The Kite Runner
Published: 29, May 2003
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Genres: American, Asian, Cultural, Education, Family, Fiction, Heritage, Historical, Literature, Military, Political, Professional, Saga, Technical, War
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Summary
Amir, a rich Pashtun boy, and Hassan, the Hazara son of a servant of Amir's father Ali. Flying kites was a way for the two boys to get away from the horrifying reality they were living in. Hassan is an excellent "kite runner" for Amir, predicting where the kite will fall without having to look at it. Hassan's mother, Sanaubar, abandoned him and Ali, while Amir's mother died in delivery. Both boys are adored by Amir's father, a wealthy businessman whom he lovingly refers to as Baba. He makes it a point to purchase Hassan the exact same items that he buys Amir, much to Amir's chagrin.
Hassan's cleft lip was surgically fixed, and he paid for it. Baba, on the other hand, is harsh with Amir, believing him to be weak and lacking in bravery, and has threatened to physically beat him if he complains about Hassan. Rahim Khan, Baba's best friend, provides Amir with a softer fatherly figure in the form of Rahim Khan, who understands and encourages Amir's passion in writing, which Baba deems to be a female-only pursuit. Amir questions why his father consumes alcohol, which is banned by Islam, while he is sitting on Baba's lap rather than being shooed away as a bother. Baba reminds him that the Mullahs are liars and that the only true sin is thievery, which may take various forms.
Assef, an older child with a sadistic penchant for violence, mocks Amir for mingling with a Hazara, whom he regards as an inferior race whose members only belong in Hazarajat, according to him. Assef is only half-Pashtun, with a German mother and a blond-haired, blue-eyed German look. He plans to assault Amir with brass knuckles one day, but Hassan protects him, threatening to use his slingshot to take out Assef's eye. Assef retreats but vows to avenge himself one day.
Amir wins the local kite-fighting contest one victorious day, finally earning Baba's approval. "For you, a thousand times over," Hassan says to Amir as he races for the final cut kite, a wonderful trophy. Hassan, on the other hand, meets Assef in an alleyway after discovering the kite. Assef physically beats and rapes Hassan for refusing to give over the kite. Amir sees the crime but is afraid to interfere.
He understands that if he fails to bring the kite home, Baba would be disappointed in him. He feels terrible about it, but he knows that speaking about it will ruin his chances of winning Baba's affections, so he stays quiet about it. Following that, Amir maintains a distance from Hassan, as his guilt prevents him from connecting with the youngster. Hassan's mental and physical health starts to decline.
When questioned by Baba, Amir realizes that things would be easier if Hassan were not around, so he hides a watch and some cash beneath Hassan's mattress in the hopes that Baba would force him to leave. Despite the fact that Baba deems "no conduct more horrible than stealing," he forgives him. Hassan and Ali go nevertheless, much to Baba's dismay, because Hassan has informed Ali what happened to him. Amir is no longer plagued by daily reminders of his weakness and treachery, but he continues to live in their shadow.
Five years later, in 1979, the Soviet Union engaged militarily in Afghanistan. Baba and Amir flee to Peshawar, Pakistan, before settling in a run-down apartment in Fremont, California. Baba gets his first job at a petrol station. Amir attends San Jose State University to further his writing talents after graduating from high school. Baba and Amir supplement their income by selling secondhand things at a flea market in San Jose every Sunday.
Amir meets Soraya Taheri, a fellow refugee, and her family there. Even though Baba has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, he may still help Amir by begging Soraya's father for permission to marry her. He agrees, and the two tie the knot. Baba passes away shortly after. Amir and Soraya had a wonderful marriage, but they find much to their dismay, that they are unable to produce children.
Amir establishes himself as a successful author. Amir gets a call from his father's best friend (and boyhood father figure) Rahim Khan fifteen years after his wedding. Khan, who is dying, requests that Amir pay him a visit in Peshawar. "There is a way to be decent again," he says cryptically to Amir.
Hassan and Ali are both deceased, according to Rahim Khan. Ali was murdered after he stepped on a land mine. Hassan and his wife were assassinated because Hassan refused to let the Taliban take Baba and Amir's residence in Kabul. Ali was infertile and not Hassan's biological father, according to Rahim Khan. Hassan was Amir's half-brother, as he was the son of Sanaubar and Baba. Finally, Khan informs Amir that he has summoned him to Pakistan in order to request that he save Hassan's kid, Sohrab, from an orphanage in Kabul.
Amir seeks for Sohrab with the help of Farid, an Afghan cab driver, and Soviet war veteran. They discover that a Taliban official frequently visits the orphanage, bringing cash and typically taking a girl with him. He occasionally picks a guy, most notably Sohrab. Amir learns where to find the official from the orphanage director, and Farid gets an appointment at his house by claiming to have "personal business" with him.
Amir encounters the Taliban commander, Assef, who exposes his true identity. As a dancing boy, Sohrab is kept in Assef's residence. If Amir can defeat Assef in a battle, Assef offers to release him. Assef then severely assaults Amir, shattering multiple bones, until Sohrab fires a brass ball into Assef's left eye with a slingshot. Sohrab assists Amir in leaving the residence, where he passes out and awakens in a hospital.
Sohrab learns about Amir's plans to return to America and maybe adopt him. American officials, on the other hand, want proof of Sohrab's orphan status. Amir informs Sohrab that he may have to return to an orphanage for a short time due to a glitch with the adoption procedure, and Sohrab commits suicide, afraid of going to an institution.
Amir is finally successful in returning him to the United States. After he gets adopted, Sohrab refuses to interact with Amir and Soraya until Amir talks about Sohrab's father Hassan, and kites, as well as demonstrating some of Hassan's talents. Sohrab finally offers Amir a crooked grin, which Amir welcomes wholeheartedly as he runs the kite for Sohrab, adding, "A thousand times over, for you."
Rating: 100/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.
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