The Kite Runner 5l3p2z

THE KITE RUNNER

A Literary Journey

Background The book takes place between the 1970s and 2001. Kite Runner is centered in Afghanistan over the last

forty years, as well as the Afghan community in America. The effects of the Russian invasion, the Mujahidin and the Taliban on the Afghan people are all dealt with in the book. In Afghanistan, the Pashtun nationality has been the most dominant. This is the same nationality of Amir and Baba. The Hazara are a minority group in Afghanistan, and this is the nationality of Hassan and Ali. They have always been persecuted in Afghanistan.

About the Author: Khaled Hosseini      

Born: Kabul, Afghanistan-1965 Father- diplomat for the Afghan Foreign Ministry Mother- high school Farsi and History teacher 1976- AFM transferred the Hosseini family to Paris In September 1980 the family moved to San Jose, CA Khaled graduated from high school in 1984 and from Santa Clara University in 1988 with a major in Biology.

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University of California San Diego Medical School and residency at Cedars- Sinai Hospital Began writing The Kite Runner in March of 2001 and it was published in 2003 Book is an international bestseller and is sold in 48 countries A Thousand Splendid Suns is Hosseini’s second novel and it was published in 40 different countries The Khaled Hosseini Foundation provides assistance and help for those in most need in Afghanistan

Important Characters  Amir-

The narrator The Kite Runner. Amir is a very jealous and sensitive young boy who craves the attention of his father. He is part of a wealthy household in Afghanistan before the Soviet-Invasion. He later reestablishes his life in America with his father, Baba.

 Hassan-

Amir’s servant, and half-brother as discovered late in the novel. Hassan is a very loyal friend to Amir. After going through personal tragedy, Hassan becomes very introverted and Amir and Hassan’s relationship falls apart. Hassan never learns the truth about his relation to Baba and Amir. He is executed by the Taliban along with his wife in front of their son Sohrab.

 Baba-

Amir and Hassan’s father. A very wealthy, and well liked man in Afghanistan, Baba is well-known for throwing huge parties and opening in orphanage. After moving to America Baba works at a gas station, and later dies from lung cancer.

Important Characters 

Ali- Baba’s servant and friend, and Hassan’s supposed father in the beginning of the novel. Ali suffered from polio and therefore only had use of one of his legs. He was killed by a land mine.

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Soraya- Amir’s wife. Met Amir at the flee markets. She is always yearning to have a child but cannot concieve.

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Sohrab- Hassan’s son who Amir adopts at the end of the novel, saving him from the corrupt orphanages in Afghanistan.

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Assef- A childhood tormenter of Amir and Hassan. Rapes Hassan as a child, and later becomes part of the Taliban and takes advantage of Hassan’s son Sohrab. In the end, he battles Amir for the custody of Sohrab. He loses the fight when Sohrab uses his father’s old slingshot to shoot Assef’s eye out, the same sling shot Hassan threatened him with to protect Amir years before.

In Short Kite Runner is all About 

A beautiful and informative story of Amir, an Afghan boy who betrays his closest friend, Hassan, when they are just 12 years old. He lives with this guilt for many years, paying deeply in pain and suffering, always wanting to redeem himself for his betrayal.

Summary Cont.. In

addition to the issues affecting his personal life, Amir must also contend with the instability of the Afghan political system in the 1970s. During a crucial episode, which takes place during an important kite flying tournament, Amir decides not to act — he decides not to confront bullies and aggressors when he has the chance — and this conscious choice of inaction sets off a chain reaction that leads to guilt, lies, and betrayals. Eventually, because of the changing political climate, Amir and his father are forced to flee Afghanistan. Amir views coming to America as an opportunity to leave his past behind.

Ultimately, The

Kite Runner is a novel about relationships — specifically the relationships between Amir and Hassan, Baba, Rahim Khan, Soraya, and Sohrab — and how the complex relationships in our lives overlap and connect to make us the people we are.

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Thank You..