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Amir Discovers His Writing Future
When Amir was about 12, he decided to stray from the written book he was reading Hassan, and make it up as he went. When Hassan loves the story Amir wrote, Amir is surprised, " 'That was the best story you've read to me in a long time", [Hassan] said, still clapping...That same night,I wrote my first short story" (Hosseini 30). This is the point where Amir finds what he loves to do, and what he is good at. Having Hassan show him this path is a way Hassan affected Amir's future. -
Amir Wins the Kite Flying Contest
In attemps to win over Baba's affection, Amir wins the Kite Running Contest for him. With Hassan at his side, Amir wins the Kite Running Contest in front of the whole village and it congradulated by Hassan, "You won, Amir Ahga, you won!" (Hosseini 66). Amir believed wining the contest would show Baba he was worthy of his affection. Once Amir won, is smoothed away the tension and shortened the distance between Amir and Baba. -
Amir Watched Hassan Get Raped
After Amir wins the Kite Contest, Hassan runs the last kite for Amir. Later, when Hassan doesn't return, Amir finds him getting harrassed and raped by Assef. "I blinked, saw I was still biting down on my fist, hard enough to draw blood from the knuckles. I realized something else. I was weeping. From just around the corner, I could hear Assef's quick, rhythmic grunts" (Hosseini 77). -
Invasion By the Soviet Union on Afghanistan
First Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul to assist Babrak Karmal, the Afghan president. In the New York Times article, it says, "Moscow insisted that the troops came in response to a plea for help from a legitimately constituted Karmal Government" ("Afghanistan-an overview"). -
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Kite Runner and the History of Afghanistan
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Amir and Baba Move to America
Afghanistan was taken over by the Russians, and Afghanistan was caught in a destroying war. Fortunately, Baba had the money for both Baba and Amir to escape to America. "His cousin owed a fuel truck and had smuggled people with it a couple of times. He was here in Jalalabad and could probably fit us all" (Hosseini 121). The move to America helps bond Amir and Baba together. The move helps save their relationship and their lives. -
Baba is Diagnosed With Cancer
After a year of living in America, Baba collapses and is rushed to this hospital. There, he finds he only has months to live because of his cancerous state. "Baba's cancer in his brain looked like cross sections of a big walnut, riddled with tennis ball-shaped gray things" (Hosseini 159). Baba's diagnosis scares Amir, not only because he will loose his father, but because he will have to take on this American life alone. In Amir's whole life, this will be the first time he is on his own. -
Amir and Soraya Marry
After months and months of talking, Amir and Soraya are finally given the blessing to marry. The wedding and ceremonies were moved up so Baba could attend. "Looking at Soraya's smiling face in that mirror, in the momentary privacy of the veil, I whispered to her the first time that I loved her" (Hosseini 171). Loving Soraya allowed Amir to open up and accept himself with all of his sins. Also, loving Soraya allowed Amir to have another person whom he loved in his life after Baba passes. -
Baba Dies
The same night Amir and Soraya married, Baba died peacfully in his sleep. Fortunately, he was able to see his son off to marrage. " 'There is no pain tonight' we closed the door. Baba never woke up" (Hosseini 173). Baba refused treatment for his cancer, still stubborn in his Afghan traditions. But, he died happy, on his own terms. -
Amir's First Book is Published
Durring the year of 1988, Amir's first book is published. He suck will his dream of becoming a successful writer, even when many people doubted him. "A month later, Martin called and informed me I was going to be a published novelist" (Hosseini 183). Amir went through years of school, and hundreds of written stories before he finally accomplished his goal. Though it took a while, the reward of accomplishing something of his own without Baba's help, was worth the hard work. -
Amir is Reunited With Rahim Khan
When Amir recieves a phone call from Rahim Khan saying he is dying from an illness, Amir decides to visit him and, "find a way to be goood again" (Hosseini 192). Amir wants to go back to Afghanistan and atone for his sins he tried to leave behind. When Rahim Khan gives Amir the news about Hassan's orphaned son, Amir is faced with a choice to face his past, or run away again. -
Amir Rescues Sohrab From Assef
After Amir knows what happened to Hassan and his family, he is faced with the choice to save Sohrab, Hassan's son, or run away. Realizing he must atone for his sins, Amir decides to help. " 'Why are you here?' ... 'For the boy' " (Hosseini 267). Despite the lack of communication between Amir and Hassan's family, Amir is willing to put his life at risk to save his nephew, whom he never met. Amir must atone for his sins, and this means leaving behind his comfortable and save life in America. -
Amir Asks Sohrab to Move to America
