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Baba is born
Many events are important in Baba's life but, "In 1933, the year Baba was born" (24). This is the most important event in Bab's lifespan, obviously. He started learning how to gsin respect and power at this moment. -
Hassan Is Born
Hassan was born on, "one cold winter day in 1964.... Hassan lost his less than a week after he was born" (6). This event is important because his birth is the start of his character. Hassan's loss of his mother also develops his morals and values. -
Baba builds an orphanage
Baba showed his strong morals through many things, one being the fact that he, "decided to build an orphanage'"(13). Baba shows his kindness through his actions with Amir. This is a major event in his kindness and foreshadows the events with Sohrab. -
Hassan likes Amir's story
Amir enjoys reading to Hassan. One day, he is reading to Hassan and he wanted to play a joke on him so he starts making up the story. After Amir is done with the story, Hassan exclaims, "That was the best story you've read me in a long time" (23). This event is very important because this brings up the possibility of him becoming a writer. This is one of the first events in Amir becoming a writer -
Hassan recieves corrective surgey for his lip
Hassan receives an unusual birthday present from Baba, Amir reflects, "he had just been born with that...harelip," (46). Baba unusual present was fixing Hassan's lip. This showed his affection for Hassan. -
Hassan is violated
Amir is reminiscing about that horrible day. He remembers watching Assefand how, "he kept one hand on Hassan's back and undid his own belt buckle with his free hand"(75). This is important because this event is what fuels Amir's need to atone. He spends the rest of his life trying to atone for just standing by. -
Amir wins the kite fighting tournement
Amir just cut the final kite ThenI saw Baba on our roof.
He was standing on the edge, pumping both of his fists. Hollering and clapping. And that right there was the single greatest moment of my twelve years of life, seeing Baba on that roof, proud of me at last" (55). After years of trying to get Baba to be proud of him this is the moment where he finally acheives it. This is a large step towards Baba and Amir strengthening their relationship. -
Amir suggests that they get new servants.
Amir and Baba were planting tulips in the garden when Amir asks, "Baba, have you ever thought about getting new servants?"(89). This is important because it reveals how Amir is trying to atone. Him asking this could suggest that he doesn't believe that he is worthy of being Hassan's superior anymore. -
Communist coup d'etat
Amir and Hassan are sitting in the living room when, "The earth shook a little and we heard the rat a tat tat of gunfire"(28). This is the beginning of the chain of events that will bring the Taliban to power. Amir is witnessing the first sights and sounds of what the next 25+ years will be like for Afghanistan. -
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
The Soviets invaded the capital, Kabul, "...on December 27, 1979" (NYT 2). -
Rahim Kahn goes back to find Hassan
When Rahim Kahn and Amir finally reunite he tells him of what he has done these past years Khan says, "I went to Hazarajat to find Hassan in 1986,"(203). At this point Hassan becomes real again to Amir and not just a memory. This also gives Amir relief that Hassan survived the Russian invasion. -
Soviet Air Force rendered largley useless
The Soviets Air FOrce becomes rather useless due to, "Advanced Stinger antiaircraft missles supplied by the United States" (NYT 2). -
Soviets withdraw forces
The soviets are defeated and, "The last Soviet troops left Afgahnistan in February of 1989" (NYT 2). -
Mullah Omar is rising
Mullah Omar was gaing power and, "By the end of 1994 Mullah Omar had nearly 12000 folowers" (NYT 2). -
Taliban takes control of Afgahnistan
Afgahnistan is finally taken control of becuase, "Buoyed by Pakistani aid, the Taliban by 1996 had tken control..." (NYT 3). -
Destruction of 800-year-old statue
Bin Laden comes and he, "helped persuade Mullah Omar to order the destruction of the 800-year-old Buddh statues" (NYT 3). -
Hassan is killed
Rahim Khan tells Amir the devestating news, he says, "and shot him in the back of the head,"(219). This news devastates Amir, his chance to atone is gone. Amir will greatly miss his close friend. -
ir goes back to Pakistan
Amir receives a call from Rahim Khan and turns pale, he tells Soraya, "Rahim Khan is very sick,"(190). When Amir gets this call he decides he needs to go to Pakistan. This is his last connection to his old life in Kabul and feels he needs to return. -
Amir revisits Kabul
Farid and Amir are driving to Kabul, which Amir hasn't seen since his childhood, he describes it in two words, "rubbles and beggars,"(244). Amir is greatly shocked by this drastic change. Amir can't believe that this happened to his home. -
ohrab attempts suicide
Amir gets some great new about bringing Sohrab to the US but when he goes to tell him he discovers that Sohrab tried to commit suicide, he saw it in his head, "Sohrab...raised the blade and brought it down,"(350). This creates a huge shift in the book, things finally look up but the boy he trying to save takes his own life. This is a devastating blow to Amir who thought things were finally going well. -
9/11 Attacks
The U.S. is outraged, "After the attack on the World Trade Center in New York..." (NYT 3). -
President Bush gives an ultimatum
Because of the 9/11 attacks, "President George W. Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr. bin Laden" (NYT 3). -
Sohrab smiles
Amir and Sohrab are fighting kites in San francisco and Sohrab does something suprising, "it was only a smile,"(371). This is how the book ends, a glimmer of hope. One sign that after all this loss things might be okay. -
Karzai is named interim chairman of Gov.
Afgahnistan has a new power as, "Hamid Karzai... was named chairman of an interim government..." (NYT 3). -
Obama announces that more troops will be deployed to Afgahnistan
Towards the start of his presidency, "Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30000 additional troops" (NYT 4).