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Amir learns his fascination of writing
In the book, Amir learns his new found love for writing. This interest would not have occurred unless "I played a little trick on Hassan... I had abandoned the text altogether, taken over the story, and made up my own... "'That was the best story you've read me in a long time'" he said, still clapping" (Hosseini 30). To his fascination, Amir found that Hassan loved his writing. This was important because it led to Amir's profession later in the book, and played a big role in the story. -
Soviet Invasion
Although Afghanistan was supported by the U.S, "The Soviet Army invades and props up communist government" (http://www.bbc.com/). -
The Last Time Hassan Smiled
The author connects Amir to what he sees himself as when the Amir thinks about Hassan's dream where "There was a monster in the lake. It had grabbed Hassan by the ankles, dragged him to the murky bottom. I was that monster" (Hosseini 86). Amir realizes after Hassan's rape, the cowerdice and amount of forgiveness he will need for this incident. This climax in the story shows, and starts the journey of Amir's forgiveness of his past. -
Kite Running Competition
Amir and Hassan won the Kite Contest, and Baba shows how proud he is when he tells everyone there were "'A hundred kites, Homayoun jan. No laaf. And the only one still flying at the end of the day was Amir's"' (Hosseini 84). While Baba is proud now, he did not show the same affection for Amir before the competition. This therefore shows the fake relationship between these family members. -
Amir's favorite Birthday Present
During Amir's 13th birthday he recieved many expensive presents while his favorite "It was a brown leather-bound notebook" (Hosseini 99). This book Amir would later use for his stories, another important point in the story that helps Amir's writing career become alive. He did not care about his other presents as much because to him they more came from the money rather than the heart. -
Amir's last look at Hassan
Amir causes a horrific, and important point in the story when Ali and Hassan leave because, "'Life here is impossible for us now, Agha sahib. We're leaving"' (Hosseini 106). Amir is saddened, but relieved by them leaving, but will have to get forgiveness from Baba. Amir would never see Hassan again, and it will go down as one of the other sins he has to forgive, not apologizing. -
The Dreadful Ride to freedom
After Baba and Ali left, Amir and Baba made their made to America, but Amir describes when "you order your lungs to draw air, NOW, you need air, need it NOW" (Hosseini 121). Amir and Baba barely survived the trip due to these conditions, but ended up making it to Amir's new home, America. This place would bring new hope, new journeys, and a new start for Amir's road to forgiveness. -
Afghanistan Rebellion against the Soviets
A war for their in independence starts in Afghanistan when the, "Mujahideen come together in Pakistan to form alliance against Soviet Forces" (http://www.bbc.com/) -
Soviet Union is done with Afghanistan
The communist government in Afghanistan ends when, "Afghanistan, USSR, the U.S, and Pakistan sign peace accords and Soviet Union begins pulling out troops" (http://www.bbc.com/). -
Soraya's courage
Another important time is when yet another forgiveness with someone else in Amir's life is dealt with. This was shown when Amir thinks "I envied her. Her secret was out. Spoken. Dealt with" (Hosseini 165). Amir did not tell her his actions back, showing that he was not ready for forgiveness. He was still guilty for his actions. -
Baba's sickness
Amir loses Baba to cancer after everything was going right with Soraya and it all started "Because later that week, Baba caught a cold" (Hosseini 153). Although Baba is dying, he has become more affectionate, and more loving after Hassan is gone because now he only has one son. This ends however when Baba dies of his cold, and it can be expressed as a reminder that Baba forgave his sins in America, and now it was Amir's turn. -
Amir's publish
Amir's events as a young child finally paid off in writing when "Six weeks later, a man named Martin Greenwalt called from New York and offered to represent me" (Hosseini 183). Amir is now a published author thanks to Rahim Khan and Hassan as a child. These mentors taught him his love for writing, and gave him guidance to Amir's future life as a professional writer. -
The Final Act
After Soraya and Amir become married not only did they marry, but "That was also the year that Soraya and I began trying to have a child" (Hosseini 184). Amir and Soraya never were able to make a child after several attempts, but what Amir did not know, was that this was life's final push towards Amir's road to forgiveness. No child, a father somewhere near Afghanistan, and life was waiting ahead of Amir's road. This is where Amir can finally do something in his life. -
Civil War continues
Soviets are forced to leave Afghanistan, and "The last Soviet troops leave, but civil war continues as mujahideen push to overthrow Najibullah" (www.bbc.com). -
Taliban takes control
The world for Afghanistan may have crumbled when "The Taliban seize control of Kabul and introduce hard-line version of Islam, banning women from work, and introducing Islamic punishments, which include stoning to death and amputations" (www.bbc.com). -
The Assef Encounter
On Amir's journey for Sohrab he finds him with the Taliban but someone else was there "... after all these years. His name escaped my lips: "'Assef"' (Hosseini 281). Amir finds himself with Assef, when he is working with the Taliban. He is one of the final obstacles until Amir gets Sohrab. Sohrab is the son of Hassan that can help Amir get his forgiveness for Hassan, and the only way to do that was to get by Assef. -
The Event that almost leads to the end of Sohrab's life.
