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Amir is born
Amir's mother dies while giving birth to Amir. Amir says "While my mother was hemorrhaged to death" (Hosseini, 6). This quote demonstrates the feeling of remorse Amir has to live with at an early age. The thought of him killing his own mother through birth is horrifying to think of as a young child and throughout his life. -
Hassan is born
When Hassan is born his mother, Sanaubar, abandons him right after birth. "Hassan lost his less than a week after he was born. Lost her to a fate most Afghans considered far worse than death: She ran off with a clan of traveling singers and dancers" (Hosseini, 6). The Afghan community thought of Hassan's mother as a shameful woman. Whenever Hassan would hear something hurtful said about his mother he would get upset because she's still his mother and he still cares about her no matter what. -
Hassan gets a surgery for his cleft lip
When Hassan turned ten he was allowed to get his surgery for his cleft lip. "The swelling subsided, and the wound healed with time. Soon, it was just a pink jagged line running up from his lip" (Hosseini, 47). The cleft lip was an insecurity of Hassan. Although there was a deeper meaning than that and a cleft lip is a sign of incest. -
Hassan gets raped by Assef
Hassan went into the alley to get the kite after Amir and him had won and while he was there, "Assef knelt behind Hassan, put his hands on Hassan's hips and lifted his bare buttocks. He unzipped his jeans. Dropped his underwear. He positioned himself behind Hassan." (Hosseini, 75). This scene was important because Amir witnessed Hassan's rape and didn't do or say anything about it even though he had multiple chances to. Amir wasn't being a good friend to Hassan. -
Ali and Hassan leave
After celebrating Amir's birthday Hassan and Ali leave. "I watched Baba's car pull away from the curb, taking with it the person whose first spoken word had been my name" (Hosseini, 109). This quote shows how sad Amir is when his lifelong best friend leaves him. He mentions how the first spoken word of Hassan had been Amir's name, this shows their bond and the true friendship they had for many years. -
The Islamic Republican of Afghanistan
When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan has seen little peace since then. "American forces try to help a weak and corrupt government tame a stubborn insurgency." (New York Times, 1). -
Soviet troops parachute into Kabul
On December 27, 1979, the first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul to help out Babrak Karmal, who had become president. "Moscow insisted that the troops came in response to a plea for help from a legitimately constituted Karmal Government." (The New York Times, 2). -
Baba and Amir leave Afghanistan
The Russians invade and it is no longer safe to be in Afghanistan so Baba and Amir leave quickly. "My eyes returned to our suitcases. They made me sad for Baba. After everything he'd built, planned, fought for, fretted over, dreamed of, this was the simulation of his life" (Hosseini, 124). This quote shows the sadness that Amir feels when leaving his home country. Baba and him had worked so hard to have a good life there and now it was all being left behind. -
Baba and Amir come to San Francisco
Baba and Amir thought for sure that America was the right place for them where there would be a chance for them. "Baba loved the idea of America" (Hosseini, 125). This shows us how Baba and Amir are getting more positive about their move to California. They both start to realize the better life that they will have. -
Amir graduates from high school
Amir accomplished something that made his father very proud of him for the first time in a while. "I am moftakhir, Amir" (Hosseini, 131). For once Baba shows how proud he is of Amir. This makes Amir realize how Baba really does love him he just expects a lot out of his son. -
Amir meets Soraya
Amir sells goods at the flea market with his father, Baba knows quite a few people and he stumbles upon an old friend who has a beautiful daughter whom Amir is attracted to "a slim-hipped beauty with velvety coal black hair." (Hosseini, 140). Amir meets a beautiful girl who he would never think he had a shot with. Soraya later ends up being his wife. -
Baba dies
Baba had cancer for quite some time and was in a lot of pain. He started to know when it was his time to leave the earth, "Not tonight," he said. "There is no pain tonight" (Hosseini, 173). After that night Baba never woke up. He knew that it was his time to leave our world and when he did he wouldn't be in pain or go through any type of suffering. -
Amir's first novel is accepted
Amir finds out he is going to be a published novelist. He has a celebration dinner with Soraya and her parents. "Thinking of Baba, wishing he could have seen me" (Hosseini, 183). This quote shows how all Amir was fixated on was making Baba proud. It was something Amir wanted to do to show his father that he was a good kid and not a mistake as his father often perceived him as. -
Soviet Troops leave
"Eventually, after peace talks moderated by the United Nations, the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989" (New York Times, 2) -
Islamic Extremists
While doing the peace treaties they left out one country that had been devastated by war and had "become a beacon to Islamic extremists from across the globe who had come to assist in the fighting" (The New York Times). -
Hassan's mother, Sanaubar, returns
Hassan hadn't ever seen his own mother in person until, "we found a toothless woman with stringy graying hair and sores on her arms" (Hosseini,209). Sanaubar had aged quickly and wasn't doing well at all. Even though she had abandoned her son Hassan wasn't going to abandon her so he took her in. -
The vicious summer of 1994
"After Soviet forces departed, Afghanistan descended into vicious internecine strife; by the summer of 1994, power was anarchically divided" (New York Times). -
Mullah Omar
Warlords were rolling up all over the north and east and Mullah Omar had 12,000 followers by the end of 1994. "With his promise of restoring the centrality of Islam to daily life, he created a genuinely popular movement in a country weary of corruption and brutality" (New York Times). -
Pakistani Intelligence Officers
Mullah Omar had a lot of people supporting him and backing him up in battle. "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" (New York Times). -
The Taliban takes over
The Taliban takes over and Rahim Khan wasn't even upset by it. "When the Taliban rolled in and kicked the Alliance out of Kabul, I actually danced on that street," Rahim Khan said. "And, believe me, I wasn't alone" (Hosseini, 200). People were united for once. Everyone rejoiced even though the Taliban had rolled in they had kicked the Alliance out. -
Hassan and Farzana are killed
As the Taliban takes over they get Hassan, but Hassan protests so they bring him to the street and shoot him in the back of the head. "Farzana came screaming and attacked them, shot her too. Self-defense, they claimed later-" (Hosseini, 219). Hassan wasn't going to take orders from the Taliban and he was finally going to stand to his own ground. It backfired on Hassan though because he got himself and his wife shot. -
Amir in Pakistan
Amir gets a phone call from Rahim Khan asking Amir to come back to Pakistan. "I lowered the phone into the cradle" (Hosseini, 190). Amir wants to go back, but it will be difficult for him to go back. There's so much that happened to him there in his life. -
The 9/11 attacks
The Taliban struck in New York. "After the attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001, President George W. Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum" (New York Times). The Taliban refused so the United States joined forces with rebel groups who never accepted Taliban rule. -
Defeat for the Taliban
The Taliban continued to carry on a warfare from a base in the mountains. "The Taliban regrouped and began to extend its influence in the southern part of Afghanistan" (New York Times). -
Success for Americans
After a long battle the US military was successful in their fight. "Administration officials have acknowledged that the 2014 date was based of the presumption that the American military would be successful enough in fighting the Taliban that significant withdrawals would be under way by then" (New York Times).