Chapters 16-22

Dear Reader,
                    My views of the world were deeply challenged in chapter 15, when Amir first meets up with Rahim and he tells Amir where he got the scar of his face. Rahim says " The man next to me cheered lodly. Suddenly this yound bearded fellow who was patroling the aisles, eighteen years old at most by the look of him, he walked up to me and struck me on the forehead with the butt of his Kalashnikov" (Hosseini 199). This scene conflicted with my views of the world because its completely aganist human rights. But I guess under the Taliban, Afgans have no human rights. In real life it must be horrible in Afganistan, being under so strict of rules that they cant even cheer in a stadium without being smashed in the skull or not even cheer and still be smashed in the skull. If the stadiums in America for sporting events were like those run under the Tailban, I think everybody in the stadium would get the butt of an AK to the forehead. As a reader what was your reaction to this scene, did it clash with your views of the world?
                     As Rahim is recollecting recent years with Hassan he describes the reuinting of Hassan to Sanaubar, his long lost mom. After Hassan accepts that his mom is really home he goes to her; "He took Sanaubar's hand in both of his and told  her she could not cry is she wanted to but needn't, she was home now, he said, home with her family." (Hosseini 210). This reuniting of mother to son reminded me greatly of a previous book I've read, The Odyssey. In The Odyssey there is also a reuniting scene between Odyseus who has been gone for twenty years and his son Telemacus who he last saw as a toddler. The two scenes are very similar because in both scenes a parent is reunited with the son after many years and there is alot of sobbing and catching up that occcurs. Is there any books you have read which you were reminded of during reuniting of Hassan and his mother?
                     Reaching the end of chapter twenty the orphanage director explains his sticky situation, after being beat upon by Faird for giving away the orphans. Zaman says " If I deny one child, he takes ten. So I let him take one and leave the judging to Allah. I swallow my pride and take his goddamn filthy..dirty money. Then I go to the bazaar and buy food for the children" ( Hosseini 257). Although giving away the orphans sounds wrong, I don't know if I would do any different than what Zaman is doing, if I was in his situation. I don't think theres anything else he could do. Assef is going to take children either way whether he gets permission or not, so Zaman myswell take the money and give away a kid so he can feed and save the rest of the children from starvation. Its a tough situation and I believe Zaman made the right and only choice he could have made. Do you agree with Zaman's decisions? If not explain how you would have handled it differently.

Sincerely,
              Benjamin Sawyer

Dear Reader,

In this section of the book The Kite Runner, one quote that I found very interesting is  when Amir was going to Islamabad and he was thinking of his happy memories from the past. The last one that came into his head was, “Rahim Khan on the phone, telling me there was a way to be good again. A way to be good again...” (Hosseini 310) After all the years he had suffered with his regret and then hearing that there was a way to make up for letting Hassan get raped and be good again, was one of the happiest memories he could think of while on this long four hour ride away from the hospital. This part of the story I personally enjoyed and consider very important to the world.  I believe there is always a way to make tings better, a way to right what you have wronged. Everyone has done something they wish they could make up for, and once given the chance they know to take it and can then become happy. That call was Amir’s chance to be free from his guilt, and he immediately took the chance.  He was overjoyed in hearing he could finally fix his biggest mistake. Would you have felt the same way if you were Amir?

Another quote in this story I found very interesting was when Amir was standing over Sohrab’s bed looking at the Polaroid photo of Hassan.  Amir began thinking about  the letter that Rahim Khan sent him along with the photo.  In the letter Rahim Khan stated that Baba was a man torn between two worlds, Hassan’s poor, unaccepted world, and Amir’s, rich sociable world, but he then thought that since Baba felt more sympathy for Hassan that he considered him his true son. Then he also thought, “Closing Sohrabs door, I wondered if that was how forgiveness budded, not with the fanfare of epiphany, but with the pain gathering  its things, packing up, and slipping away unannounced in the middle of the night”(Hosseini 359). In that moment he had realized that his guilt and sadness with his relationship with his father was gone, he had made peace with Baba and finally was able to stand up for himself like Baba had taught him, so the thought that he was not considered Baba’s “real son” did not bother him. I personally consider what this metaphor is stating is very important to the world. This quote is explaining that forgiveness doesn’t really come with a big bang, but it comes when the pain quietly slips away. Which I think also shows that forgiveness was there all along, just covered up by pain, but once that is gone, you are free to be happy and any thoughts of uncertainty can not affect you, as in what happened to Amir. Would you agree that Amir is not bothered by the thought Baba might have considered Hassan his real son?

Another quote that stood out to me was at the very end of the book, when Amir was just getting Sohrab to fly the kite and seeing him smile he said to himself, “For you, a thousand times over”(Hosseini 371).This quote was also the last thing that Hassan said to Amir right before he went to run the kite for him, and got raped. So Amir saying that to Hassan’s son and running the kite for him, was like him repaying Hassan. Just like Hassan ran the kite for Amir, Amir ran the kite for Sohrab, Hassa’s son. I feel like this really shows Ami’s final stage of making up for letting Hasan get raoed so many years ago. Now it appears that Amirs regret is finally gone and he can live with himself, knowing that he made up form what happened to Hassan, through his son. The view of how someone can do things to overcome their regret is something I would agree with, and what I see happened here. This view of the world is something I would agree with and believe in. If someone strongly regrets what they did, and finds ways to make it better, then I would agree that that person should be forgiven, and be able to live happily again.  Just like Amir can now finally do. Do you agree that Amir is now happy and no longer feels regret?

