Kite Runner

     "The Kite Runner" is about a boy, Amir, and his journey throughout his life and his experiences. Amir had one friend, Hassan, who was also his servant. Hassan and Amir were always getting harrased by Assef. Assef would harass them because Hassan was a different race, and Amir was his friend. The Russian invasion of Afghanistan forced Amir and his father to flee to America. Amir lived his life in America and went back to Afghanistan to save Hassan’s son from Assef, and bring him back to America.

          I believe the audience that this book is intended for is teens and adults. There are some explicit parts, for example when Hassan gets raped (p75) and when the soldier is talking mess about his mother (p7). This book also explains and gives some insight to the Afghanistan history, for example the Russian invasion and the Taliban, but not as much of the Taliban as the Russian invasion.

         Khaled Hosseini’s style of writing, to me, seems very descriptive and straight foward and he doesn’t hold anything back. For example, when he writes: “He brushed his lips against Sohrab’s ear, kept his eye on me.” (p281) That is very disturbing to me because its an older man treating a young boy like his lover and some books would say something more sublte, such as “he showed affection towards Sohrab as if he was his lover” or something along the lines of that. Hosseini didn’t hold back and described exactly what was going on with detail. He describes things with detail throughout the book. His writing also seems more like he’s creating a picture in the readers head, When I read I could picture everything that was going on because of the amount of detail.

         Amir is a very interesting character throughout this book. I believe he has some emotional issues because of what he experienced as a child. For example he experienced violence, betrayal, war, and lots of other things. He also has issues with his father growing up because from his perspective in his fathers eyes he was weak and unaccepted.

“ ‘He needs someone who. . .understands him, because god knows I don’t. But something about Amir troubles me in a way that I can’t express. It’s like. . .” I could see him searching, reaching for the right words. He lowered his voice, but I heard him anyway. “If I hadn’t seen the doctor pull him out of my wife with my own eyes, I’d never believe he’s my son.’ ” (p23) In this quote Amir’s father, Baba, is telling his friend Rahim Khan about how he feels about Amir. Amir was listening to this conversation and it scared him for, basically his life. After he heard that he tried everything in his power to gain his father’s acceptance. even in his adult life his father didn’t accept his career path of wanting to be a writer, his father wanted him to be a doctor and thought making up stories was stupid.

         Because of his emotional trauma as a child as an adult he wasn’t a very confident person. “This isn’t you, Amir, part of me said. You’re gutless. It’s how you were made. And that’s not such a bad thing because your saving grace is that you’ve never lied to yourself about it. Not about that. Nothing wrong with cowardice as long as it comes with prudence. But when a coward stops remembering who he is. . .God help him.” (p275) Amir thinks little of himself because of what he’s been told throughout his life. Amir says he went to Afghanistan because of Sohrab but I believe it was because of three other reasons. One, because he’s trying to prove to himself that he isn’t a coward and that he’s brave enough to do whatever it takes to get Sohrab to safety, even if that means standing up to his phsycopathic, crazy, childhood nightmare. Two, because he wants to make amends to Hassan because he felt it was his fault for Hassan leaving, and now that he has a chance to prove to himself that his guilty feelings can go away. Three, because he went to face his childhood and all the traumatic experiences there.

        Before he went to go get Sohrab he stopped by his old house and the hill where Hassan and him would sit and read. He didn’t expect to see Assef but he didn’t cower in fear when he knew it was him. In a way Amir was slightly showing himself that he was somewhat a coward because when Assef was fighting he didn’t really fight back and he had to get saved by Sohrab, a little boy, and his slingshot. It reminded me of when Amir was younger and Assef was tormenting him and Hassan, they were about to get beaten but Hassan saved them both with his slingshot, so in a way Amir hasn’t changed since childhood.

