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 * The Kite Runner **
 * By: Khaled Hosseini **
 * Pages: 1-167 **


 * __ Summary __**

The book starts off as a flashback to 1975 where the main character, Amir, is involved in an event that has shaped him into the person he is in 2001. It then transfered to the present where his friend from Pakistan named Rahim called him on the telephone. Once he is finished talking on the phone he took a walk around the city of San Francisco where he currently lived and noticed a kite flying in the air which reminds him of his friend that he called 'the kite runner.' His name was Hassan. He described the many adventures where Hassan and himself caused all sorts of mischief. Amir lived with only his father, Baba, because his mother died shortly after giving birth to Amir. Baba was a very well respected man in their city. They lived inside a very large home with many valuables others were not fortunate enough to own. Hassan was the son of Amir's family servant, Ali, who lived in the shed outside their home. Hassan was know as a kite runner because he was able to provide the exact location of where a kite could land without even watching it soar through the air. Amir loved to write but his father did not approve and found it to be weak. He also found Amir to lack in courage so Amir began to grow closer with Baba's closest companion Rahim. A boy named Assef bullied Amir because he was friends with Hassan and tried to attack him but Hassan threatens to poke his eye out so he backed off but promised he to get revenge later. During the local kite fighting tournament, Amir finally won the challenge and was so excited to tell Baba to finally earn his respect. Hassan, Amir's greatest friend, ran off to catch the losing kite to give to Amir but Assef stopped him in his tracks. He began to beat him and eventually raped him in the alleyway. Amir witnessed to the entire thing but did not say anything to anyone because he wanted to gain his father's respect. His guilt took over his entire life and he began to drift away from his best friend, hoping things would either fizzle out or change without taking action. Amir started placing money and valuables underneath Hassan's mattress to see if he would use them to move away from the city because he thought it would be safer if he was not around. When Baba confronts Hassan to figure out if he had been stealing money from him, he falsely confessed but Baba forgave him because he was 'truthful.' Hassan and his father decided to move away even though they were still welcomed in Baba's home. As the years continued, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and Amir and his father flee their country to the United States. They get an apartment and Amir graduated from high school and took a couple of college classes to improve his writing skills. Baba worked at a gas station but him and Amir sold goods on Sunday's at a flea market. While he was working he meets a girl named Soraya that is a refugee and they began to form a relationship. When Baba is diagnosed with terminal cancer he presents his final request to Soraya's father for Amir and his daughter to wed. He agreed to the marriage but very soon after Baba passed away. When the two of them settled down and lived on their own, they learn that they were not able to have children which is heartbreaking to Amir who does not want to adopt a child.

__** Analysis **__

I thought that this part of the book was rather interesting. I loved learning about a different culture as I read. I thought that it was particularly interesting that the author created a friendship between two very different young men. Amir and Hassan come from two very different background but also had a quite a few things in common like their love of kites. Even though Hassan come from a background of little wealth he possessed a wonderful quality involving kites. I thought it was amazing how he was able to pinpoint exactly where the kite would drop. The other part of the section, when Amir and his father moved to America, was eye-opening. I couldn't imagine having to pack up and move your belongings to a whole different country. It made me realize how fortunate I am to live in a country like America where we feel safe within our homes because of the enormous amount of security in the country.


 * __ Application __**

As the book blossoms the word 'redemption' comes to mind. When Amir's mother died after giving birth, Amir grew up always wanting to make his father proud. He feels like he is responsible for his mothers death and that his father does not respect him because of this. When Amir wins the kite challenge, he is overjoyed because he feels like he can finally make his father proud. As part of our human nature, we want to have the respect of those around us. It also can be labeled as a human ideal to want respect and love from those we love and respect. We want to make the individuals we look up to proud so Amir did everything in his power to make his father proud and gain his respect even if he had to keep the assault of his friend a secret. It is also human nature to take advantage of power. Assef took control of his power in his social group by bullying Amir and later raping Hassan. As humans, once we are given power we take it to an extreme. Another human ideal shown throughout the novel is peace within oneself. Amir has many internal struggles in his life because of the issue with his guilt and his past experiences that continue to haunt him. He yearns to close the door in his life that continues to open and bring back the painful memories. Amir's behavior after he witnessed the rap of his best friend was quite selfish. He decided to not tell his father about the event because he wanted the attention on him and how proud he made his father. We see this quality of humans happening each day. There are many that focus only on the things that will get them to the top and do not worry about those they hurt along the way.