Alexandra Amaral

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.imageenvision.com/150/16639-stock-photo-of-blue-kite-flying-in-sky-with-white-clouds-by-cathy-mckinty.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.imageenvision.com/photos/blue-kite&h=105&w=150&sz=33&tbnid=2YgvxiChXKaLSM:&tbnh=84&tbnw=120&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dphoto%2Bof%2Bblue%2Bkite%2Bin%2Bsky%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=photo+of+blue+kite+in+sky&docid=mnVPkQ5_MuLoeM&sa=X&ei=rpJVT8uwLsHx0gH6m-m7DQ&ved=0CCQQ9QEwAA&dur=944

Chapters 23-25

Dear Reader,
                    Towards the end of chapter 3 I was extremely surprised by what Farid announced to Amir when he was explaining his plans to leave the hospital. Farid says "There never was a John and Betty Caldwelll in Peshawar. According to the people at the constulate, they never existed. Not here in peshwar, anyhow" (Hosseini 308). This news particularly surprised me because I cant believe Rahim lied to Amir once again. I get why Rahim lied because if he didnt he probably wouldnt have been able to convince Amir to go after Sohrad. It just surprised me though that Rahim was able to lie so easily even after he apologized for keeping the secret about Hassan for so many years. Do you think Amir would have gone to save Sohrad if Rahim didn't lie about the Caldwells in Peshwar?
                     Another part of the novel which caught me by surprise was when Amir finds Sohrab in the Bathtub. Later in the hospital he describes what he saw " ... the bloody bathwater; the left arm dangling over the side of the tub, the blood soaked razor sitting on the toliet tank..." (Hosseini 348). This scene is a Horrific scene for more than one reason. First because Sohrab is only a boy with the rest of his life ahead of him, yet he is found with slit wrists covered in blood in the bathtub. This scene was also horrific because it made me wonder how bad the conditions had to be at that orphanage to drive a young boy to opt for suicide instead of going back to the orphanage. This scene also reminded me of Stuck in Neutral with its prevelant idea of Euthanasia or mercy killing. In The Kite Runner Sohrab is sort of performing mercy killing on himself to save him from the suffering at the orphanage.
                     Overall I thought The Kite Runner was an excelent book and Hosseini end the book perfectly. The line which has been prevelant throughout the book really brings everything together. When Sohrab and Amir cut the string of the other kite,  Amir asks if he can run the kite for Sohrab and Sohrab smiles. When sohrab does this Amir says "For you, a thousand times over" (Hosseini 371). I think this part was really important in ending the book because at this moment Amir finally came to peace with himself for what he had done and shed his guilt as he ran the kite for Sohrab as Hassan had done for him in his childhood. He had saved Sohrab from his terrible life and abuse in Afganistan and brought him to America. This allows Amir to believe hes made up for what hes done when he didnt help Hassan as he got raped and shunned Hassan after words. This ending also allows the reader to imagine what happens next, leaving the life of Sohrab, Amir, and his wife open ended. As a reader did you enjoy the book and would you have eneded the book a different way or kept the same?

Sincerely,
                Benjamin Sawyer
                    

ch 23 - 25

               There were some ideas in "The Kite Runner" that I can relate to, but there was one main concept that took place through almost the entire book.  This was Amir trying to get over the guilt of watching Hassan get raped.  There have been things in my life that I feel guilty for and it is very hard to get over the guilt.  The things I have felt guilty for have not been as severe as watching a friend get raped, but they still can make you feel very bad about it.  The part of this subject that I can relate to the most is how Amir feels at the very last lines of the book.  He shows the joy of finally feeling like he made up for what he did.  Amir shows this by thinking, "I ran.  A grown man running with a swarm of screaming children.  But I didn't care.  I ran with the wind blowing in my face, and a smile as wideas the Valley of Panjsher on my lips.  I ran,"
(Hosseini 371).  Amir is finally completely happy.  He does not have any nagging memories of his past.  For me, this is one of the best feelings, and it seems like a very good feeling for Amir too.  Do you feel very relieved after you solve a nagging problem like this?
               One thing that was said during the story made me consider how people change.  I had never thought of people changing alot.  I think of them always being the same, never changing.  The book changed my point of view with this.  This happened when Amir narrates, "Images of the TV reflected in his green eyes as he watched, stone-faced, rocking back and forth," (Hosseini 312).  This sentence showed me how people can change dramtically so easily.  It only takes one event in a persons life to change everything about them.  Before Sohrab's mother and father died he was a very good loveable child.  After the death of his parents he never talked.  He was a very different kid that did not socialize or seem very happy with anything.  Do you think it is very easy for people to change so much like Sohrab did?
               The book also showed me how bad of a place Kabul is.  I had thought it was just a place where there were a few bad people but the majority was good.  I was wrong.  The story showed me this when Amir was telling Sohrab that he might have to go back to an orphanage for a little.  Sohrab is deathly scared of this and he shows this by crying and saying, "I'm scared of that place.  They'll hurt me!  I don't want to go," (Hosseini 341).  This is a lot of fear that Sohrab is showing.  He is deadly scared of going back to this place.  That shows how terrible he was treated there.  I have been scared of things but never as scared as Sohrab was at that moment.  Do you think it is reasonable for Sohrab to be as scraed as he was?

