-
Amir's First Story
One day, after Amir discovers his storytelling abilities with Hassan, Amir "wr[i]te[s] [his] first short story" (Hosseini 30). Because earlier that day Hassan had told Amir that Amir's story was the best he had ever heard, Amir builds up the courage to present his short story to Baba. Even though Baba does not offer to read the story, Amir's writing gives him enough courage to approach his father, which begins to strengthen Amir and Baba's relationship. -
Hassan gets raped
Just after the kite-fighting tournament, Assef finds Hassan with the winning kite and violates him. Amir sees all of this happen, and "in the end, [he] ran" (Hosseini 77). When Amir decides not to stand up for Hassan as Hassan would have done for Amir, he changes the course of the rest of his life. Amir will spend the rest of his life attempting to atone for this one sin of abandonment. -
Amir wins the kite-fighting tournament
In the winter of 1975, Baba, after seeing Amir and Hassan win the kite-fighting tournament, stands on his roof, "pumping both of his fists. Hollering and clapping" (Hosseini 66). By winning this tournament, Amir had finally won the affection of Baba. In that moment, Baba wasn't ashamed of having Hassan as a child; he was just proud of both of his sons for proving their strength and wisdom in the tournament. -
Hassan and Ali leave
During the summer of 1976, Hassan and Ali decide to leave Kabul because now that Hassan and Ali have to act like they don't know what Amir did, Ali believes that "life here is impossible for [them]" (Hosseini 106). Amir's prior decicion to leave Hassan in the alley with Assef caused Hassan and Ali to leave becasue they couldn't continue to pretend that Amir didn't do anything wrong. Once again, Amir doesn't do anything to stop them, he just accepts that he may never see his best friend again. -
The Soviet Invasion
According to the New York Times, the Soviet Union troops first invaded "Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979" (NYT 2). -
Amir and Baba escape Kabul
Once the Soviet Union invades Afghanistan, Baba and Amir decide to leave Kabul, and after a long journey, Baba announces, "We're in Pakistan, Amir" (Hosseini 123). Kabul is no longer a safe place for Baba and Amir to stay, so they, along with many other Afghans, decide to leave. Although it was hard for them to leave their entire life in Kabul, Baba and Amir set out for a new life of freedom in America. -
Amir graduates from high school
In 1983, Amir "graduated from high school ar the age of twenty" (Hosseini 131). This was the second time in Amir's life that Baba was truly proud of Amir. Amir had longed to recieve Baba's affection his whole life, and now he really had it. -
Amir and Soraya get married
After having talked to Soraya multiple times, Amir asks Baba to ask General Taheri, Soraya's father, for Soraya's hand in marriage, and "the general accepted" (Hosseini 162). Amir knew from the moment he met her that he wanted to marry Soraya, and now he finally got what he desired. Also, Baba was very excited that Amir was getting married because he knew he was going to live to see the marriage of one of his sons. -
Baba dies
One month after Amir's wedding, Baba refuses when Soraya offers him his medicine, saying "Not tonight... There is no pain tonight" (Hosseini 173). That night, Baba dies a peaceful death at a time in his life when everything is going well. Baba's death lessened Amir's confidence because he would now have to find his own way without Baba's help. -
Amir publishes his first novel
During the summer of 1988, Amir finished his "first novel, a father-son story set in Kabul" (Hosseini 182). This novel is the beginning of Amir's career as a writer. Getting this novel published gives Amir the confidence that he is a good enough writer to make a living off of writing. -
Soviet Troops Left Afghanistan
In February of 1989, "the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan... in whaat was in effect a unilateral withdrawl" (NYT 2). -
12,000 Followers
When the Taliban began to take over Afghanistan at the end of 1994, "Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers" (NYT 2). -
Taliban took over Afghanistan
With help from Pakistan, "the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan" (NYT 3). -
Osama bin Laden arrived in Afghanistan
Because the Taliban had provided him witha safe haven in Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden "arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport in May 1996" (NYT 3). -
Hassan dies
A month after Rahim Khan moved away from Hassan and Hassan's wife, he recieved a telegram saying that teh Taliban "took him to the street... and ordered him to kneel... and shot him in the back of the head" (Hosseini 219). Because Hassan and his wife were both shot, their son, Sohrab, had to live in an orphanage. Amir knows that retrieving and caring for Sohrab is the only way to atone for what he did to Hassan. -
Amir visits Rahim Khan
In June of 2001, Amir gets a call saying that Rahim Khan is sick, and he decides, "I have to go to Pakistan" (Hosseini 191). Once in Pakistan, Amir learns all about Hassan's life and death. This information entices Amir to make a decision that will affect the rest of his life in attempt to atone for his prior sins. -
Hassan and Amir are brothers
In attempt to convince Amir to find Sohrab, Rahim Khan reveals a secret that Baba had kept his whole life: "I had a brother" (Hosseini 225). Baba never told anybody that Hassan was really his son because it would have destroyed his reputation in Afghanistan as a respected man. However, because Rahim Khan revealed this to Amir, Amir knows that he has to find Sohrab to make up for the mistake he made as a child. -
Amir realizes how unfairly people are treated
During Amir's quest to find Sohrab, Amir and Farid stay with Wahid, Farid's brother. After their dinner, Amir overhears Wahid telling his wife, "We're hungry but we're not savages! He is a guest! What was I supposed to do?" (Hosseini 241). Hearing this, Amir realizes how much people have to struggle to get food for their families. He finally understands that the power the Taliban has over people comes out of fear, not respect or praise. -
Assef fights Amir
While Amir and Assef are fighting, Amir starts to laugh because, "for the first time since 1975, [Amir] felt at peace... [His] body was broken... but [he] felt healed" (Hosseini 289). Amir finally felt like he had atoned for when he abandoned Hassan in 1975. He felt like he had now taken his proper punishment for abandoning Hassan when he was needed most. -
9/11 Invasion
On September 11, 2001, the Taliban ordered an "attack on the World Trade Center in New York" (NYT 3). On this tragic day, members of the Taliban hijacked two planes and crashed them into the Twin Towers. -
Hamid Kazari Began Rule Over Afghanistan
In 2001, the Taliban was ultimately defeated because Hamid Kazari "was named the chairman of an interim government that replaced the Taliban, making him the leader of the country" (NYT 3). -
Sohrab smiles
When Sohrab and Amir cut one kite to the ground in a kite-fighting competition, "one corner of [Sohrab's] mouth had curled up just so" (Hosseini 370). After months of absolutely no smiles out of Sohrab, Amir is ecstatic when he sees the slightest smile on Sohrab's face. This smile gives Amir hope that Sohrab will become happy again and enjoy his life in America. -
Obama's Speech
Obama revealed that more troops were going to help Afghanistan, but he would "start bringing American troops home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011" (NYT 4). -
New Deadline for Troops in Afghanistan
Because Afghanistan needed U.S. help so badly, Obama decided that the "United States will have forces in the country until at least the end of 2014" (NYT 4). -
Hamid Kazari is Elected
Because he promised the people of Afghanistan secure peace two years prior, "Mr. Kazari was elected to a five-year term as president in 2004" (NYT 3).