After finding and rescuing Sohrab, Amir finds Rahim Khan had lied to him about a couple willing to protect Sohrab. Faced with the decision to return Sohrab to the orphanage or to take him back to America with him, Amir chooses the right decision for both himself and Sohrab. "Would you like to come live in America with me and my wife?" (Hosseini 320). Though it took Sohrab a while to get used to the idea of moving to America, he eventually agreed. This gave Sohrab and Amir a chance to bond. -
Amir Tries to Adopt Sohrab
After Sohrab agrees to move to America, Amir calls to tell his wife. Together they decide they want to adopt him, especially because Amir and his wife are unable to have children. But adopting a child from Afghanistan proved to be much easier said than done. "Your petition to adopt this young fellow. Give it up. That's my advice to you," (Hosseini 330). When Amir brought Sohrab to the adoption place, no one was able to help. Without Sohrab being an official orphan, he couldn't be adopted. -
Amir Tells Sohrab He Might Have to go Back to an Orphanage
After discussing the options of steps to trying adopt Sohrab, Amirnis told the best option is to have Sohrab wait in an orphanage. "You promised you'd never put me in one of those places... Please, no! I'm scared of that place! They'll hurt me!" (Hosseini 341). After presenting the news to Sohrab, Sohrab is so frightened and scard of going back to an orphanage because of his past. He looses faith and trust from Amir, even when Amir says he won't have to go back to a orphanage. -
Sohrab Commits Suicide
After loosing all faith and hope of his life getting better, Sohrab rather die than go back to an orphanage. "I pushed the door open. Stepped into the bathroom. Suddenly in was on my knees, screaming," (Hosseini 342). Sohrab cut his wrists trying to kill himself, but fortunately, Amir found him in time to save him. This ruined the relationship forming between Sohrab and Amir for a complete year before mending was able to being. -
Soviet Troops Leave Afghanistan
Soviet troops and air force useless against United States. Peace talks finally drove the rest of the troops out of Afghanistan. In 1989, "after peace talks moderated by the United Nations, the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan..." ("Afghanistan - an overview). -
Sohrab and Amir Run a Kite Together
Amir is finally able to bring Sohrab back to America, but a full year goes by before Sohrab starts to interact or talk with anyone. After Amir's many tries to get through to Sohrab, one finally works when they run a kite together. " 'Do you want me to run that kite for you?' I thought I aw him nod. 'For you a thousand times over,' " (Hosseini 371). Though it isn't much, it gives Amir just enough hope to keep trying. It foreshadows a future relationship between the two. -
Taliban Growing in Size and Power
Leader of the Taliban, Mullah Omar gains followers and start to take over land. Near the end of 1994, "Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers and was rolling up the warlords to the north and east" ("Afghanistan - an overview). -
Taliban Taking Control
Pakistani officers start to help Taliban members by supplying guns, money and other supplies. By 1996, the Taliban, "had taken control of Afghanistan, imposing strict enforcement of fundamentalists Islamic law, banning movies and music and forcing women out of schools and into all-enveloping burqa clothing" ("Afghanistan-AN Overview). -
Osama bin Laden and the Taliban Work Together
Osama bin Laden, leader of the group Al Qaeda, was provided saftey by the Taliban. In Jalalabad, "The Taliban also provided a haven for Mr. bin Laden, who arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport in May 1996, and for Al Qaeda. -
Attack on World Trade Center
Al Qeada lead an attack on the World Trade Center which starts a war between the United States and Afghanistan. President George W. Bush makes an offer to the Taliban to hand over bin Landen because of, "the attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001" ("Afghanistan-An Overview"). -
New Leader of Afghanistan
Hamid Karzai was named chairman of the new government that defeated the powerful Taliban. In December of 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" ("Afghanistan-An Overview). -
Hamid Karzai takes office
Hamid Karzai takes office as president and does well in the position. Hamid Karzai, "took office as interim president in June 2002, saying he hoped to secure peace for Afghanistan and win the country much needed international aid. Mr. Karzai was elected to a five-year term as president in 2004" ("Afghanistan- An Overview"). -
General Petraeus elected as U.S. Central Command
A successful Iraq commander, General Petraeus, takes charge of United States Central Command. In October 2008, "with responsibility for military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and across the region" ("Afghanistan-An Overview"). -
President Obama Announces his Plan
President Obama puts an plan in action to end the war between Afghanistan and the United States and bring soldiers home. On December 1, 2009, "Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops. He vowed to start bringing American forces home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011" ("Afghanistan-An Overview").