Chapters 23-25

Dear Reader,

    One quote from the final chapters of The Kite Runner that stood out to me was on page 297.  After Assef had badly beaten up Amir in their fight to see who would get to keep Sohrab he was taken to the hospital to recieve proper care for his injuries.  Amir was unable to recall anything that hteappened during the fight, and Dr.Faruqi explained what had happened to him.  One thing that happened during the brawl left Amir speechless.  He thinks to himself, “I kept thinking of something else Armand/Dr. Faruqi had said: The impact had cut your upper lip in two, he had said, clean down the middle.  Clean down the middle.  Like a harelip.”  This really amazed me to think that after fighting to remove his guilt and clean his conscience in the fight for Hassan’s son, he had ended up a survivor, but with an injury resembling the looks of the person he was redeeming himself for.  I thought it was incredible that Amir had a reminder of Hassan in Hassan’s son, Sohrab; and now he also had a reminder of Hassan in himself.  What was your reaction to this part of the novel?  Do you believe it is a good thing that Amir has all of these reminders of his dead half brother now?
    Another quote from the novel that I found extremely interesting was found on page 340.  Amir and Sohrab were discussing their possible future move to America.  Amir was explaining to Sohrab that the move would most likely be a lengthy process. Sohrab said it was like sour apples, and that he could wait in Islamabad.  When Amir then asked him what “sour apples” meant, Sohrab explained, “One time, when I was really little, I climbed a tree and ate these green, sour apples.  My stomach swelled and became hard like a drum, it hurt a lot.  Mother said that if I’d just waited for the apples to ripen, I wouldn’t have become sick.  So now, whenever I really want something, I try to remember what she said about the apples.”  This quote means a lot to me.  It is a very good life symbol, as well.  It teaches the virtue of patience, which is very important.  Also it shows people that if they wait things out things will be better in the end.  You just have to wait, and not give up, because it will be worth it in the long run and you will be happier.  What did this quote teach you?
        The final quote that stood out to me was on page 356.  After Sohrab was removed from the hospital, he and Amir spent another entire year in Islamabad.  When Sohrab finally accepted that the best life choice would be to move to America, they moved.  Amir thinks to himself, “And so it was that, about a week later, we crossed a strip of warm, black tarmac and I brought Hassan’s son from Afghanistan to America, lifting him from the certainty of turmoil and dropping him in a turmoil of uncertainty.”  This shows that moving Sohrab  to America is both a good and bad thing.  Although Amir is taking him out of the dangerous enviorment of Afghanistan, and placing him in a place where he will be well taken care of-America.  At the same time, Amir is taking away the only think Sohrab has known.  He is taking his childhood memories, the place where his parents last stood, and where he has remained his entire short life.  Although some memories he had weren’t very good, I can imagine he would still miss his “watan.” Home.  Do you believe it was more of a good choice, or a bad one that Sohrab was moved to America? 
                    Sincerely, Destiny Messier

Alexandra Amaral     Chap 16-22

A quote in the story The Kite Runner, which I found was very significant, is the simile that Amir uses in his head to describe how he felt when he finds out that Baba was Hassans father too, not Ali. Amir says, “I felt like a man sliding down a steep cliff, clutching at shrubs and tangles of brambles and coming up empty handed..” This simile appears to describe that as he thinks, he is trying to fight the truth and grab onto facts that would lead him back to be believe that Ali was his father, but he can’t seem to find or think of anything. Amir then knows that Rahim Khasn is right. He has always truly believed and knows to himself as a fact; Hassan was born from Ali’s wife so it is then shown that Baba and Amir have more in common. Baba had betrayed his best friend by sleeping  and having a child wife his wife, just as Amir had let Hassan get raped. I would agree that this would be a very shocking experience. In my opinion this situation would be very surprising to me, and I’m sure I would do the same and try to grab on  to little facts to continue to believe that what I thought was the truth, was real, even though I know it really isn't. Do you think Amir was over reacting to this news?

A quote that really stood out to me was when Amir was back up in his old room looking out  the window, remembering when he watched Hassan and Ali leave on that cold wet day, he thinks to himself, “I stood on my tiptoes, and saw nothing behind the window but shadows. Twenty-five years earlier, I had stood behind that same window, thick rain dripping down the pains and my breath fogging up the glass“(Hosseini 265).  Amir looks out of this window now and sees nothing but emptiness, but standing there he remembers the memories of that spot, watching Hassan and Amir leave. This makes him realize hiow different things are from the last time he stared  out that window. Also a sad and dark tone is set by this quote as the author uses imagery here to describe the memory with cold rain dripping down the window pain, and his breath fogging glass, you really feel that that is a sad moment. I personally feel that family is very important and that everyone needs people that they can truly be themselves with and family is usually those people. Family is also in this way always there for you in my opinion, and Hassan was always there for Amir. Ali and Hassan  were like family to Amir, so watching them leave was like watching a part of his family leaves and it he was very sad. Do you think you would feel the same way as Amir if you were in that situation?

Also, another quote I found important was what Amir said when Assef was beating Amir with his brass knuckles. Amir thought to himself, “My body was broken—just how badly I wouldn’t find out until later—but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed.” (Hosseini 289) This quote is very interesting to me because it was Assef who had raped Hassan years ago, and Amir always felt like he should have been punished for letting Hassan get raped.   To him this was a way to feel like he was getting punished. Amir felt like he was getting what he finally deserved which is why he felt healed and started to laugh. Right after the rape Amir tried to get Hassan to throw pomegranates at him, so he would feel like he was getting punished, but Hassan refused, and now that Assef is beating him up, he thinks that that is his punishment and that puts his mind and some of his regret at ease. I do not really agree with Amirs view of feeling better by getting punished. I personally feel that in order to make it up to Hassan, the only thing to do was to get Sohrab back, and there is no punishment needed. Do you agree?

