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Amir's birth
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Period: to
Kite Runner
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Assef Rapes Hassan
Amir was watching a traumatic instance of his best friend getting abused, and saw "Assef [kneel] behind Hassan, put his hand on Hassan's hips and lifted his bare buttocks... From just around the corner, [Amir] could hear Assef's quick, rhythmic grunts" (Hosseini 75 and 77). Here, it is obvious what is happening; that Hassan is getting sexually abusing by Assef, the Hazaran boy. In this situation, Amir decides to run in fear, and doesn't help Hassan or stand up to Assef for him. -
Soviets Glide into Kabul
"The first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979, to assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in a coup within the Afghan Communist leadership" (New York Times 2). Here, the select military group had been launched from parachutes to enter a familiar sounding city, Kabul. This was done to help out president of the cooperation, Babrak Karmal. -
Baba and Amir move to America (Freemont, CA)
After the Russians took over Afghanistan, Baba and Amir decided to move to America, knowing that they wouldn't have to be under the Russian rulers anymore. Adjusting for them was difficult, but life moved on... "Baba loved the idea of America. It was living in America that gave him an ulcer" (Hosseini 125). -
Baba lets Amir go to college in America
"'You'll need it to go to college,' he said. I took his hand in mine. Squeezed ut. My eyes were tearing over and I was glad for the shadows that hid our faces. 'Thank you, Baba'" (Hosseini 133). -
High School Graduatiion
"That summer of 1983, I graduated from high school at the age of twenty, by far the oldest senior tossing his mortarboard on the football field that day. I remember losing Baba in the swarm of families, flashing cameras, and blue gowns" (Hosseini 131). After moving to America from Afghanistan, Amir finally graduates high school. -
Amir and Soraya's First Interaction
After a long time of Amir eyeing Soraya and her stunning loveliness and beauty, Amir finally gets the courage to approach her and converse with her. "'Salaam,' I said. 'I'm sorry to be mozahem, I didn't mean to disturb you.' 'Salaam.' 'Is General Sahib here today?' I said. My ears were burning. I couldn't bring myself to look her in the eye" (Hosseini 145). -
Baba's Sickness
Baba, in the end, finds out he has a type of lunge cancer called "'Oat Cell Carcinoma'" (Hosseini 156), and had a long path for needed healing. As time went on, his health got worse and worse. "I turned around and found Baba on the ground. His arms and legs were jerking... He was frothing at the mouth, the foamy spittle soaking his beard. His upturned eye showed nothing but white" (Hosseini 158). -
Amir and Soraya get Married
"Soraya appeared at the end. Dressed in a stunning wine-colored traditional Afghan dress with long sleeves and gold trimmings. Baba's hand took mine and tightened. Khanum Taheri burst into fresh tears. Slowly, Soraya came to us, tailed by a procession of young female relatives. She kissed my father's hands" (Hosseini 169). Amir's watching Soraya come walk down in her beautiful traditional dress. Relatives are there, watching, ready for them to be wed, but the real concern is if Soraya is. -
Baba's Death
Baba had had cancer in his lungs for a long time, but a time had come in which he couldn't take care of himself, meaning Soraya and Amir would need to tend for him for the rest of his life. So, one night, Soraya said "'I'll come back with your morphine and a glass of water, Kaka jan..' 'Not tonight,' he said. 'There is no pain tonight.' 'Okay,' she said. She pulled his blanket. We closed the door. Baba never woke up" (Hosseini 173). -
Amir Finishes His First Novel
"In the summer of 1988, about six months before the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan, I finished my first novel, a father-son set in Kabul, written mostly with the typewriter the general had given me" (Hosseini 182). Here, we can see that from all his writing talents, complimented by Rahim Khan and others, Amir has taken his talents to write not another short story, but a novel. He took his gift and made it into something he could do for his life, showing his dedication and pride for writing. -
Beginning of Al Qaeda
"Eventually, after peace talks moderated by the United Nations, the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989, in what was in effect a unilateral withdrawal" (New York Times 3). Here, the assembly of the Soviet members were departing from Afghanistan, making a withdrawal that would be unilateral, meaning affecting only Afghanistan. This led to devastation from the people of Afghanistan, for extremists and terrorists came together to form Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden being the leader. -
Amir's First Book is Published
"There was so much goodness in my life. So much happiness. I wondered whether I deserved any of it. The novel was released in the summer of that following year, 1989, and the publisher sent me ni a five-city book tour. I became a minor celebrity in the Afghan community" (Hosseini 183). Amir's skill in writing, from a young age of writing small short stories for his friend and for close relatives, he becomes a writer and has his first novel published. Foreshadowing future success? -
Pakistani is Prepared
" As early as 1994, Pakistani intelligence officers began funneling arms, money and supplies to Mullah Omar's men, as well as military advisers to help guide them in battle" (New York Times 3-4). Preparing for war or any spontaneous attacks of violence against Pakistani, the army of the country was well prepared, ready to take action and fight back to any other country since 1994. The Pakistani army additionally helped supply and support the Taliban, helping them stay financially stable. -
Talibans Gain Control
"The group had been given safe haven in the country by the Taliban, the extremist Islamic group that had seized control in 1996 after years of civil war" (New York Times 1). Here, it is told that the Taliban group was given a sheltered area by the Afghan government. Meaning that the Afghan military was given power and control do do as they desire. -
Afghani Help Out the Taliban
