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The communist party of Afghanistan forms
"The Afghan Communist Party secretly forms. The group’s principal leaders are Babrak Karmal and Nur Mohammad Taraki." -
Khan names himself President
"Khan overthrows the last king, Mohammed Zahir Shah, in a military coup. Khan’s regime, the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan, comes to power. Khan abolishes the monarchy and names himself president. The Republic of Afghanistan is established with firm ties to the USSR." -
Amir finds joy in writing
In July, 1973, Amir finally found his calling, which was writing. With one letter from Rahim Khan and reassurance from Hassan, he chose what he wanted to do and stuck with it. His story was questioned by Hassan but was interrupted he never got to finish his question, "because suddenly Afghanistan changed forever" (34). This foreshadowed the gunshots that wrung out in Kabul. This although was not hunters killing ducks, but the end of the monarchy. -
Hassan's harelip surgery
It was Hassan's birthday and as a present, Baba got Hassan lip surgery. Once Hassan was out of surgery, after a while, "it was only a faint scar. Which was ironic. Because that was the winter that Hassan stopped smiling" (47). This was just another foreshadowing from the author. It expressed the irony of how Hassan got surgery to have a nice smile, but he didn't end up needing it because he went through an impactful event that caused him to no longer want to smile. -
The Winter of 1975
"In the winter of 1975, [Amir] saw Hassan run a kite for the last time"(55). After Hassan retrieves their kite, Amir witnesses Hassan get raped by Assef as a way to humiliate him, but doesn't do anything about it. This practically destroys both their lives, and the friendship they once shared. -
Ali and Hassan leave
Ali and Hassan leave Baba and Amir after the last straw was pulled and the Ali no longer thought that living with Amir was a safe idea. When Ali told Baba that they were leaving, Amir, "saw Baba do something [he] had never seen him do before: He cried. It scared [him] a little, seeing a grown man sob" (107). This shows how selfish Amir is. He drove Ali and Baba away for himself at the expense of everyone else's feelings. He didn't even think about it further, seeing Baba so hurt. -
Khan is killed
"Khan is killed in a communist coup. Nur Mohammad Taraki, one of the founding members of the Afghan Communist Party, takes control of the country as president, and Babrak Karmal is named deputy prime minister. They proclaim independence from Soviet influence, and declare their policies to be based on Islamic principles, Afghan nationalism and socioeconomic justice. Taraki signs a friendship treaty with the Soviet Union." -
Amir and Baba flee to America
Because of the violence happening in Kabul, Amir and Baba leave to America. In the bus, on the way to Pakistan, they were stopped by Russian soldiers. They wanted to take a woman for a bit as payment to let them pass. Baba protested and said, "I'll take a thousand of his bullets before I let this indecency take place" (116). This just shows the extent to which Baba will go to, even die, before he goes against his morals. -
SPOILER WARNING
When Amir was at a video store, he accidentally spoiled a movie for someone else. He then made a comment that, "in Afghanistan, the ending was all that mattered" (357). Ths was very interesting because you'd think they would want to know the journey and all the action that unfolds in the middle. You also don't know the background information. All they need to know is if they end up happy. -
Amir's graduation
Amir graduated from high school. He was the oldest senior to be graduating at twenty. Amir describes Baba on that day, "wearing his brown suit--his only suit, the same one he wore to Afghan weddings and funerals" (131). I find it intriguing that Baba wears the same suit to weddings and funerals. You'd think that it would be disrespectful. -
Amir and Soraya get married
In 1983, Amir finished his first year of junior college, Baba got sick and Amir got married. A quote that really interested me was when Amir, "envied her. Her secret was out. Dealt with" (165). This is really significant because even with Soraya having atoned for her sins and admitted them, Amir still won't himself. I also found it interesting that he says he envies Soraya for having her secret out and he makes it sound like he can't, it is not possible for him to say his sins out loud either. -
The US supports the Mujahadeen
"The Mujahadeen are receiving arms from the United States, Britain and China via Pakistan." -
Rahim Khan searches for Hassan