Hassan and Sohrab

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=father+and+son+afghanistan&hl=en&client=safari&sa=X&rls=en&biw=1016&bih=644&tbs=ic:specific,isc:gray&tbm=isch&tbnid=iWMXH277YySSoM:&imgrefurl=http://www.biwook.net/gallery/funny-shit/random-2008-april-03/A%2Bfather%2Band%2Bson%2Bat%2Bhome,%2BHelmand%2BProvince,%2BAfghanistan.html&docid=gCELvTlLZP3XKM&imgurl=http://www.biwook.net/gallery/funny-shit/random-2008-april-03/A%252520father%252520and%252520son%252520at%252520home,%252520Helmand%252520Province,%252520Afghanistan.jpg&w=900&h=1360&ei=cU1QT-yFBaTh0QG-z43sDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=100&vpy=138&dur=7049&hovh=276&hovw=183&tx=128&ty=186&sig=117915702906677471223&page=1&tbnh=125&tbnw=102&start=0&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

Chapters 16-22 Reader Response

Dear Reader,

    Something that completely shocked me that I read from chapters sixteen to twenty two of The Kite Runner occured on page 225.  After Amir visits Rahim Khan, it is revealed to him that Baba was Hassan’s father; not Ali.  Amir realizes Hassan was his half brother, and he never knew it throughout his entire life; that is until now.  He remembers the time Baba told him that theft was the biggest sin of all because you are taking someones rights that they are entitled to, and yet he had been a thief himself.  Amir thinks to himself, “And a theif of the worst kind, because the things he’d stolen had been sacred: from me the right to know I had a brother, from Hassan his identity, and from Ali his honor.”  It really surprised me that Baba kept this secret from Amir his whole life, even when he knew he was going to die soon.  He still did not reveal his secret.  It was an unexpected point in the book that I did not see coming at all.  Also,  Amir’s endless thinking to himself made me realize that Baba was a hypocrite for saying that theft was the worst sin, but he stole the most important things anyone could have in their life-the right to know your family.  Amir and Baba are both alike because they are both thieves, but in different ways.  Were you shocked when this happened?  Did you expect that Baba would do that knowing the kind of person he was throughout the entire book?
    Something I noticed about Afghan culture was found on page 241.  When Amir is staying at Wahid’s home for the night before he continues his journey with Farid to find Sohrab, Hassan’s son.  Wahid feeds his guests, Farid and Amir, vegetable shorwa and two loaves of bread.  Wahid’s children stare at Amir as he is eating, and he thinks they are in awe about his watch; so he decides to give it to them.  A while later he overhears Wahid speaking to his wife, and he thinks to himself, “I understood now why the boys hadn’t shown interest in the watch.  They hadn’t been staring at the watch at all.  They’d be staring at my food.”  Although the family is unable to afford food, and do not know how they are going to support their family, they still feed the guests their food.  This shows a lot about Afghan culture since they are hospitable enough to share everything they have.  It shows that Afghanistan people put others over themselves no matter what the circumstances are.  What feeling did you get when you read this part of the novel?  What are your views on Afghanistans after reading this?
    Another thing that I was not expecting in the book occured on page 281.  Amir is in the large house in Wazir Akbar Khan trying to get Sohrab when he realizes the man who is holding him captive is Assef.  “But he was already here, in the flesh, sitting less than ten feet from me, after all these years.  His name escaped my lips: ‘Assef.’ ”  I was completely shocked that Assef was the man in the room with him.  The man who when he was a child spoke of Hitler being his idol, was the “big man” of Afghanastan.  I wondered how this could be, and why he was causing all of this hell to his homeland.  I realized afterwards that all of this happened for a reason when Assef and Amir fight to see who Shorab goes with.  I realized this was the revenge he was craving, the one thing that would take his guilt away for what he did the night Hassan was raped.  I realized this was what he had been waiting for, he could be forever relieved and in peace now.  The accidental meeting with Assef after several years had turned out to be a good, and bad thing for Amir in many ways.  How did you view this scene?  Were you expecting Assef to be Afghanastan’s leader?      Sincerely, Destiny Messier