Amir is subjected to tell Sohrab the best and only way to adopt him after Amir is told that, "'But at this point in time we strongly discourage U.S. citizens from attempting to adopt Afghan children"' (Hosseini 331). Amir has options to get Sohrab to the U.S, but his best one is putting Sohrab back in the orphanage for a few weeks. Amir would not have to say this unless getting Afghan children to the U.S was easier. Sohrab could not contemplate his greatest fear, and he almost killed himself. -
The Biggest Obstacle
Amir may have to overcome his biggest obstacle yet when he realizes that now "Something was lost between Sohrab and me" (Hosseini 356). This would become Amir's biggest obstacle, because Sohrab would not speak for a year to him, or anyone. His life was lost, and somehow Amir had to fix him. Even going through Assef was easier, for words sometimes are more damaging than fights. -
Taliban Increases Rule
As if Kabul was not enough, within a year the "Taliban recognized as legitimate rulers by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. They now control about two-thirds of country" (www.bbc.com). -
U.S Involvment
Angered by the devastating 911 attacks on the twin towers "The U.S bombing of Afghanistan begins following the September 11 attacks on the United States. Anti-Taliban Northern Alliance forces enter Kabul shortly afterwards" (www.bbc.com). -
What started with cowardice, ends with forgiveness
While Amir flew kites long before, he now was able to do it again when he sees "A half-dozen kites were flying high, speckles of bright yellow, red, and green against the gray sky" (Hosseini 366). Amir finally was able to forgive with kites, when the last time he flew them it ended with cowardice. He flew a kite with Sohrab just like he did with Hassan, but this time after Amir took down a kite he recieved something he hadn't gotten from Sohrab for a year, "A smile" (Hosseini 370). -
"I ran"
Amir gets what he has finally deserved from life, and it started with "I ran" (Hosseini 371). After all of these years of trying to get forgiveness Amir gets a smile from Sohrab. This time, Amir was running for a kite, starting a mile that will end with what has been dwelling in his life for a while, forgiveness. This time Amir is running for something good, showing his development over time since he last ran from Hassan's rape. Somewhere Hassan has been waiting, and somewhere Hassan is smiling. -
Afghanistan Files Leaked
With the U.S in a feud with The Taliban, a "Whistleblowing website Wikileaks publishes thousands of classified US military documents relating to Afghanistan" (www.bbc.com). -
Peace Talks
This whole feud may come to a close with the Taliban when the "Taliban agree to open office in Dubai as a move towards peace talks with the US and the Afghan government" (www.bbc.com). -
Feud between the Taliban and Afghanistan is not over yet
After many years of fighting between each other, finally some "Taliban representatives and Afghan officials hold informal peace talks in Qatar. Both sides agree to continue the talks at a later date, though the Taliban insist they will not stop fighting until all foreign troops leave the country" (www.bbc.com). -
Period: to
1975 - Present Day
Afghan history for Kite Runner