     Amir and Hassan had a weird relationship throughout the book. Amir was always questioning whether or not Hassan should be treated as a servant or his friend because Assef would get in his head and tell him that he’s a servant, not his friend. In the begining Amir and Hassan had a good friendship, but as the book progressed, Amir became confused and jealous because Baba treated Hassan better than he treated Amir. Hassan got raped by Assef and Amir was angry and later tried to make him fight back and get defensive by throwing pomegranites at him. After that their friendship went downhill. Amir framed Hassan for stealing his new watch and Hassan got in trouble but was forgiven. After that Hassan and his father left and was never heard from again.

     “Then Baba rolled his head towards me. “I wish Hassan had been with us today,” he said. A pair of steel hands closed around my windpipe at the sound of Hassan’s name. I rolled down the window. Waited for the steel hands to loosen their grip.” (p133-134) In this quote Amir feels guilty of what happened throughout this childhood with Amir. Going to Afghanistan lightened his guilt of what happened.

Final Book Response to Kite Runner

     After the events that took place towards the end of Kite Runner, it made me see a lot of characters differently. For example, I have a strong, strong dislike for Assef. Today in class we discussed the matter of if he was gay because he rapes little boys, but I don't think he's anything, I actually think he should not be living on earth. Well he isn't but I think in the book he should rot in jail or be tortured because he's probably been raping little boys all his life, not to mention the countless cold blooded murders of innocent Hazara's. Something must have happened to Assef to have his mindset on something so evil and twisted.
    In class we discussed the topic of why Amir went back to Afghanistan. I believe he was going for two reasons. One to make amends with Hassan and save his son from Assef. Another is so he could help Sohrab and prove to himself that he is capable of starting over, in a way. Amir probably thought that his past of getting Hassan kicked out of the house and watching him get raped and not defending him all the time would forever haunt him and he would have to live with it forever. Sohrab would have been the perfect chance of being able to start a new life with Hassan's son and his wife in America. He would also be making ammends to Hassan, so two birds with one stone. He may also feel in debt to Hassan and that taking his son to a safe place is making up for it.
   Overall I thought the book was very good and well written. The emotions and experiences that the characters had, felt real and my emotions towards some of the characters tell me the writing style. It was very vivid and descriptive. The order in which the events happened suprised me because you think that Amir finally found a wife and has a happy life but then he goes back to Afghanistan and gets into a lot of trouble.

Book Response 2nd Paperclip

        I believe that going to America was a good idea for Amir and Baba because Amir was able to let go of his past and focus on the future. He was able to get a wife and a job and have a happy life. He had a less stressful life ahead of him in America. Even though he left, going back to Afghanistan was good for him too because, instead of hiding from his past his whole life and dying with regrets, he addressed and faced his past by going to Afghanistan. Going to go get Hassan's son from Assef was a good experience for him because in a way, protecting his son was making amends with Hassan.
      Today, Ebone, Vinn, and I had a debatr about whether or not Baba is a complete jerk to Amir in his childhood. I believe he IS because throughout his childhood, Amir was always fighting to get Baba's approval. Baba would also treat Hassan way better, as well as other children, better then he treated Amir. "' If I hadn't seen the doctor pull him out of my wife with my own eye, I'd never believe he's my son.'" (Pg. 23) This is a quote from the last page of chapter 3 and this shows how Baba doesn't accept Amir and Wants to disown him but can't because it would be frowned upon. In this quote, Baba didn't know that Amir was listening in on their conversation. Baba's friend Rahim Khan tries to talk some sense into Baba and say that Amir wasn't that bad of a son. Baba kept responding with negative thoughts.
       For example, Baba would say that Amir reads poem and has no self defense at all. Rahim Khan said that Baba was only angry because he knew Amir wouldn't take over his business. Baba isn't accepting Amir because he wants to be different, he won't follow his father and he wants to be his own person, but its hard when his own biological father doesn't accept him.

