Blog Entry #1

1) Title: The Kite Runner

Author: Khaled Hosseini

Publication Date: 2003

Number of Pages: 391

2) I went online to find out more about the books recommended for the independent study. The Kite Runner stood out to me rather than any other novel on the list because of its plot. The book uses facts about Afghanistan's history mixed with fiction to create something that is very realistic and could have actually occurred. I felt that the book could teach me something about the culture of the Middle East and I could better understand what it would be like for a young boy growing up in a foreign country with very distinct culture and then moving to western civilization. I like adventure and action oriented story lines and felt that this book would meet those needs.

3) I like the book so far because conflict has already been uncovered in the main character's past. At twelve years of age, Amir emigrates from Afghanistan with his father to start a new life in San Francisco. He regrets leaving his home country and abandoning his best friend Hassan. There is a certain mystery about the novel due to the fact that the storyline has not yet been established. This makes me want to read more to figure out how the two best friends change over time with one moving away and the other staying in a war torn country.

4) I have read the first three chapters so far for a total of 23 pages. The chapters in the novel are short but the plot is already developing and hooks the reader. The conflict between the father and son and their thoughts on sin in the Muslim religion are two examples of emerging themes.

5) The book starts in San Francisco in the year 2001 when the main character Amir receives a phone call from his father’s old business partner Rahim.  He asks him to visit Pakistan.   Amir emigrated from Afghanistan in 1975 with his father when he was just 12 years of age.  He left behind his childhood friend Hassan.  Amir plans to return to the Middle East to atone for past sins. He seems to feel guilty about abandoning Hassan when the country was struggling with political tension.  The author uses past memories to display how the relationship between the two was damaged although the reader still does not know exactly what happened.

6) There are many themes that are developing as the novel begins. The main conflict that has appeared so far involves Amir’s relationships with his father Baba and best friend Hassan. Amir's father is a rich businessman, respected throughout the community. Baba feels disappointed in his son because he is not athletic and does not possess the ability to inherit the family business. Amir's dream is to get his father's approval and he sometimes neglects his best friend Hassan who is the son of his father's servant. Jealousy is developing between the two friends, as Hassan possesses the athletic abilities that would make Amir’s father proud of him.  Differing cultural, economic and social themes are all emerging.

7) I started my search for secondary sources by searching the Infotrac database. I found a couple of articles that criticized and compared The Kite Runner with A Thousand Splendid Suns (Hosseini’s second novel). There was a biography on the author Khaled Hosseini and the timeline of his life seems to be similar to that of Amir’s in the novel. I found the database to be confusing as most of the articles were about Hosseini’s second book A Thousand Splendid Suns even though The Kite Runner was searched.

8) “And under the same roof we spoke our first words. Mine was Baba. His was Amir. My name.”

These lines speak to me as an example of how the main conflict in the novel is emerging. Amir’s first word was his father’s name while Hassan’s was Amir. This demonstrates who the most important figure is in both of these character’s lives. Baba thinks Amir is weak due to the fact he is bullied and Hassan is forced to defend him. Amir tries to constantly impress his father but with no success.  In a similar way Amir neglects his best friend Hassan and ultimately abandons him when he moves to the US with his father.