rock, Assef and his goons go on their way.

 Soon after it is now early winter of 1974, also Hassan's birthday. I can tell that Amir seems to be jealous of Hassan because Baba favours him more, even though he isn't his own son.Baba get's Hassan a plastic surgeon for his birthday to fix his lip. The Chapter ends with Hassan's surgery being successful.

Chapter 4

In this chapter I have learnt that Baba was born in 1933. This was also the time Zahir Shah began a 40 year regin of Afghanistan, which is important information for the next chapter. I also learn that Baba Adopts Ali ,his current servant, after his parents are struck by a vehicle and killed.Ali is also Hassan's father.

Amir and Hassan have grown up together their whole lives. They even have a favourite spot on a hill under a tree, where they read books. They fly kites,go to movies they even learned how to ride bikes and crawl together.

Amir ,however, attends school while Hassan stays home to help Ali with the house-hold chores. Amir read to Hassan all the time since he can't. He has an interest in reading while his favourite book is Shahnaman.

The chapter ends with Amir writing his own story. He shows it to Baba, but he shows little interest. Rahim read Amir's story and thinks that he has true talent that should not go to waste.

"God has granted you a special talent.It is now your duty to hone that talent, because a person who wastes his god-given talent is a donkey"- Rahim pg 35

Chapter 3 !

 Aright, so I’ve just finished reading chapter 3 so I thought I should blog my thoughts before they disappear. :)
 So in this chapter I've learnt that Amir loves poetry and absolutely loves to read, and buys a new book almost every week.
 Also in this chapter Baba seems to develop as a character. The chapter starts off with a true story about baba and how he fought a black bear with his bare hands. Baba is also a very successful business man and owns a restaurant, a carpet exporting business and 2 pharmacies, all with his friend Rahim Khan. Baba is also very generous man as in the late 1960's he built an orphanage.

 Lastly, I found a quote in this chapter that I liked alot.

"Children arn't colouring books. You don't get to fill them in with your favourtie colours" -Rahim Khan pg 23

 This quote is during a conversation that Baba and Rahim are having. Amir is listening to this through the door , they however, are unaware of him. Basically, Baba is disappointed that Amir is not more like him, and Rahim defends him. I think that Baba is ungrateful for Amir and doesn't realize that he is his own individual person.

Book Choice Submission

The book is called The Kite Runner and was written by Khaled Hosseini. There are 391 pages and it was published in 2003.

I choose this book cause after doing some research and reading some reviews it seemed like it would be a good book. My grandma and aunt have also read it and recommended it as they both enjoyed it.

I don't think I’ve read far enough in the book to decide if I like the book or not. There aren’t a lot of things that happen in the first 2 chapters.

I've only read the first 2 chapters of this book. I wanted to take my time reading it and make sure I get as much detail as possible so I can understand everything in the book.

So far I have learned the main characters names, Amir and Hassan. I've learned that Amir's mother died during child birth while Hassan's mother ran off with a clan of travelling singers and dancers. Amir’s father’s name is Ali but many of the neighbourhood children make fun of him and call him Babalu.

There are not really any obvious themes at this time because I don’t think I’m far enough into the book at all. However i feel that loyalty may be a theme because Hassan’s mother left him and his father after he was born.

 I haven't started to look for any secondary sources at this time. When I do I will blog them later.

 "For you, a thousand times over"-pg2

  For me this was the line that captured my interest the most. This line made me think of second chances we give people. It makes me think that ,when you truly love someone, you will give them a thousand chances simply because you want them in your life. I think I myself can connect to this line because when people make me upset I can always forgive them simply because I wouldn't want to live my life without them.

It's Blogging Time

 Hello, my name is Courtney Dobbin and I'm a grade 12 student. This is my blog for my English ISU and i will be updating it often. I chose to read The Kite Runner and ,as you can see above, there is a picture of the front cover. I chose to read this book because first, the cover interested me. Second some of my relatives have also read this book and have told me how wonderful it is. Finally after doing some research I was very interested in this book and eager to read it.