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Amir Writes His First Short Story
Amir realizes his gift/passion for writing when he is reading to Hassan, but begins to make up his own story instead. Since Hassan is unable to read, he ends up thinking that the story that Amir made up was the actual plot of the book. Later, he tells Amir that that was the best story he'd ever told. That night, Amir gathers information for his first short story. -
Hassan's Surgery
Hassan receives a very strange birthday present, given to him by Baba. Hassan, being born with a cleft lip, is gifted with a plastic surgeon that is able to "fix people's faces" (Hosseini 45). -
Kite Fighting Tournament/Hassan's Rape
Amir participates in the tournament and wins first place by cutting the other kites flying. However, while running the kite, Hassan runs into Assef, a bully that had been tormenting him and Amir. He offers Hassan freedom in exchange for the kite, to which Hassan refuses. As a result of this, Assef allows him to keep the kite, however, he claims that "my pardon comes with a small price" (Hoseinni). -
Amir Frames Hassan
After witnessing the Hassan's rape, Amir finds that he is no longer able to live with Hassan anymore, and thus frames him for stealing money and an expensive watch by hiding it under his mattress. -
First Soviet Army Invasion
The first indicator of Soviet Troops in Afghanistan arrived to "assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in a coup within the Afghan Communist leadership" (The New York Times 2). -
Amir and Baba Escape to America
With the war and violence building in their homeland, Baba and Amir are forced to move to America, to which Amir describes "Baba loved the idea of America. It was living in America that gave him an ulcer" (Hosseini 125). -
Amir and Soraya Get Married
Amir and Soraya, wanting to get married while Baba is still alive, rush their wedding, and end up "[without] an engagement period" (Hosseini 176). -
Baba Dies
Due to being diagnosed with lung cancer a couple months prior, it is made apparent that Baba's death is slowly approaching. This event has a major effect on Amir, prompting him to tell Soraya that he is "going to miss him" (Hosseini 176). -
Amir Gets His First Novel Published
Amir, after healing and coming to terms with his father's death, finally becomes a published author with his first novel being about a father-son relationship set in Kabul. -
Soviet Troops Leave Afghanistan
After numerous peace talks moderated by the United Nations, "the last Soviet Troops left Afghanistan, in what was in effect a unilateral withdrawal" (The New York Times 2). -
The Taliban Gains Control
The extremist Islamic group known as the Taliban finally "seized control [in Afghanistan] in 1996 after years of civil war" (The New York Times 1) -
Hassan and Farzana Are Killed
Hassan, being invited back to Baba's old house by Rahim Khan, decides to stay and raise his family at this house. While Rahim Khan is out seeking medical attention, the Taliban invades the house, telling Hassan that he must abandon it. When he refuses, the Taliban execute him and his wife. -
Amir Travels to Pakistan
Amir, after receiving a call from Rahim Khan, decides that he must visit him in Pakistan before Rahim Khan dies. -
Rahim Khan Calls Amir
Rahim Khan calls Amir, and Amir is surprised at his offer. He offers him a way to be good again, and tells him that he should come to Pakistan. -
Amir Fights Assef
When Amir finally finds Sohrab, he wants nothing more than to take him back to America with him. However, Assef, the man who raped Hassan, stands in his way and forces Amir to fight him for Sohrab. -
9/11 Terrorist Attack
A high-jacked plane run by the Taliban led an "attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001" (The New York Times 3). -
Sohrab Tries to Commit Suicide
Amir is trying everything he can to make sure that Sohrab can legally come to America with him, but he keeps running into obstacles. He is told by multiple sources that he would need to put him back into an orphanage for a short while. When Amir tells Sohrab, he becomes afraid, and eventually attempts suicide. -
Amir Brings Sohrab to America
After 7 months of being in Pakistan, and numerous life-risking experiences, Amir finally brings Sohrab, Hassan's son, to America to live with him and his wife. -
The Taliban Are Forced out of Afghanistan
After the United States attempted to negotiate with the Taliban after the 9/11 attacks, they eventually banded together with other groups that resisted the Taliban, mainly, the Northern Alliance. With both an air and ground campaign, The Taliban were driven out of "the major Afghanistan cities by the end of the year" (The New York Times 2). -
Hamid Karzai Is Made Interim President
A relative of Mohammad Zahir Shah, the former king of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai was made president of a new interim government that "replaced the defeated Taliban" (The New York Times 3). -
Sohrab Fights Kites With Amir
Almost a year has passed since Amir brought Sohrab back to America with him and he still is unable to make him happy. This changes, however, when Amir teaches Sohrab how to fight kites. -
Hamid Karzai Is Elected Full President
With his ideas of peace for Afghanistan being highly supported, Hamid Karzai was finally elected to a "five-year term as president" (The New York Times 3). -
General Petraeus Takes Command of USCC
General Petraeus, who received much of the credit for success of the surge in Iraq, "[takes] charge of the United States Central Command in October 2008" (The New York Times 4). -
President Obama's Speech at West Point
During this famed speech, President Obama announced his plan that he would be deploying 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. Also during this speech, he vowed to "start bringing American forces home in the middle of 2011" (The New York Times 4). -
Gen. McChystal is Removed From Office
After numerous quotes bashing the senior administration officials from General McChystal and his staff were published, President Obama "removed Gen. McChystal" (The New York Times 4).