The Kite Runner

By: Khaled Hosseini

Pages: 167-371

__** Summary **__

The opening pages of the second section of the book described the new journey that Amir set out on. He decided to become a novelist and it was a successful choice. His first novel was very successful in book stores all over the country. One day out of the blue, Amir received a phone call from his home country from his friend Rahim Khan. He begs him to travel to his home country because he must speak with him about an important tragedy that occurred. Amir goes on a walk and decides that he should travel to the country and find out what has happened. He learned that Rahim is very ill and he begins to reevaluate the life he is living. When he returns to his home country, he is amazed how much the town has changed. It is poverty stricken and the streets are very dirty and the children are not taken care of. When he arrives at his friends how he finds that he only has a few more moments to live and that he must tell him about a secret that he has know for a long while. Amir's friend tell about how he went to visit Hassan and that he has a family of his own. He is married and he has a son that is named after the boys' favorite story that they read as a child when they were friends. Hassan cries when he learns of Baba's death and Amir is amazed by his friend's story. He then learns that when the government changed, they banned kite fighting. He feels that he should repay Hassan in some way and that he should take control of the situation. In this section Amir learns about Hassan and the life that he has been living. He learns that Hassan was killed one night when the government came into his house and brought him out onto the street. They then killed him right there for everyone to see. He later learns of a secret that has been kept from him all of these years. Him and Hassan are half brothers. Hassan's wife was also killed to Rahim called Amir to come and save his half nephew Sohrab from an orphanage. He begins to travel all over the country to every orphanage to find his nephew. He learns of a government official that comes and pays money for an orphan and takes them away. Amir is sure that this is where Sohrab is. When he meets the government official, he learns that it is Assef, the bully that bullied Hassan and Amir at school. He learns the he has been sexually assaulting Sohrab and he knows at that point that he must save him. An altercation occurs and Sohrab and Amir beat up Assef and escape the government building longing to return to America so they are safe. When Sohrab learns that he may be put back in an orphanage before they are able to return home, he attempts to commit suicide so he does not have to endure any of the abuse again. Once he is released from the hospital, him and Amir return home but there is little interaction between the two. The book ends with Sohrab giving a half smile and Amir responding with "For you, a thousand times over."


 * __ Analysis __**

I thought this part of the book was more exciting than the other. I felt as if the first part was very slow and the majority of the eventful circumstances occurred in this section. I was very surprised to find out that Amir and Hassan were half brothers. I wonder why Baba kept that secret from him, even when he was on his death bed. I am sure that when Amir discovered that, he felt even worse knowing he watched his half brother while he was being rapped and did nothing about it. I feel as if he has "paid him back" in a way by saving Hassan's son from Assef. I wonder though if Assef knew that Sohrab was Hassan's son and that is the reason why he chose him. It is crazy how everything came together in the end and how the author added situations into one another. I am very glad that I chose to read this book because I was able to learn a ton of information about this different culture.


 * __ Application __**

As this wonderful novel continued, the past of Amir and Sohrab always impacted their present. Amir's past was carried with him from the beginning to the end. Watching the sexual assault of his best friend impacted each step he took everyday. It ultimately helped him in the end because it convinced him to go out and rescue his nephew from the government that was holding him hostage. Amir was defined by his past by not only others all around him, but himself. He feels responsible for Hassan's death because he was the one that made Ali and Hassan leave Baba's home in the first place. The past also impacts Sohrab because of the many days and nights that he was sexually assaulted by Assef. He does not like to be touched by others and fears what is around each corner. He also fears abandonment, like many humans do today. He was so fearful of being left at the orphanage again that he attempted to commit suicide. Many of us today are impacted by our past. It is what shapes us. Some may be defined by it and some may not, but in the end we all learn and live with is each day of our lives. As humans, we crave power. Assef used his power as a bully in school and as a government official to harm others that he saw as weak. Humans do the same each day without even realizing it. Many today abuse the power that they hold. Although there are many that use their power for good, but all crave more power than they already hold. Let's be realistic, who wouldn't want a whole army of followers behind them, agreeing with each move they make. Power can be used for many good thing, along with many bad, but in the end power is power and humans will crave it until there is not any of us left.