Staying consistent and frankly alive and well from assistance from Pakistan, "the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan, imposing strict - enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law, banning movies and music and forcing women out of schools and into all-enveloping burqa clothing" (New York Times 4). Their attempt to help out the Taliban group, negatively impacted the lives of the Afghani, loosing the privilege for their personal enjoyment, and necessary education for women. -
Hamid Karzai Assigned to Rule
"In December 2001, Hamid Karzai, a supporter and relative of Mohammad Zahir Shah, the exiled former king of Afghanistan, was named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban, making him the leader of the country" (New York Times 4). Here, Mohammad Zahir Shah was designated to lead meetings formed by the government. He was appointed during the meantime of the government's existance, soon becoming the ruler of not only Afghanistan, but also of the Taliban group. -
Amir sees Rahim Khan for the First Time in Years
"I walked up the creaky stairs to the second floor, down a dim hallway to the last door on the right. Checked the address on the piece of stationary paper in my palm. Knocked. Then, a thing made of skin and bones pretending to be Rahim Khan opened the door" (Hosseini 197). Here, Amir sees Rahim Khan for the first time in years, not even being able to recognize who he is. Rahim Khan then asks Amir a big favor, to tend for Hassan's son, Sorahb, with new information about Hassan, and how he was. -
Amir meets Sohrab for the First Time
"Then the door opened and the guard walked in. He carried a stereo- a boom box- on his shoulder. Behind him, a boy dressed in a loose, sapphire blue pirhan-tumban followed. The resemblance was breathtaking. Disorienting. Rahim Khan's Polaroid hadn't done justice to it" (Hosseini 279). In this scene of the novel, Amir sees Sohrab for the first time, other than in a picture. Amir witnesses Sohrab dance for the Taliban men, with makeup on his face and bells attached to his feet. -
Amir can take Sohrab to America
Soraya tells Amir that "'[Kaka Sharif's INS friend] could get Sohrab a humanitarian visa'"(Hosseini 343), meaning they would be able to adopt Sohrab and return to America with him as well. From his excitement, Amir exclaims in joy, "'No kidding?' [he] said. 'Oh thank God! Good ol' Sharif jan!'" (Hosseini 343). From this, we see that the happy couple, Soraya and Amir, will be able to adopt Amir's half-brother's son, who has gone through a fair share of difficulties and obstacles. -
Sohrab Tries to Kill Himself
After being told that he would have to go back to an orphanage, out of terror and traumatic experiences, Sohrab attempts at committing suicide. Amir's imagines entering the horrific scene, with "the water drops dripping ... into the bloody bathwater; the left arm dangling over the side of the tub, the blood-soaked razor sitting on the toilet tank..." From the suicide attempt, the doctors explain that "[Sohrab] had cut himself deeply and had lost a great deal of blood" (Hosseini 438). -
Sohrab and Amir Go to America
Amir and Sohrab finally reached their destination in America "on a warm day in August 2001. Soraya picked [them] up at the airport. [Amir] had never been away from Soraya for so long, and when she locker her arms around [his] neck, when [he] smelled apples in her hair, [Amir] realized how much [he] had missed her" (Hosseini 357). Here, we see that the point of view of Amir's is key. He states how much he had missed his wife, Soraya, for the moth they were separated, showing strong affections. -
Sohrab Meets Soraya for the First Time
After the plane ride Amir and Sohrab took to get to America, Soraya picked them up from the airport, meeting Sorhab for the first time . After Amir and Soraya reconvene for the first time in approximately a month, "[Soraya] knelt to eye level with Sohrab. She took his hand and smiled at him. 'Salaam, Sohrab jan, I'm your Khala Soraya. We've all been waiting for you.' [Amir was] Looking at [Soraya] smiling at Sohrab, her eyes [were] tearing over a little" (Hosseini 358). -
Amir Flies the Kite for Sohrab
After Amir lived his past, cutting a kite using Hassan's old trick, "people cheered. Whistles and applauses broke out... [Amir] looked down at Sohrab. One corner of his mouth had curled up just so. A smile. Lopsided" (Hosseini 370). Then, Amir asked Sohrab if he would like to help him run the kite, "[Amir] ran. A grown man running with a swarm of screaming children. But [he] didn't care" (Hosseini 371). Here, we see that even though Amir was embarrassing himself, he was doing it for Sohrab. -
Al Qaeda Attack
In September 11, 2001, a terrorist attack occurred in New York City, involving the terrorist group, Al Qaeda, which was part of the Taliban in Afghanistan. "The United States has been militarily involved in Afghanistan since 2001, when it led an invasion after the Sept. 11 attacks by Al Qaeda. The group had been given safe haven in the country by the Taliban, the extremist Islamic group that had seized control in 1996 after years of civil war" (New York Times 1). -
Terrorist Attack on the U.S.
On September 11 of 2001, a terrorist attack occurred in New York City, caused by Al Qaeda, a group formed from the Taliban in Afghanistan. "The United States has been militarily involved in Afghanistan since 2001, when it led an invasion after the Sept. 11 attacks by Al Qaeda. The group had been given safe haven in the country by the Taliban, the extremist Islamic group that had seized control in 1996 after years of civil war" (New York Times 1). -
Hamid Karzai Temporary Rule
Hamid Karzai was assigned to temporarily rule the country on"June 2002, saying he hoped to secure peace for Afghanistan and win the country much-needed international xaid" (New York Times 4). He was given the responsibility to rule Afghanistan and the recently fallen-apart, Taliban. Because Afghanistan was helping to support the Taliban, once they were unable to aid the Taliban, they became a group of one, meaning Hamid Karzai would also be in charge of the group as well. -
Hamid Karzai Lasting Rule for Five Years
"Mr. Karzai was elected to a five-year term as president in 2004" (New York Times 4), meaning that this period of his official ruling wasn't temporary as before, but a lasting ruling, assigned for many years. After being in charge of Afghanistan and the Taliban for three years, the government had selected him to rule for five more years, gaining his trust as a leader. But as he grew more popular in the country, citizens started to point fingers at him for government failures.