ch 16 - 22

               There are many lessons taught in "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini.  Many of these lessons are about a boy growing up and how he matures.  One day Baba and Rahim Khan are talking about how Amir is maturing.  Many years later Rahim Khan is telling Amir about this conversation with Baba.  One thing Rahim Khan told Amir that Baba said was, "A boy who can't stand up for himself becomes a man that can't stand up for anything," (Hosseini 221).  This is one statement that I disagree with.  Many times boys grow up to be completely different men.  Many changes happen to boys as they grow up that can cause a small change in thinking and make them be able to stand up for things better.  An example of these changes is where a person lives.  When a man leaves his parents to go live on his own he must make more choices fro himself.  This would casue him to be able to stand up for himself better.  Also, where the man or boy lives will play a role in how well he stands up for himself.  Just how the person acts as a child does not determine how he will act as an adult.  The parents should not try to make the child act how they must be as an adult.  Do you think a boy can learn how to stick up for himself over time?
               There were also some changes between the American and Afghan cultures that I noticed, but there was one difference in particular that I spotted.  This difference was how religious the two cultures are.  Afghan people are very religious and relate everything back to their God Allah.  A few examples of this is when Hassan writes the letter to Amir and says, "I pray this letter reaches you in good health and in the light of Allah's good graces," (Hosseini 215).  Another example is also in the letter to Amir and says, "The streets are full enough already of hungry orphans and every day I thank Allah that I am alive," (Hosseini 216).  These people find their first priority in life to be their  religion.  In America, religion for many people is one of the least important things.  Some people don't even have a religion.  The difference between the Afghani people and Americans is a lot becasue of how much respect they have and things that religion teaches.  Do you think it is important to have a strong religion, a weak one, or none at all?
               One major feeling that all people feel at some time in their life is guilt.  Amir has this feeling throughout almost the entire book becasue of watching Hassan get raped.  Guilt is one of the hardest feelings to get rid of becasue you can never redo what you did casue it.  Throughout the entire book, Amir is trying to find a cure for his guilt.  This ultimatly comes when Assef beats up Amir.  He shows how he has overcome the feeling by thinking, "My body was broken—just how badly I wouldn’t find out until later—but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed,"(Hosseini 289).  This amazed me with how much it actually took for Amir to clear his concious of Hassan being raped.  Getting pounded on by Assef made him feel like he had gotten what he deserved and now they were even.  Do you think guilt is one of the worst and most powerful feelings to have?

CH 9-15

Dear Reader,
                   During the Kite Runner in chapter Amir finds himself in a fuel truck being smuggled out of Kabul to Peshawar. Within the fuel capsule which is black as night, Amir finds himself struggling to breath. He says " You open your mouth. Open it so wide your jaws creak. You order your lungs to draw air, NOW,  you need air, need it NOW. But your airways ignore you " (120). This passage I can particulary relate to because I have a fear of suffication. Just thought of not being to breathe and having your lungs srivel trying to reach the least bit of oxygen really gets to me. Drowning would be bad but breathing in air but not being able to get the oxygen seems so much worse. Its pretty much a tease for your lungs, that your able to inhale yet you arent able to live from it. This form of suffication is almost what happens to Amir because the air is so thick and full of toxins his lungs a struggling to find oxygen in each fuel filled breath. This whole scene in the cement is full of common fears, darkness, strangers, claustrophobia, sufication, and unbearable smell. When reading this scene in the novel did any those fears or other fears relate to you?
                   One part in the story which I didn't really understand on was in chapter 11 when Amir explains Baba's love for America and his conterversial politics. Amir recounts what Baba would say to him "There are only three real men in this world, Amir," he'd say. He'd count them off on his fingers: America the brash savior, Britian, and Israel" (125). It baffled me that Baba could believe this. America and Britian have truely been powerful countries over the last centuries yet he lost me with Israel. See Israel isnt really a world power, it was created as pernament home for Jews, as sadly enough they've been kicked out of their homes, abused, and resettled countless times over the last thousand years. Not discounting the country but I don't get why Baba considers Israel one of the three "real men" countries when he could have said French or Spain which are far more powerful countries on the world scale. Do you have any clue what Baba's reasoning could be?
                        The different events in these chapters seem to all revolve around one focus: Amir becoming a man. He gets married and loses his innocence. Baba dies and he becomes fully responsible for himself. He publishes a novel and starts his Carreer as a writter. He moves away from that dependence and reliance on Baba and becomes an independent man. This section is kind of like a coming of age theme. That is why these chapters reminded me of To Kill a  Mockingbird which focused on the growing up and coming of age of Scout and Jem. The novel follows them as they mature and learn to take reponsibilty just like Amir is taking responsibilty and maturing. While reading The Kite Runner has it reminded you of any novels? Also what are your thoughts of the novel so far.
                                                                       Sincerely,
                                                                                      Benjamin Sawyer  

ch 9 - 15

               The book in some spots does not agree with what I think of the world.  Baba sometimes says things throughout the book that I dont agree with.  One example of this is when Baba is telling Amir about the important countries in the world.  Baba says, "There are only three real me in the world, Amir," (Hosseini 125).  The Amir thinks what Baba is going to say next, "He'd count them off his fingers: America the brash savior, Britain, and Israel.  The rest of them, they're like gossiping old women," (Hosseini 125).  When Baba says this, he means that the only countries in the world that matter are the United States, Britain, and Israel.  Baba also means that the rest of the countries in the world don't matter at all.  This is the part of the statement that I disagree with alot.  There are many countries that the world depends on for something.  Do you agree with me that those arn't the only three important countries?
               My views of the people in Afghanistan and Pakistan have changed a lot throughout the course of the book.  Before I started reading I had though of all the people in that part of the world to be terrible people that hated Americans.  I now realize that some of the people are nice and do like America like Baba and Amir do.  When the man driving Amir said to Amir, "Afghani people and Pakistani people they are like brothers, I tell you.  Muslims have to helo Muslims," (Hosseini 195).  When the taxi driver said this it helped me to realize that the majority of the people living in that part of the world are actually nice.  Becasue of the war on terrorism that is occuring in the real world and the story I had just assumed all Afghani people were bad.  What do you think now of the people living in Pakistan and Afghanistan?  What did you used to think of these people?
               The novel also reminded me of one major problem that is not only occuring in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but throughout the whole world.  This issue is poverty.  In the story there is a very dramatic scene of what Amir is seeing while beeing driven through Afghan Town.  Amir describes what he sees as by thinking, "I saw sweetshops and carpet vendors, kabob stalls, kids with dirt-caked hands selling cigarettes," (Hosseini 196).  This made me think of all of the poor kids in th world.  It also reminded me about how lucky I am to not be in that situation.  There are times that all people feel like they have the worst life on the planet, but this reminds me that there is always someone worse.  I could be one of those poor children selling cigarettes on the side of the street.  What did this scene make you think of?  Did it change how you think about the people in less fortunate areas?