After Amir and Baba leave for America, Rahim Khan looks for Hassan "because [he] was lonely", and also to ask Hassan to live in Baba's house with him (203). Before all of this, he promised Baba to look after his house, and to keep it in good condition, but since Rahim Khan was getting old, he needed someone to help him. He goes to Hazarajit, and finds Hassan with a wife, a home, and a child on the way. In other words, Hassan had a new life there, making it hard for him to leave. -
Osama bin Laden leads a "holy war"
"In September, Osama bin Laden and 15 other Islamists form the group al-Qaida, or “the base”, to continue their jihad, or holy war, against the Soviets and other who they say oppose their goal of a pure nation governed by Islam." -
Amir publishes his first novel
Amir finished writing his first novel in the summer or 1988 about a father-son story set in Kabul. Khala Jamila was so proud that she was going to, "vow to have a sheep slaughtered and the meat given to the poor if [Amir's] book was accepted" (182). I thought this was an interesting way of praising a good thing. I see it as passing on the good deed from the good that you were just blessed with. -
Afghan gains independence
"The U.S., Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Soviet Union sign peace accords in Geneva guaranteeing Afghan independence and the withdrawal of 100,000 Soviet troops." -
Hassan's wife's pregnancy
Rahim Khan tells Amir about Hassan's life and in the early 1990, Fazara, Hassan's wife, got pregnant. Hassan's mother also showed up at the house. Rahim Khan said that, "No one who passed her on the street, be it a man or a woman, could look at her only once. And now..." (210). This quote shows the irony that the author wanted to show in the book. Sanaubar was once so beautiful, but now, she was hurt and very injured. -
Adoption?
After undergoing many tests and procedures, Amir and Soraya finally accepted the fact that they cannot have a child themselves. They break the news to Khala Jamila and General Sahib that they might adopt. General Sahib said that, "Blood is a powerful thing...that when you adopt, you don't know whose blood you're bringing into your house" (188). He explained that it would be different if they were American. The power of blood and that because of their culture, it prevents them from being happy. -
Afghans flee to Pakistan
"Continuing drought devastates farmers and makes many rural areas uninhabitable. More than 1 million Afghans flee to neighboring Pakistan, where they languish in squalid refugee camps." -
The Taliban rises to power
"Newly formed Islamic militia, the Taliban, rises to power on promises of peace. Most Afghans, exhausted by years of drought, famine and war, approve of the Taliban for upholding traditional Islamic values. The Taliban outlaw cultivation of poppies for the opium trade, crack down on crime, and curtail the education and employment of women." -
The fight for Afghanistan continues
"The Taliban publicly executes Najibullah. Ethnic groups in the north, under Masood’s Northern Alliance, and the south, aided in part by Hamid Karzai, continue to battle the Taliban for control of the country." -
Amir and Sohrab come to America
In August of 2001, Amir returns to America with Sohrab, his nephew, and introduces him to his wife Soraya, who welcomes him with open arms. However, Sohrab doesn't feel comfortable, and "shifted on his feet and looked away"(358). This shows how although Sohrab may have a new life in America, he still misses the simpler life he once shared with his parents. -
Journey to Afghanistan
After a phone call with Rahim Khan, Amir finally decides to go back to Afghanistan. Before he hung up, Rahim Khan told Amir that, "there is a way to be good again" (192). This quote is important because it clarifies that Rahim Khan knows what Amir did all those years ago. Which makes it even more urgent for Amir to go back and talk to Rahim Khan. -
Finally... a smile
On a rainy day in March, Amir introduces Sohrab to the kite flying. He shows him all the tricks and moves he would do with Hassan, cutting the last kite. He notices "only a smile, nothing more", but he thinks to himself, "I'll take it'", as this was the first time Sohrab smiled in a long time (371). Amir feels excited because of how joyful he feels that his nephew is happy. He rushes ahead to catch their kite, thinking about how big of a moment this is, not only for him, but for Sohrab too. -
Osama bin Laden is killed
"U.S. forces overtake a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and kill al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden on May 2 local time."
