A second chance

Through half of the section, I felt like this whole narrative switched gears on me. It's almost as if you could hear the procrastination in Amir's words, ignoring his problems that he left overseas. A hundred and thirty pages in, and all of a sudden we don't hear anything about life in Afghanistan anymore. Later, when he visits Rahim Khan, it all makes sense. Now we know there was an actual reason that they were treated as brothers. When he was yelling at Rahim Khan, he should have been yelling at himself. All those years he kept telling himself he betrayed his friend, only to find he betrayed his own blood? When the request to go back to Kabul, here reappears this theme of courage, that Baba always mentioned. Amir KNOWS what he needs to do for Hassan's son. This is like the second chance he has been waiting for. All that guilt and remorse he's been feeling, can be subdued. I'm interested to see what will happen on his journey with Farid. I'm hoping he brings Sohrab back to the States with him. It makes a lot of sense considering Amir and his wife cannot conceive. Unfortunately it's probably not that easy for the boy to leave the country... Amir got his second chance, so he better not screw this up.

Good and Bad

So far I really love the style that the book is written in, and for a while I thought this was actually a true story and I was a little confused. At the beginning I kept getting the characters mixed up because their names are traditional Afghani, and Hassan kept using respectful terms in a different language.

This book is really good at times, and especially in the beginning because it seems like it’s the story of two boys just being boys and growing up together. There is some underlying tension though because of Hassan being Amir’s servant but it took me a while to figure that out. I really loved how happy Amir was when he first made up that story while telling it to Hassan.

The bad part of this book is definitely Hassan getting raped and Amir doing nothing about it. All Amir wanted was approval from his father but in order to get it he let Hassan’s life be ruined, and the guilt ended up messing with his own life too. It’s really sad that Amir wanted his father’s approval so badly, and that Hassan is so prejudiced against because he is a Hazara. It will be interesting to see how the next section of this book plays out.

What Did I Just Read?

I'm really wrapped up in this book. It's so crazy. The author has this creative way of giving off different perspectives through the characters. Regardless of the setting, the thoughts of Amir's narration is an understanding in how a little boy might think. Its kind of like an, "Oh yeah, a kid would think that," kind of thought in your head. This narration is very clever in how Amir can tell what others are thinking just by looking at their face. Most can picture the look of embarrassment or guilt right on the characters when described. Throughout the book I keep finding various quotes that I find memorable. One of them is that, "There's only one kind of sin and that is stealing." I found that so intriguing and simplistic. It makes a lot of sense. I like Baba and his wisdom filled quotes. I can't fully figure out why I like him, but he just has these alpha male features along with this pride and motivational drive. There are few things I do not like about him though, like his lack of communication with his son with their feelings toward one another. They never talk it out and try to fix anything, they just wish for it to be fixed!

Coward

            I do not even know where to start at. Everything about this story either makes me extremely sad, or aggravated with Amir’s actions. In the beginning he acts like such a true friend to Hassan, but as the story goes on everything changes and my hate for him grew. It completely set me off when he just sat there and watched Hassan get beaten and then raped. I know this had to be very intimidating and intense moment for him, but for everything that he has been through with Hassan, Amir should have taken action and at least tried to stop it from happening. Instead he acts like the coward that he is and runs away. Amir deserves the remorse and guilt that he feels on a daily basis and I have no sympathy for him. He has his entire life handed to him and a lot of it is thanks to Hassan. I believe that the only reason he did not get involved in any of situations is because he wants to impress his father, so for that his father is also to blame. Amir wants his father’s approval so much and went way too far to finally achieve his acceptance. 

Bismillah (In the name of God, the most beneficent, the most gracious)

I am at a loss for word. I just kept thinking to myself this is not happening, no. Even after the event transpired, I kept finding that I was trying to convince myself Hassan, just a bacha (a small boy), was not raped. That word disgusts me. How can Amir live with himself? How selfish can one person be? Hassan is the most loyal friend anyone can hope to encounter. Amir truly has it all. The wealth, the chance at education and most importantly the company of Hassan. While Amir just sat back and watch all of Hassan's happiness be ripped from him.

I was annoyed with Amir's attitude from the start. It's hard to fully dislike him, because he  seems very meek and all he really wants is his fathers approval. He wants to feel important. However, Amir did not have to take this out on Hassan. They are practically brothers.  Couldn't Amir at least show a little bit of respect and gratitude toward Hassan. Hassan did not deserve any of the terrible terrible misfortunes that he experienced. All because why? He was a Hazara. Discrimination of race is such a twisted concept. How can one person be automatically hated because of the different features they have or the color of their skin? Their fate is automatically assigned to them, even before birth. In pakistan this is exactly what happens (although it is sometimes based upon a cast system and not upon race).

One thing I did find interesting, though the majority of people living in America would disagree, is that Amir's family treated Ali and Hassan rather well, for being servants that is. I have seen it with my own eyes. Servants in Third-World Countries usually do not get the privilege of playing cards with their employers next to a hot fire. I do completely disagree with the whole cast systems still happening in the Indo-subcontent regions. I do not think I have ever cried more while reading a book. I had to stop reading just to collect myself. I just really don't understand.... 