Dear Reader,

    One event that occured in The Kite Runner that shocked me happened on page 105.  Amir put Afghani money, and his watch under Hassan’s pillow to frame him so that him and Ali would be fired.  When Baba asked Hassan if he stole the items he was acused of taking, he admitted to it.  This shocked Amir because he knew that he was the one that put the money and watch under his pillow.  He then thinks to himself, “Then I understood: This was Hassan’s final sacrafice for me.”  I was suprised that Hassan was able to remain loyal to his best friend after he had seen him get raped and not done one thing to stop it, and was currently trying to rid him and his father of their job and home.  I think this period of the novel showed a tremendous amount of Hassan’s character.  He is a truly pure person that does everything for the people he loves even when they don’t deserve it.  I think Hassan is an amazing, and extremely strong person and I look up to him for those reasons.  What do you think about Hassan’s character?
    One time where I saw a difference in culture was on page 188.  Amir and Soraya were having difficulty in attempting to start a family and become parents.  A doctor reccomended that they try adoption.  When the news of this reached Soraya’s father he gave Amir and Soraya a long speech.  He said, “People here (In America) marry for love, family name and ancestry never even come into the equation.”  In Afghanistan family name is an extremely important factor in family life.  People know who everyone is, and who there ancestors are.  If someone were to adopt no one would know where they were brought up, whose genes they had, what kind of blood they had.  None of that would be present.  In America it would not matter; as long as the child was healthy everyone was happy as well.  This was one of the many times in the story that I found clashing views on a certain subject between the two vastly different cultures.  It really interested me to see why Afghani’s viewed adoption the way that they did.  Did this part of the novel interest you?  Why or why not?  Did you see many differences between the two cultures throughout The Kite Runner?
    A quote that was very interesting was on page 165.  When Amir And Soraya first got engaged she told him of her past with other men in case he wanted to change his mind about the marrige.  She didn’t want to start of the marrige with secrecy and lies.  Amir does not change his mind, and admires the fact that she is able to reaveal her secrets, unlike him, who is still holding onto several secrets involving Hassan.  He thinks in his mind, “I envied her.  Her secret was out.  Spoken.  Dealt with.  I opened my mouth and almost told her how I’d betrayed Hassan, lied, driven him out, and destroyed a forty-year relationship between Baba and Ali.  But I didn’t.”  This really stood out to me, and I thought that he would reveal all of the secrets he held onto from his past, seeing so as his soon-to-be wife could, then so could he.  It shocked me when he didn’t say anything, and kept it to himself.  He was so close to being completely honest and truthful, and letting go of that portion of his life.  To me, this showed character.  Amir was  becoming closer to speaking out about what happened.  I hope in the future of the story to see him actually do so.  Do you think Amir will reveal his past?  What was your reaction to this portion of the novel?
                        Sincerely, Destiny Messier

Dear Reader,

            A quote from the book Kite Runner that stood out to me was when Amir was in the basement.  He was trying to think of happy things to get his mind off of where he was, as Baba had instructed him to.  Amir began thinking of when he was in the field with Hassan flying kites and then says to himself, “I didn’t remember what month that was, or what year even. I only knew the memory lived in me, a perfectly encapsulated morsel of a good past, a brushstroke of the color gray, barren canvas that our lives had become.” (Hosseini 123) In this part Amir and Baba are trying to get to Pakistan and are traveling under very harsh conditions, so happy thoughts are all they have to enjoy the day. But then these thoughts make Amir realize how bad things are really going. This happy memory which he loved, opened his eyes to see how terrible his life is right now. He does not know what is going to happen to him and Baba and he is scared, but the happy memory and the urge to make more wonderful memories are what give him hope. I can relate to this quote.  Often, in hard situations, it is best to think of something happy, the thoughts may make you see that things aren’t the best right now, but  you still want to go forward and strive to have more happy memories.  That is what gives you hope. You know there have been good times in your life and that means they will come again.  I am sure many other people can relate to this too. I think Amir still really cares about Hassan even after making him lie and then leave, don’t you think so?

Another quote that greatly stood out to me, in the story, is what Amir was thinking to himself after he found out his book was published, he said, “There was so much goodness in my life. So much happiness. I wondered if I deserved any of it.”(Hosseini 183). Though Amir is happy with a loving wife and he just got his first book published, after he hears about the publishing he thinks of what Rahim Khan said to him on how he is going to be a great writer.  The thought of Rahim Khan brought made him think of Hassan, which then reminded him of his deep regret for not helping Hassan when he was getting raped. There are so many good things in Amir’s life right now and all he can think about is if he deserves it or not because he did not stand up for Hassan and then made him lie. In this chapter Amir  transitions more into a man with his wedding., letting go of his father and the book publishing, so the fact that with all of this success he is still holding on to his regret shows that this is very significant to him. This quote also relates to me and I’m sure, many other people. Everyone has something they deeply regret and the thought of it will always, in a way, be there no matter what is going on. Everyone has something they wish they could have changed or done better no matter what is happening in their lives, and that is also what I believe this quote is trying to say, do you agree?

