-
Baba is Born
Amir says, "In 1993, the year Baba was born and the year Zahir Shah began his forty-year reign of Afghanistan, two brothers...struck and killed a Hazara husband and wife on the road to Pagham" (24). This quote not only reveals Baba's birth year, but a significant event to go along with it. I think this event could be some foreshadowing towards the way that Hazaras are mistreated in Kabul. -
Hassan is Raped
From the very beginning of the book, this event is clearly what makes the whole story mean anything. Amir says, "...the winter of 1975 came along and changed everything. And made me what I am today" (2). This event is the root of power, atonement, and ethics/values/morals within the story. Amir would have grown up a completely different person if this event never occured. -
First Soviet Troops Parachute into Kabul
To assist president Babrak Karmal, the "Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul...in response to a plea from a legitimately constituted Karmal Government" (2). However, "Western analysists say the Soviets engineered the coup as a pretext" (2). -
Amir and Baba Leave Kabul
Amir says, "[t]here were others, in all about a dozen, including Baba and me, sitting with our suitcases between our legs, cramped with these strangers in the tarpaulin-covered cab of an old Russian truck" (110). After Hassan and Ali left, Amir and Baba couldn't stand life in Kabul, so they left for Peshawar. I think this was a wise decision because without Hassan and Ali, there lives would be even more sad in Kabul. -
Amir Graduates
In the summer of 1983, Amir graduated from highschool at the age of 20. That day, Amir noticed "Baba's beard was graying, his hair thinning at the temples..." (131). For the first time in the story, Amir seems to be taking on a superior role between his and Baba's relationship. Now that Baba is getting old, Amir is growing to realize that he needs to take on more responsibility and support his father. -
Baba Buys a New Car
In the summer of 1984, Baba "...sold his Buick and bought a dilapidated '71 Volkswagen bus for $550 from an old Afghan acquaintance" (137). This event may seem unimportant, but I think it is a big part of the story because in this car, Amir explains that he and Baba had the best of times. Not only that, but after they got this car, Amir and Baba started attending flea markets every Saturday, starting a new chapter of their lives. -
Baba and Amir Live in America
Throughout the 1980's, Baba and Amir lived together in America. Amir explains that "Baba loved the idea of America..." but it was the idea of "...living in America gave him and ulcer" (125). This is important to the story because now that Hassan and Ali are out of Baba's life, he is becoming more devoted to giving Amir his all. Baba agreed to live in America for Amir and his career, putting his own preferences aside. -
Spring Quarter Ends
In the srping of 1985, Amir had aced all of his general education classes, which was a miracle given the fact that he'd "...sit in lectures and think of the soft hook of Soraya's nose" (144). Although this is a minor detail of the story, I think it's an important piece. It shows how the smallest of things made Amir happy, which reveals a lot about his character. -
Rahim Finds Hassan
Rahim tells Amir, "There were a lot of reasons why I went to Hazarajat to find Hassan in 1986. The biggest one...was that I was lonely" (201). This stood out to me because I had never thought Rahim would end up alone. Amir made Rahim sound like the most lovable guy in the world, and it surprises me that he never married. This quote reveals that Rahim went through some heard times while he and Baba were gone. -
Amir Finishes His First Novel
After months of hard work, Amir finishes his first novel, "...a father-son story set in Kabul" (182). I think this is important because Amir never really believed in his writing career until he recieved Rahim's support, and even then, Amir's confidence wasn't the best. I think finishing this book was a huge piece of his character development for Amir. -
Soviet Troops Leave Afghanistan
After peace talks from the United States, '...the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989..." (2). -
Amir's Novel is Published
During the summer of 1989, Amir's first novel was relaesed and he was sent on a five-city book tour, becoming a "...minoir celebrity in the Afghan community" (183). This event is significant not only because of Amr's accomplisment, but also because Amir is becoming well-known, just like Baba. Not only this, but 1989 was the year Soraya and Amir began trying for a baby. -
Hassan is Raped After the Kite Race
After Hassan and Amir won the kite race, Hassan wanted to run the blue kite. As he was doing so, Assef and his friends ran into Hassan. Amir could only watch as he "...unzipped his jeans. Dropped his underwear. He positioned himself behind Hassan" (75). Later, Amir expresses his regret for not doing anything that day, yet he still chooses to do nothing about it. Instead, Amir contains his feelings and lets them bury inside himself. -
Farzana Becomes Pregnant
Rahim explains, "In early 1990, Farzana became pregnant again. It was that same year...that a woman covered in a sky blue burqa knocked on the front gates one morning" (209). As soon as Farzana is about to become a mother, Hassan's mother shows up at their door. After she apologizes for being such a poor mother, Hassan cannot help but run avoid her at first. Later in the story, it becomes clear that Sanaubar left because she felt horrible for cheating on Ali with Baba. -
Pakistani Officers Provide Supplies to Omar's Men
Beginning in 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" (3). -
Afghanistan Becomes an Anarchy
In the summer of 1994, "...power was anarchically divided among competing warlords and individual fiefdoms" (2). -
Mullah Omar Has Nearly 12,000 Followers
The author writes, "By the end of 1994 Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers and was rolling up the warlords to north and east" (2). -
Bin Laden Arrives
The Taliban also supported Mr. bin Laden, who "...arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport in May 1996..." (3). -
Taliban Takes Control
Assisted by Pakistani help, "...the Taliban by 1996 had taken contol of the Afghanistans, imposing strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law, banning movies and music and forcing women out of schools and into all-enveloping burqa clothing" (3). -
Taliban Arrives
After hearing the news about the Taliban, Rahim is excited that Afghanistan is finally "saved," but all Hassan can say is "God help the Hazaras now, Rahim Khan sahib" (213). Even after Rahim tries to convince Hassan that the war is over, he is still worried. Two years after that, the Taliban massacred the Hazaras. -
Taliban is Defeated
In 2001, "[a]n air and ground campaign began that drove the Taliban out of the major Afghan cities by the end of the year" (3). -
Amir Receives a Call From Rahim Khan
After receiving Rahim's call, Amir tells Soraya, "I have to go to Pakistan...Rahim Khan is very sick" (191). Amir explains that saying these words out loud made him feel uneasy. Although Amir will have to leave Soraya and enter the unexpected, he is anxious to see Rahim and leaves as soon as he can. From this point on, Amir's life is turned around completely. -
Hamid Karzai is Named Chairman
After the defeat of the Taliban in December 2001, ..."Hamid Karzai, a supporter and relative of MOhammad Zahir Shah, the exiled former king of Afghanistan, was named chairman..." (3). -
Sohrab Smiles
Amir explains that he "...looked down at Sohrab. One corner of his mouth had curled up just so. A smile. Lopsided. Hardly there. But there" (370-371). This event is significant because it wraps up the entire book in a really touching, heart-warming way. Although I was hoping for more answers at the end of the book, I think this ending was pretty good because it reveals the fact that even though their lives will never be the same again, there will still be happiness. -
Obama Announces Plan
In his speech in 2009, "...Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops" (3).