The Kite Runner-Week 7, Post B

This novel has taken me on such an amazing journey. I have been enticed from the very beginning and the author kept my interest all the way to the end. There have not been many books I've read for school that have done that. Khaled Hosseini does an impecable job of revealing the horrors and truths about the struggling country of Afghanistan. I never knew how bad things really were until I read his novel. It has truly opened my eyes. The reader bonds with many of the characters and personally suffers when the characters suffer. This is an emotional story that will rip at your heartstrings. To read a story as compelling as The Kite Runner forces the reader to evaluate their own life. Amir spent the majority of his life regretting one day in his childhood when he didn't stand up for his best friend who was being sexually abused right before his eyes. I believe a major message this story is teaching is simply this: Do the right thing. That may be a lesson one learns in kindergaten, but people forget how important that message really is. It's a message that follows you your entire life and is not meant to be forgotten.

The Kite Runner-Week 7, Post A

Vocab:
-Squalid (329): Foul and repulsive, as from lack of care or cleanliness; neglected and filthy.
-Milieu (338): Surroundings, esp. of a social or cultural nature

Figurative Language:
"He gave me a curt little shake; it felt like squeezing a sparrow." (328) This quote is an example of a similie describing the quality of Raymond Andrews's handshake.

"I felt like Jean Valjean sitting across from Javert." (328) This statement is an example of a similie describing how Amir was feeling sitting across from Raymond Andrews. If you are familiar with the show Les Miserables you understand that Amir is feelign very nervous and there is quite a bit of tension.

"He pressed his hands palm to palm, as if he were kneeling before the Virgin Mary." (330) This statement is an example of a similie describing the way Raymond Andrews folded his hands.

Quote:
"'Can I ask you something Mr. Andrews?'
'Yes.'
'Do you have children?'
For the first time, he blinked.
'Well do you? It's a simple question.'
He was silent.
'I thought so,' I said, taking Sohrab's hand. 'They ought to put someone in your chair who knows what it's like to want a child.' I turned to go, Sohrab trailing me." (331) I found this quote to be a clear example that Amir is finally taking initiative to help others besides himself. He has told his story to Soraya, which I think has lifted a huge weight off his shoulders. Now that his story is out in the open, he feels that he can finally repay Hassan for all the good Hassan did to him in their childhood. I have not seen Amir be this assertive with anyone before and I believe this experience with Sohrab has changed him permanently.

Theme:
The theme I noticed in this passage was the importance of taking initiative to help others who deserve it. Even if that means stepping out of your comfort zone.

The Kite Runner-Week 6, Post B

Hassan continues to surprise me with his fierce willpower. His mother, after leaving him the day he was born, returns to reconcile and Hassan finds it in his heart to forgive her. Not only does he forgive her, but he takes her in his home and nurses her back to health. This woman never even held her newborn son. When Sohrab was born, it was nice to see Sanaubar taking such an active role in his life. She clearly regretted the time missed raising her own son and decided to compensate by helping to raise her grandson. She became a prominent figure in this boy's life and as Rahim Kahn said, "The two of them were inseperable." I'm glad that for the few years she had left, she was able to reconnect with her son and actively participate in his family. Hassan is one of the strongest characters I have ever read about. It's the little things he does that makes him appear so emotionally strong and stable. For instance, when he returned to Baba's house to live with Rahim Kahn he insisted that he and his wife live in the hut in the backyard out of respect. Rahim Kahn continually told them they were welcome in the home, but Hassan would hear nothing of it. I would have wished that Hassan would have just gone and lived in the house, but he displayed such willpower and respect in that little decision. Every decision he makes seems to reflect upon his strong sense of self and others.

The Kite Runner-Week 6, Post A

Vocab:
-Affable (205): pleasantly easy to approach and to talk to; friendly; cordial; warmly polite
-Caracul (200): Any of a breed of Central Asian sheep having a wide tail and wool that is curled and glossy in the young but wiry and coarse in the adult.

Figurative Language:
"'It sounded like a jaroo, a broomstick, snapping in half.'" (192) This quote is an example of a similie describing the sound of the general's hip fracturing when he tripped on a carpet edge.

"But I remember it was a scorching summer day and I was driving up a rutted dirt road, nothing on either side but sunbaked bushes, gnarled, spiny tree trunks, and dried grass like pale straw." (204-205) This passage is an example of a similie describing the terrain in Hassan's village.

"...beyond them nothing but broad sky and mountains like jagged teeth." (205) This statement is a similie describing the setting of Hassan's village.

Quote:
"You should have seen Sanaubar with that baby, Amir jan. He became the center of her existence. She sewed clothes for him, built him toys from scraps of wood, rags, and dried grass. When he caught a fever, she stayed up all night, and fasted for three days. She burned isfand for him on a skillet to cast out nazar, the evil eye. By the time Sohrab was two, he was calling her Sasa. The two of them were inseperable." (211) I was pleased to read this passage because it shows that Sanaubar truly regrets leaving Hassan the day he was born. She knows she cannot raise Hassan again, but to imerse herself in her grandson's life is the next best thing. I was shocked to see that she had come back. After all these years I wonder what compelled her to return.