            A very important quote I found in the text is when Amir was back in Afghanistan talking to Rahim Khan. They had been talking for a while and then Rahim Khan brought up how Hassan had been living with him for a while. In shock Amir said Hassan’s name out loud for the first time in years.  He thought to himself as the regrets and memories that came with his name came flooding back, “Those thorny old barbs of guilt bore into  me once more, as if speaking his name had broken a spell, set them free to torment me anew.” (Hosseini 202) The guilt he feels from not helping Hassan when he was getting raped, the lying so he would leave, thinking that that would make him feel better, still haunts him and is still a big part of Amir’s life. No matter what is going on Amir is always thinking about it.  To say Hassan’s name again and to talk about him again made the pain and guilt creep back  worse than ever and torment Amir. The conversation then continues with Amir promising to talk about Hassan, and we can predict that he will not enjoy the conversation as his memories of regret  flood back to him with every mention of Hassan’s name. This part of Kite Runner is like a scene from the story the Odyssey. In that story Odysseus is very upset with himself for letting his men get eaten by the six headed monster Scylla. Odysseus is very ,loyal to his men and he just watched as they died, and then later went on to say that watching that was the most pain and sadness he had felt the whole journey.  Here the two stories are very alike, don’t you think so?

            Sincerely, Ally Amaral

ch 1 - 8

              "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini reminds me of the epic poem called The Odyssey by Homer.  These two stories have similarities with the internal conflicts that the main characters are struggling with.  Both Amir and Odysseus have internal feelings of guilt because of something they had done to another person.  Amir expresses the guilt that he feels when he says, "I was glad I didn't have to return his gaze," (Hosseini 78) after he sees Hassan walking back home.  This shows how Amir did not even want to look Hassan in the eyes because of the guilt he was feeling for not trying to help Hassan in the fight and let him get raped.  Odysseus also feels guilt for some of the things that he brings upon his soldiers.  An example of how Odyssues shows guilt is how he tries to get ready to fight the Scylla even though there is nothing he could do to fight it.  Odysseus and Amir felt the same type of guilt because they both set other people up for failure.  In Amir's case he did not protect Hassan and Hassan got raped.  In Odysseus' case, he set up Scylla to kill six of his men.

              The book also has one main point that I feel relates to the world we are living in now.  This is that both the book and real world have the problem of bullying.  In "The Kite Runner" Assef is the bully and his main target is a kid named Hassan who is a servants son.  It is shown how Assef bullies Hassan when Assef asks for a drink and , "Assef grinning, kneading Hassan in the chest with a knuckle," (Hosseini 100).  This type of incident also occurs in the modern day in the United State.  Bullies push and shove the weaker kids that may be different in some way.  This is exactly what is happening to Hassan.  Bullying in the book and in the real world are bad and cause problems. 

                 Throughout the story I have also thought of childhood differently.  There was one quote said by Baba that really made me think about how I want to be as a kid and adult.  This is when he said, "A boy who won't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up to anything," (Hosseini 22).  When Baba said that it made me think about and consider how parents should raise their children.  I feel that kids not being able to stand up for themselves has to do with the amount of freedom that the parent gives to the child.  A kid that is told to stay inside and do homework or chores all day will never have the experiences of a child that rides their bike all over the place.  These experiences will teach the kids about decisions and standing up for themselves.  The book has changed me to make me feel like being more free to do whatever you want is better than being imprisoned in a house being told to do schoolwork and chores. 

ben sawyer reader response #1

Dear Reader,
                    "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini portrays the life of Amir who lives in pakistan with his father, a succesful buisnessman. So far in the story Amir is desperatly trying to win his fathers love as he feels he is not the son his father wanted and he feels he has to make it up to his dad since his mom died while delivering him. This need for acceptance particularly shows through when Amir's "Baba" or father says that he thinks Amir will win the kite fighting competition this year. Amir sees this as an opprotunity and thinks " I was going to win, and I was going to run that last kite. Then I'd bring it home and show it to Baba. Show Him once and for all that his son was worthy" (Hosseini 57). This concept of children proving themselves to their parents is prevelant in alot of families today. Like Amir, children sometimes feel like they're letting down their parents and that they need to prove themselfs. In order to prove themselfs children may want to win a competion or achieve a goal like Amir did in the kite competion. Have you ever felt the need to prove yourself to your parents?
                    In the story so far there have been multiple sections which have clashed with my views on the world. One specific example is when Hassan is being raped by Assef in the alley after retrieving the kite for Amir. As Amir onlooks the scene in horror he desribes what he sees " He kept one hand on Hassan's back and undid his own belt buckle with his free hand. He unzipped his jeans dropped his underwear. He positioned himself behind Hassan" (75 Hosselini). This graphic scene completely clashed with my thoughts on the world, mainly because im blinded of what happens in other places than America. A early teenage boy raping another teenage boy to teach him a lesson? This is unknown to Americans. My stomach was turned after reading this section being so graphic and unheard of to me. Its hard to believe that this happens somewhere in the world. As a reader what was your mental reponse to this section?
                  Overall im really enjoying the book so far. Although it was a little slow to start, as im sure you would agree, the book is beggining to pick up. I particularly enjoyed the kite fighting section since I had no clue such an intresting sport existed. Which part did you enjoy the most so far? The story is pretty dark to due its topic yet I kinda of enjoy its harsh reality. At parts its very graphic but it shows what life was like in Afgan during the 1970's. This time period was before Afganistan became well known for its volient extremists and government turmoil. I didnt think this time period was very violent yet its turning out to be the opposite of that. Before reading 'The Kite Runner" how did you think Afganistan was during the 1970's? Also what are your thoughts on the book so far?
                                                                              Sincerely,
                                                                                              Ben Sawyer
  