Genesis

If a book is truly good, it must have a well written beginning in order to draw the reader in. Kite Runner is a great example of this. The beginning of the story is generally light hearted for the first few chapters. I am really enjoying the voice and tone of the author uses, it sounds much like a memoir and I find it hard to believe it is fiction.

I enjoyed reading about Baba raising Amir. In a way Baba reminds me of Mufasa from The Lion King. The way in which he teaches Amir skills and tries to raise him to be more like himself. Also Baba just seems like a swag-master. When I read about the fate of Amir's mother, I wondered to myself, "why does no book/ movie character have a mother?". Think, Amir's mother is dead, Hassan's mother ran off, Rachel Sexton's (from deception point) mom died, Blanche & Stella, literally every disney princess. WHY ARE THEY ALL DEAD/ GONE.
 
Regardless, I am enjoying this book, of course the whole plot isn't as bright as the beginning, but what plot is? I must say I am not the biggest fan of Amir, the way that he ridiculed Hassan without him even knowing, it was just not right. Hassan already has enough problems, with his leg and being made fun of, the act of Amir poisoning the thing Hassan enjoys most, its just not fair.

*quick note- I love the font this is printed in, that is all

Guilty Conscience

            I honestly don’t know how Amir can live with himself. Baba and Amir are essentially polar opposites, and it has led to rough relationship with the only male role model he has.  However, his actions are uncalled for. If there is one thing you learn from your parents as a child it is to obey them. Baba did not fail in teaching Amir adequate morals. Amir himself went against his father’s morals by doing nothing in that alley and planting the money under Hassan’s bed.

            Overall, I believe that Amir is to take most of the blame for his actions. I myself could only imagine what I would do to someone that committed such a heinous crime to someone I loved. What would you do? Amir is a sick child who has yet to find his purpose in life. He seems to only care for his well-being and pleasing his father. Now, it seems that he is in real trouble, but his guilty conscience stemming from that day in the alley will not provide him with a clear head. I have almost no sympathy for him. With or without a mother and an adequate father, humans are instilled with enough sensibility to stand up for what is right. Amir’s failure to do this makes me no fan of his.

Irony

After Amir writes his short story about the man who kills his wife, Rahim Kahn tells him that he has understood irony, an important part of writing. Ironically, Amir fails to see the irony in his own situation.

After overhearing his father talk of how he is upset that Amir never stands up for what is right, Amir tries to earn his father's approval through winning the kite tournament and retrieving the blue kite. Of course, this does result in the winning of Baba's pride, but it comes at a terrible price. Amir stands by and watches as his closest friend is raped.

The irony in this is that in his attempt to make Baba proud of him, Amir became exactly what Baba feared he would become. He didn't stand up for what was right; he was a coward.
Baba is not a coward. On their ride to Pakistan, a Russian soldier tries to rape an Afghan woman, but Baba risks his life to stop him. He was in exactly the same situation as Amir, and he did what was right. Even I am starting to wonder if Amir is really Baba's son.

At this point, the young Amir reminds me of Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye. If anything, it's because he is just so self-centered, only superficially caring about those around him, yet judging others all the while. The cover of my book says that The Kite Runner is a story about, among other things, redemption. I have know idea how Amir can be redeemed, but I cannot wait for it to happen.

Saddest Book I've Ever Read

Words cannot even describe how emotionally attached I've become to this book. Although currently I'm only on chapter thirteen, I have never put more of my heart into the pages of a fiction story. Well I'll stop blubbering...

Amir and Hassan.

First Impression: I'm not the biggest fan of Amir. He's mean to Hassan, who is nothing but faithful to him. Hassan just seems like the sweetest most selfless human being.

But my heart was torn out of my chest when he was raped. I felt like I was going to throw up. (Sorry Miss Walker) I was on the verge of tears. It absolutely disgusted me. These moments are the moments when I lose faith in poeple. And then my faith was even more lost when Amir just stands there. Watches the only friend he has Ever had being brutally raped, and does absolutely nothing. It upsets me more than anything else. Twelve years old. Twelve!! That's when Hassan loses himself because of cruelty and stupid boys. Hassan didn't deserve this. He is so innocent and so kind. Uuuuuhh!!! This upsets me sooo much.

I've come to realize that I can't be so upset at Amir about this whole situation. I have no idea what I would do at the age of twelve in a culture such as that. But the image of Hassan being held down in the alley with that beautiful blue kite lying in a pile of trash behind him won't leave my head. I don't think I will be able to put this book down until I find out what happened to the boy who was nothing but an innocent lamb and gave up everything to be a faithful servant but more importantly, a best friend.

ASSIGNMENT

I've divided the book into three sections which will correspond with your postings. By midnight of Sun. Feb. 24 read through page 124 (up to ch. 11) and write one 200-word blog.  After everyone has posted, you need to write a 100-word blog response to one of the postings by Wed. Feb. 27. By midnight of Sun. Mar. 3 read through page 242 (up to ch. 20) and write one 200-word blog.  After everyone has posted, you need to write a 100-word blog response to one of the postings by Wed. Mar. 6. By midnight of Sun. Mar. 10 read through the end and write one 200-word blog. After everyone has posted, you need to write a 100-word blog response to one of the postings by Wed. Mar. 13. Remember this is the minimum.  Feel free to respond to more than one posting. ENJOY!