Theme:
A theme I have noticed in this passage of the novel is forgiveness. It took a lot of willpower for Hassan to forgive Sanaubar and even take her in and care for her.

The Kite Runner-Week 5, Post B

Throughout this passage of reading, I have come to dislike Amir even more than before. He is whiny, doesn't stand up for himself, and he doesn't take matters into his own hands. For example, the situation with Baba's cancer. Amir desperately wanted Baba to go into treatment and Baba kept resisting. Amir did not put forth a great effort to put his father through treatment and maybe if he had showed some backbone, Baba might have agreed to go through with it. Now don't get me wrong, I'm really enjoying this book and if Khaled Hosseini's goal is to make me hate Amir, he has done a wonderful job. I am under the impression that that is his goal because the language in which he describes Amir does not make him sound like an appealing guy. He is so dependent on others and I believe marrying Soraya was a good thing for him because she's tough and might teach him to stand up for himself and live his own life. So far the only thing I can think of that Amir has chosen to do himself is marry Soraya. No one told him to do this so snaps for Amir. But not really, because it's still pathetic. I sincerely hope that Soraya causes him to mend his ways and become a real man. At this point though, I don't see that happening.

Sorry,
Emily

The Kite Runner-Week 5, Post A

Vocab:
-Maladies (177): any disorder or disease of the body, esp. one that is chronic or deepseated.
-Wedlock (179): the state of marriage; matrimony.

Figurative Language:
"His shoulder blade felt like a bird's wing under my fingers." (161) This statement is an example of a similie describing the severe amount of weight Baba has lost throughout his illness.

"A blush, red like henna, bloomed on her cheeks." (171) This quote is an example of a similie describing Soraya's feeling of flattery when Amir told her he loved her.

"I could see his internal smile, as wide as the skies of Kabul on nights when the poplars shivered and the sound of crickets swelled in the gardens." (173) This passage is an example of a similie describing the expression on Baba's face.

Quote:
"They filled the parking spots at the mosque in Hayward. On the balding grass field behind the building, cars and SUVs parked in crowded makeshift rows. People had to drive three or four blocks north of the mosque to find a spot." I never realized how well-liked and admired Baba was until I read this quote. I understood that many people liked him, but it never occured to me that it was this many people. I suppose I find this surprising because I only see the side of Baba that Amir sees, which for the most part, is not pleasant. As Baba grew older I was more aware of his nature and I can understand why he was so well-liked.

Theme:
The theme I'm noticing in this passage of the novel relates back to the beginning. Friendship is imperitive. Every person needs someone to rely on.

The Kite Runner-Week 4, Post B

I find it interesting that Baba had been considered wealthy and was placed high on the social hierarchy back in Kabul, but when he comes to America, he must completely start over. Baba gets a job at a gas station, working minimum wage, and I don't understand why he couldn't use some of his wealth from Kabul to help in America. I understand that if someone has a degree in one country, and then emigrates to another, sometimes that degree is not acknowledged and they must start from the beginning to get back to the job they held back home. I don't remember what Baba did back in Kabul; it seemed like he simply had good blood and came from a wealthy family. I believe this because he always seemed to be attending lavish parties and meeting important people. In America, however, all of that changed. He had to start from the ground up, which was quite difficult for him. Baba appears to be a hard worker though, and it seems like he is able to stay on his feet. It's impressive that he is able to keep his family steady by working at a gas station. Clearly, he understood that he couldn't rely on his previous wealth to get him through life once he arrived in America.

The Kite Runner-Week 4, Post A

Vocab:
-Dissertations (125): A lengthy, formal treatise, especially one written by a candidate for the doctoral degree at a university; a thesis.
-Brash (125): impertinent; impudent; tactless

Figurative Language:
"There are only three real men in this world Amir,' he'd say. He's count them off on his fingers: America the brash savior, Britain, and Israel. 'The rest of them-' he used to wave his hand and make a phht sound '-they're like gossiping old women.'" (125) This quote is an example of a similie describing what Baba thought of the world with the exception of three countries.

"'He's not fit to run this country. It's like putting a boy who can't ride a bike behind the wheel of a brand new Cadillac.'" (126) This quote is an example of a similie describing Baba's views of President Jimmy Carter.

"Baba walked out of the welfare office like a man cured of a tumor." (131) This statement is an example of a similie describing the great sensation Baba felt when he returned the food stamps to his eligibility officer.

Quote:
"'Amir is going to be a great writer,' Baba said. I did a double take at this. 'He has finished his first year of college and earned A's in all of his courses.'" (139) This quote is significant because it shows Baba finally accepting his son for who he is and realizing that he should be quite proud of Amir's talent. This is a big step for Baba and could change the relationship between Baba and Amir forever.

Theme:
I seem to be finding a theme of acceptance throughout this passage of the novel. Baba becoming more accepting of Amir, Amir becoming more accepting of Baba. All in all, their relationship is growing stronger.