                

Dear Reader,

    The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini makes many connections to other pieces of writing.  One connection I found was between The Kite Runner and Speak by Laurie Halse.  On page 86 when Amir is at Kaka Homayoun’s house in Jalalabad he thinks to himself, “ ‘I watched Hassan get raped,’ I said to no one.”  The afternoon that Hassan was raped by Assef, Wali, and Kamal, Amir had the opportunity to stop the rape from happening, but instead he ran away.  When he ran away he didn’t even get help.  He could of done something to stop it, but he chose to let it happen.  In Speak, the same thing happened.  Melissa Sordino was at a summer party when she got raped.  There were many other people there, and there must of been at least one person who knew what was happening.  No one got help for her either, they just let the misfortune occur.  The Kite Runner is also like Speak in the sense that both of the victims of the rape, Hassan and Melinda, did not tell anyone themselves.  I feel like there are many other connections that could be made from this novel to other novels.  Have you found any connections between this story and other ones?
    Something I can relate to from The Kite Runner is on page 46.  Baba is giving Hassan his birthday present when Amir thinks to himself, “It wasn’t fair.  Hassan hadn’t done anything to earn Baba’s affections....”  Amir is jealous that his father cares for Hassan so much.  Sometimes he wishes he was Baba’s favorite, and that Baba treated him better than he treated Hassan.  Although it sounds terrible, I can relate to Amir being jealous, and I know that many other people can too.  I know that when I like someone a lot, and I see other people all over them the green eyed monster comes out.  Although they’re not mine I still get envious of everyone that person is close to, and I wsih they would treat me like they treated those people, or even better.  When you desire someones affections so desperately you can’t help the evil side of you that emerges.  Can you relate to Amir in this situation?  Have there been other times in the novel where you were able to relate to him, or any other character?
    One quote that really spoke out to me was on page 55.  Amir asks Hassan if he would eat dirt if Amir told him to do so.  Hassan than asks in return if Amir would ever ask that.  Amir says no, but afterwards thinks to himself, “That’s the thing about people who mean everything they say.  They think everyone else does too.”  The quote really opened my eyes.  When people are extremely truthful, such as myself, it makes them view everyone else as a truthful person as well.  It shows me that you need to be careful when you are faced to judge someones words as truthful or deceitful.  You can not be so naive as to see everyone as a truthful, wonderful human being.  Although in most cases that could be true, the world is full of horrible people at the same time.  You need to decide if the person you are talking to is who you think they are or not.  What does this quote mean to you?  How do you see my views on the quote? 

                                     Sincerely, Destiny Messier

Response on chptrs. 1-8

Dear reader,

             An important quote that I would agree with is when Baba is talking to Rahim Khan about Amir and says, “A boy who won’t stand up for himself becomes a man who can’t stand up to anything.”(Hosseini 22). Amir is very much unlike Baba in that Amir spends his days with books, rather than things like soccer balls. Amir never stands up for himself when other boys pick on him and Baba is very concerned about that. I agree with this quote; if you cannot stand up for yourself how are you ever going to stand up for anything you believe in? Being able to present yourself as who you are to the world is just as important as the things you see around you. Baba sees this and tries to explain that to Rahim Khan also.

            Another significant quote that stood out to me was after the gunfire when Amir, Hassan, and Ali were all huddled together and Amir says, “Huddled together in the dining room and waiting for the sun to rise, none of us had any notion that a way of life had ended. If not quite yet, at least it is the beginning of the end.”(Hosseini 36).  In that moment, Mir knew that everything just changed and that their way of life had just ended or was about to. They then find out the monarchy in Afghanistan had just ended, and the start of a republic. I find that this quote shows that in a second the world can change and it could be the end of what you’re used to in a split second; I agree that that can happen. In one instant the way their government had been for the past 40 years, under the rule of  Zahir Shah, was now over.  The republic government under the rule of Doud Khan had started and is about to change their lives, so in a second everything was different. I feel that that things like that are possible and unexpected, don’t you think so?

            Another important quote that stood out to me was when Amir was debating whether or not to help Hassan when he was getting raped by Assef, he said, “I had one last chance to make a decision. One final opportunity to decide who I was going to be. I could step into the alley, stand up for Hassan-the way he’d stood up for me all those times in the past - and accept whatever could happen to me. Or I could run.” (Hosseini 77) This was a big internal conflict for him which I feel relates to the first important quote. Amir is still unable to stand up and fight for himself, so he was also unable to stand up and fight for Hassan, his best friend. This is showing that, so far, Amir has not grown much and still has a lot to learn about life and is in a way a true child. He ran away from the fight and waited for Hassan’s return.  Amir was not able to look at Hassan the same way, knowing that what he had done was wrong and he should have helped him. I consider being able to stand up for yourself and others is very important. Being able to help yourself and the people and things that are important to you is a big factor, and something that can change your life, don’t you agree?