Racism

      Racism annoys me, so much! Everyone has those moments where they don't mean to be racist and it comes out that way or they're being jokingly racist. I have no issues with the joking racism, but there's a limit. People who are serious about racism and what they say are usually ignorant and they really just go with how they were brought up. If someone was raised to believe that racism is okay then they teach their children that its okay. To me, serious racism against any race is never okay.
      I have come across many forms of racism to many different races. Obviously the main ones I've heard are against black people. Most of the word I hear, ofcourse being mainly serious racism, are coon, spear chucker, monkey, dog, and ofcourse the N-word. I've been called alot of these, some serious and some joking. To put it in nicer words, I wanted to seriously injure the people that called me this. Racism should be agaisnt the law, there is a lot of it amongst children because their parents have been brought up that way so their bringing their children to think racism is okay.
     

Response to "Kite Runner" Part 2

          After talking about it in class I've realized that my opinions about Kite Runner have changed. First, after talking and thinking about it more I believe that Amir's intentions throughout the book have been based on his experiences as a child. When he witnessed Hassan getting raped by Assef he is emotionally traumatized and cursed with guilt that lasts, basically for the rest of his life. This could have been one reason he frames Hassan for stealing his watch, which got Hassan and his father kicked out. As people have said in class, Amir probably did this to help Hassan because he was continuously getting teased by children for being a Hazara. As the teasing got more intense Amir's worries increased. This sounds like a logical explanation because Hassan was his friend, even though Amir questioned it himself, and if I was in Amir's position I would have gone through great lengths to protect my friend.
          Which brings me to the point, Amir was always there when Hassan was getting teased so people told him that Hassan was only a servant and that he wasn't and will never be his "friend". Because of this taunting and confusion, Amir has questioned whether or not Hassan is a servant or his friend. When Amir sees Hassan getting raped he sees that Hassan didn't defend himself. Amir tries to force Hassan to fight him by throwing pomegranates at him and Hassan doesn't fight back.
          I would like to get on the subject of...Baba, Baba treats Amir like he's an alien. Treating other children better than you treat your own will, obviously either, emotionally damage your child and turn them into a serial killer or psychopath OR make them stronger. I believe Baba's ignorant neglect towards Amir has made him stronger AND emotionally damaged. Obviously we see once Hassan leaves, Baba decides to treat Amir like his own child and not an alien that has been a burden on him for a long time. Examples of Baba's neglect was shown throughout the book. I believe there is a part when Baba is talking to his friend, not knowing that Amir is listening, and he says that its like Amir isn't even his son and that he's nothing like him. I don't think people should put pressure on their children to be exactly like them because, again, it will leave a child with plenty of emotional damage and feelings of angst and anger and sadness that turn into violent crimes.

Response To Kite Runner

    My response to reading most of this book is that this book is very intriguing. The material is somewhat explicit, but its a good book.The storyline of the book really caught my attention once some big events happened. The first few chapters, I had to force myself to read, but  once things started happening, I was interested.
    The relationship between Amir and Hassan seems a little bit strained. It starts off as a normal friendship between two children and they don't understand why Hassan is Amir's servant or why they are separated by religion, social class, and ethnicity. Once they start to understand their differences their relationship seems a lot more intense. For example, when Amir sees that Hassan doesn't defend himself when being attacked, or in  this case raped, he tries to teach him how to by throwing pomegranates at him and seeing what he will do. Amir, trying to make Hassan mad, in turn gets very angry at Hassan.
     I also noticed the neglect and longing for acceptance between Amir and his father. His father, as the author explains, is already heartbroken by the loss of beloved wife and somewhat seems to despise Amir because she died giving birth to him. Once Amir's father sees that he is not interested in the things he wants him to be, such as sports and, technically getting rich, he looses all hope and interest in Amir. Left with this self pitiful father, Amir has no choice but to try and gain his father's approval of him. Ofcourse Amir sees his father as a great man with, somewhat high standards for a son. The author really tries to show this in the first part of the book.
    In short, I love the book and writing styles of the author and look foward to reading more.