I am somewhat surprised at your reaction to the book saying you prefer the second half to the first, only because most people are so profoundly moved by the rape scene and the sadness that befalls their friendship because of it and the guilt. It almost seems like you may have watched the movie instead of reading the book, but maybe I am just over-analyzing. 47/50

__**10 THINGS**__
There are many things in my life that have shaped me into the person I am today. **Softball** is a huge part of my life. It is part of my past, present, and has helped shaped my future. It has taught me many necessary skills to succeed in life and become the best possible person I can be. It has taught me teamwork, drive, respect, devotion, and dedication. **My mother** has also shaped me into the person I am today. She has guided me through life with the ups and downs that I encounter everyday. If I ever do become a mother, I would absolutely love to be half as amazing as she is. **My father** is not only the one that taught me everything I know about softball, but he also has taught me about hard work and the benefits of it paying off. He is constantly making sure I am grounded and always makes sure I am realistic with the many decisions that I make in life. **School** has also provided me with a great amount of knowledge. WIthout school, and of course the wonderful teachers, I obviously wouldn't be where I am today. I continue to grow each day and learn many exciting new and interesting things that will help me along my academic journey into college. **My grandfather** on my mother side has also affected my life greatly. When I was in fifth grade, out of no where he got very sick. For many weeks there were doctors in and out of his hospital room unsure of what exactly he had. About two months after he became ill, one doctor had finally come to the conclusion that he had cancer. I still remember traveling to Johns Hopkins in Maryland to visit him on Christmas Eve. Those memories still linger around that time of the year. Although, the whole time throughout his treatment I never once saw anything but a smile on his face. Now, behind closed doors it was probably a different story but he never once showed any sign of weakness. He has taught me to never back down and remain strong and steady in my life. I am also proud to say that he has now been cancer free for five years. **My** **grandmother** on my father's side of the family has taught me to be independent. When my grandmother became a new mother, she always told me that life seemed good but, my father's father thought otherwise. One day he packed up his things and left, only seeing my father a few times after that and never paid his child support. He was gone with the wind. So because of her circumstances, my grandmother was forced to work numerous hours on her own to provide for my father and herself. She always worked for what she received and never anything less. **My church** has also shaped me into the person I am today. They provide guidance when times start to get tough and stressful. They have also provided me with hope within myself to pass down to others later down the road. **My friends** have also shaped me into the person I am today. I try to surround myself with only positive people. Who really wants those friends that are constantly judging you and/or others? My friends have become a huge part of my life going into senior year, knowing that this is the last year that I will be with them. It's quite upsetting to realize that everything is coming to a close very soon. Friends bring out the side of me that not everyone sees and provide me with a feeling of "sisterhood" because I do not have a sister at home. **Ms. Schiding** has also shaped me into the person I am today. I only had her for one class while she was in Central York High School but during those 80 minutes everyday for one semester she taught me to just enjoy life and make it fun. The way she carried herself around the classroom I thought was amazing. She never provided us with the sense that she was stressed or frustrated, yet I'm sure she was the majority of the time, and it has made me think to myself "Is it really worth it to be unhappy or this?" There's no doubt that I will ever forget having her as a teacher. **My younger brother** has also affected my life. Obviously having a sibling teaches you how to share and how to not be selfish. These are essential tools to carry throughout life. But, my brother has also taught me to always look at the positive side of things. Ever since he was young he has always made comments about focusing on the positives. So, eventually those thoughts and his mentality kind of transferred over to me. I look at the positives of a bad situation rather then all of the negatives. Looking at the bright side of things is much more helpful down the road than looking at all the negatives.

Jacob Robison: Hey Taylor! I figured since you endured my HUGE page, I should read yours too. Anyway (I spent about half an hour here trying to figure out what to say next), I really enjoyed your page. Your family seems pretty amazing, especially your brother. I wish my sister taught me patience, all she ever taught me was how to ignore high pitched noises...

I heard that children who grow up with siblings are more likely to stay married while children who grow up without any brothers or sisters are 40% more likely to divorce because they haven't learned those skills! Crazy! -Mrs. Sands