-
Baba Is Born
A while ago "in 1933, the year Baba was born"(24), Amir's grandfather adopts the orphaned Ali into his family and raises him alongside Baba. Baba and Ali's relationship is very similar to Hassan and Amir's becuase they both have a servant-master companionship, but also a true friendship. Unfortunately, Hassan and Amir's bond does not last as long as Baba and Ali's because Amir can't see Hassan without feelingguilty and ashamed after witnessing his rape. -
Hassan Is Born
A year after Amir's birth Hassan is "born in the winter of 1964..." (6). Although later in the book Hassan and Amir grow apart, from the beginning they had been as close as brothers. Their friendly relationship foreshadows the fact that they really are realted. Hassan has always looked up to Amir and respected his wisdom, even though he is only a year older. -
Taliban Extremists Sieze Control of Afghanistan NYT
A group of Taliban Extremists force their islamic laws on the citizens of Afghanistan. -
Amir Creates His First Story
Amir has never acted as the ideal son that Baba longs for, instead he enjoys writing and reading books. Amir first creates his own story when he "abandon(s) the text altogether, take(s) over the story and make(s) up (his) own" (30). Amir takes advantage of Hassan's illiteracy and pretends to continue reading while making up his own plot. By finding the courage to finally start his own short story, Amir shows Baba that he is never going to play soccer or live other's dreams instead of his own. -
Daoud Khan Takes Over Afghanistan
One night when the Afghan King, Zahir Shah, is away in Italy his cousin, Daoud Khan, takes over the country "end(s) the King's forty-year reign with a bloodless coup" (36). That night Amir and Hassan are comforted by Ali because Baba is away on business. Ali's ability to console Hassan and Amir causes Amir to long for Baba to be a more loving and involved parent. The love Ali shows towards Hassan confuses Amir because he does not get the same treatment from Baba. -
Hassan's 10th Birthday
On Hassan's tenth birhtday he recieves an unsual present from Baba in the form of a person, Baba says "Hassan...meet your birthday present" (45). The person is Dr.Kumar, a plastic surgeon, who comes to fix Hassan's cleft lip. Hassan is disappointed that Baba wants to fix his imperfection but recieves the present with gratitude. Hassan would never cross Baba so he goes through with the surgery but Amir notices "that was the winter that Hassan stopped smiling" (47). -
"Winter of 1975"
Amir notices that by analyzing his and Hassan's first words, they are "the foundation for what happened in the winter of 1975-and all that followed...already laid in those first words" (11). By making the winter of 1975 seem ominous, Amir is foreshadowing Hassan's rape and hinting at turmoil in the future. Amir's first word was "Baba" which shows his dedication to his father and desire for his love. Hassan's first word was "Amir" which shows his loyalty to AMir through thick and thin. -
The Last TIme Hassan Runs a Kite
During the kite festival winter of 1975, Hassan runs his last kite after he's raped. Amir searches for him only to find "Assef (yelp) as he flung himself at Hassan"(73) and the unspeakable events that occur afterwards. Now Hassan will associate kite running with that bad experiece and cease to ever run a kite again. The rape not only scared Hassan, but it influenced Amir too and causes them to dread the thought of kites. -
Amir's 13th Birthday
The summer following Hassan's rape, Amir turns thirteen and Baba throws him an elegant party. There, Assef gifts him a "biography of Hitler"(97) that accurately reflects Assef's own personality. His german background and respect for HItler leads him to commit crimes towards the less fortunate people like Hassan. -
Soviet Union Invades Afghanistan NYT
First soiviets parachute into Kabul. Since this day, Afghanistan has been dominated by turmoil and extremism. -
Amir and Baba escape Afghanistan
One night Baba and Amir are travelling in a bus over the boarder of Kabul to Jalalabad. On this trip Baba uses his power to protect a young woman when the checkpoint soldier demands "a half hour with the lady in the back of the truck"(115). Baba refuses to let the soldier take advantage of the woman and tells the soldier that he will "take a thousand of his bullets before (he) lets this indecency take place" (116). Baba's good morals and values lead him to do a good deed Amir can admire. -
Baba and Amir Arrive In America
Baba and Amir finally arrive in Kabul after a long, testing journey across the Atlantic Sea. The problem was "Baba loved the IDEA of America" (125), but he has trouble actually living in America. In America Baba has almost no power or status like he did back in Afghanistan. Baba struggles with working laboriously and living practically, but he adjusts to the new environment to help Amir live a fruitful life. -
Amir Turns 21
The summer Amir turns 21 is also the summer he and Baba begin to sell items at the "San Jose flea market" (137). They would buy unwanted objects at garage sales and then resell them in the Afghan section of the flea market. The contact with other Afghans helps Amir meet friends and create relationships and it gives Baba people to talk to who know of his legacy. The flea market provides a home away from home for the Afghan refugees in America. -
Soviets Driven Out of Afghanistan By USA Allies NYT
The Soviet Union lost power after America bombed them with advanced antiaircraft missles. -
Last Soviet Troups Leave Afghanistan NYT
The Soviets left a wounded country full of froiegn extremists who arrived during the war. -
Amir's First Novel Is Released
A year after Amir recieves an offerr from a publisher, his "novel is released" (183). The book causes him to become fairly well known in the Afghan community and sends him on a small book tour. Amir's success in publishing a book makes him proud that he was able to follow his dreams not matter what people told him. Amir also reminiced about the first time he wrote a story and misses his friend Rahim Khan. -
Power in Afghanistan Divided Anarchically NYT
Competing warlords and individual fiefdoms gained power. -
Taliban Group Takes Over Afghanistan Again NYT
Enforce fundamentalist Islamic laws and ban many arts (music, movies, etc). -
Amir Travels Back to Afghanistan
One day Amir recieves a call from his good friend Rahim Khan and he learns that "(he has) to go to Pakistan"(191) because Rahim Khan is severely sick. When Amir arrives in Pakistan, Rahim Khan tells him all the secrets that he had been hiding from Amir his whole life. Amir learns that he and Hassan are half-brothers, that Hassan and his wife were killed and that Amir's nephew is alone at an orphanage in Kabul. Upon hearing this, Amir is shocked and rushes to Kabul to collect Hassan's son. -
Amir and Sohrab Arrive In America
After their trying experience in Afghanistan, Amir and Sohrab arrive at home "in August 2001"(357). Even though Amir betrayed Sohrab's trust by considering putting him back into an orphanage, Sohrab still agrees to travel home with him. Sohrab understands that America is the best place for him and it will give him opportunities he won't have in Afghanistan. -
Terrorist Attack by Al Qaeda NYT
Terrorist Planes crashed into the Twin Towers in New York causing devestation and fear all throughout America. -
Hamid Karazi Named Chairman/ Leader of Afghanistan NYT
Hamid was chairman and next in line for president so he stepped up to the position. THe white house respected and favored him. -
Sohrab Smiles Again
One day Amir and his family head to "a gathering of Afghans at Lake Elizabeth Park in Freemont"(363) and celebrate the Afghan New Year. There Amir sees a kit flying contest and decides to fly a kite with Sohrab. Sohrab smiles for the first time in about a year and gives Amir great joy and hope for the future. -
Hamid Karazi Takes Office as Interim President NYT
Hamid officially takes the position as president. -
Hamid Karazi elected to a Five-Term Presidency NYT
The people of Afghanistan elect Hamid as their permanant president.