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