last BLOG post OF the WHOLE year - post B

Dear Khaled Hosseini,
I just finished your book and i am taken aback by the ending! in fact the whole book was amazing! In the last part of novel Amir comes across betrayal and redemption when he returns to his ravaged homeland to rescue the son of Hassan after the boy's parents are shot during the Taliban. When i heard that Hassan had died, I felt very sad because the whole book i was waiting for Hassan to go back and appoligize to him for the whole mess. Did you have this idea in mind when you started writing the book? But i was very proud of Amir when he made the difficult journey to Kabul, only to learn the boy has been enslaved by Assef, the guy who raped Hassan. It was ironic how the price Amir had to pay to recover Sohrab was similar to Hassan's. "For the first time since the winter of 1975, i felt at peace. My body was broken - just how badly i wouldn't find out until later - but i felt healed. healed at last" (289). It also shows about how childhood choices affect our adult lives. Another thing that was interesting was Baba, who infact is Hassan's father also. In short, i really liked your book. I thought it gave a great perceptive examination of recent Afghan history and its ramifications in both America and the Middle East which succeeded in exploring the culture of a previously obscure nation.
I enjoyed your book!
Claire

LaSt WeEk oF BLoGing eVER - Post A

A cultural difference i noted this week was how Aphgans lived their lives in Aphganistan. One thing i noticed was their families. They each had very extended families that they all knew very well. This is different because for me, it's like i know my first cousins and then i barely know my second cousins whereas in Aphganistan, they keep in touch with their 1st, 2nd & 3rd! "When hassan and i came home after watching a kindi film at cinema zainab, what Ali, rahim khan, baba, or the myriad of baba's friends - second and third cousins milling in and out of the house"(357). In short, Aphgans get together alot with their families and extended families and in my opinion, they all treat each other as if they are friends.

WEEK 6, post b

DEar Amir,

I have many questions for you especially about how your life has changed since you moved to America. Do you think the move affected your and Baba's relationship? Have you changed since you've moved to America? In my opinion to the first question i feel that your and Baba's relationship has gotten closer. I feel that while in Aphganistan you and Baba had such a tough time with your relationship because you tried too hard to get the love you wanted and Baba did not give you a chance to achieve that. When Baba died, you realized that now he was gone you needed him the most. "Listening to them, i realized how much of who i was, what i was, had been defined by Baba and the marks he had left on people's lives. My whole life, i had been 'baba's son.' Now he was gone. Baba couldn't show me the way anymore;i'd have to find it on my own"(174). Amir realizes that he had been relying on his father his whole life and he's afraid to move on and grow up. Answering to the second question, i feel that Amir has changed since he's been in America. Still haunted by Hassan and his childhood, Amir has changed. He so far has gotten married and goes to school but still thinks about Hassen. In fact, once he thought on his wedding night, "I wonder if Hassan has married. And if so whos facehe had seen in the mirror under the viel? Whose henna painted hands had he held?"(171).
Sincerely,
Claire

WEEK 6, POST A

This week i noticed many cultural differences from the novel Kite Runner. One was how the aphgans celebrated marriages. I also thought it was interesting how even though Amir and everyone else was living in America, they still celebrated Amir's wedding the traditonal way. First, was how the people dressed. "We seated around a table, Soraya and i dressed in green- the color of Islam, but also the color of spring and new beginings" (170). I thought this was intersting because traditional American weddings women usually wore colors like white. Another difference was the wedding itself. I learned that in Aphgani weddings, they were seated around a table, with all the relatives. A 'mullah' would from the table question the witnesses and read from the Koran. Then after this was done, they would walk toward the stage and present themselves to the rest of the guests. This was different where in America, people would be infront of all the guests while being questioned.

WEEK 5, post B

Although this week i did not really have a chance to read a ton, i am going to analyze the relationship between Baba and Amir.
Amir and baba have a very strang relationship. Baba is a very well-known man. Amir longs to be close to his father but Baba is very distant because his wife died while giving birth to Amir. He is often jealous of Hassan who his father cherishes. One time Amir heard a conversation between Baba and Rahim Khan. Baba says that he doesn’t understand Amir because he does not stand up for himself. Even when teased and pushed in the streets, Amir lets Hassan defend him. Baba does not respect this quality, and says that if he did not see Amir’s birth, he would not believe Amir is his son. Rahim Khan says Amir just lacks a mean streak. On the day of the kite contest, Amir decides he needs to win to prove his father that he can defend himself but while doing so he let's down Hassan. From that day on, he and his father get along well. They talk and go places but Amir doesn't feel right. "For at least a few months after the kite tournament, Baba and i immersed ourselves in a sweet illusion, saw each other in a way we never had before. We'd actually deceived ourselves into thinking a toy made of tissue paper, glus and bamboo could somehow close the chasm between up"(87). Amir realizes that he and his father are very differend people and their relationship will never be fixed.

Week 5, POST A

This week in reading, i noticed few cultural differences. One small one that i noticed was how Baba threw Amir a huge thirteenth birthday party. This is different where in America people usually have huge birthday bashes when they turn sixteen. I could understand though why thirteen would be an age for a party because it is when the person turns into a teenager, but personally i would rather have a big party for when i turn sixteen because you would be older and also you could get your liscense! sweet sixteen!

Week 4, POST B

Dear Hassan,
You are one of the main characters in the novel Kite Runner. I have just read the part in your book when you and your father leave Amir and Baba's house. How do you feel to be used by Amir, that you did not really steal the money or watch? What were you thinking when you realized Amir and your relationship would never be the same after what happened? I have alot of sympathy for you considering how much Amir treated you like a piece of dirt. Even though you two were best friends for the majority of your life, it just made me feel sad when it was all thrown away! Also, when did you realize Amir knew your secret? Did you always know? One thing is right though about Amir: besides the fact he is very selfish, he does feel really bad about what happened. For example, that night that everyone went to Jalalabad he became insomiac because of the guilt. In the middle of his sleepless night, he says to particularly no one, "I watched Hassan get raped". All in all Hassan, i hope that you and Amir can resolve your issues in teh end.
Thanks alot!
Claire

WEEK 4, POST A

This week I found another cultural difference that is common to many other cultures. This difference is the large extended families joining together for a piknic sort of thing. In the Kite Runner, Amir and Baba go to the Jalalabad to visit Baba's friend Homayoun. Instead of it just being him and Amir, they ended up inviting family friends and relatives. "The wives and daughters served dinner-rice, kofta, and chicken qurma-at sundown. We dines the traditional way, sitting on cushions around the room, tablecloth spread on the floor, eating with our hands in groups of four or five from common platters"(85). Another difference was how they ate. All together on the floor. This is very different from America where we usually eat at tables with utensils.