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Assef Rapes Hassan
In chapter 7, Assef rapes Hassan while Amir stands by and does nothing to stop this tragic event. Amir "Stopped watching [and] turned away from the alley" (Hosseini 77). In this quote, the reader sees what a coward Amir is, and how he can't even stand up for his friend who would do anything for him. Amir comes to regret this day, this moment, for the rest of his life. -
Hassan and Ali Leave Baba and Amir
After the tragic event of Hassan being raped, Amir makes it so hard for Hassan to be happy that Ali says to Baba "'Life here is impossible for us now, Agha sahib. Wer'e leaving'" (Hosseini 106). Although Hassan never tells Baba that the real criminal is Amir. Amir planted money in Hassan's matress hoping he would get caught and fired. -
The Soviet Union Invades Afghanistan
Afghanistan was a relatively peaceful country until "1979, when the Soviet Union invaded" (The New York Times) -
Amir and Baba Leave Kabul
When Kabul becomes unsafe, Baba and Amir "Leave Kabul just after 2 in the morning" (Hosseini 110). Baba and Amir have lived in Kabul for their whole lives, so leaving is a really big deal. Without the comfort of their wealth, Baba and Amir embark on a new journey. -
Amir Graduates from High School in America
After coming to America with Baba, Amir "graduated from high school at the age of twenty, by far the oldest senior tossing his mortarboard on the football field that day" (Hosseini 131).Amir and Baba work hard to live a good life in America after all of Baba's accomplishments in Kabul are reduced to nearly nothing in America. the Accomplishment of graduating high school in America is a marking point in Amir's transition to American life. -
Baba Finally Accepts Amir
Amir announces to Baba "'I think I will Major in English'" (Hosseini 134). After telling Baba this, he stands his ground and refuses to change his mind about his major. This signifys that Amir is no longer searching or aching for Baba's aproval because he is willing to do somehting Baba really doesn't want him to do for his own happiness. -
Baba Buys a Bus
To help bring in some extra cash, Baba "Sold his Buick and bought a dilapidated '71 Volkswagen bus for $550 from an old Afghan acquaintance who'd been a high-school science teacher in Kabul" (Hosseini 136-137). This bus helps unite Baba and Amir, as they scavenge and sell and meet others in their community with similar backgrounds as them. This bus leads to Amir meeting his future wife, Soraya. -
Baba is Diagnosed With Cancer
Baba decides not to receive treatment for his terminal cancer, and instead, Baba and Amir continue to "[make] garage sales treks on Saturdays" (Hosseini 157). This quote shows the reader what a driving force Baba is. He lets nothing stand in his way, and refuses to be made a "Victim". -
Amir Gets Engaged to Soraya
After asking for Soraya's hand in marriage, Amir and Soraya quickly dive into marriage customs because "Everyone knew the reason, so no one had to actually say it: that Baba didn't have months to live" (Hosseini 169). Baba has a very limmited amount of time to live, and he wants to see Amir get married. This causes everything to be very rushed, so that Baba can experience this proud moment. -
Amir Gets Married
Finally, Amir and Soraya get Married. Amir " [remembers] sitting on the sofa, set on the stage like a throne, Soraya's hand in mine, as three hundred faces looked on." (Hosseini 171). Amir gets to relish the moment where he gets his fairytale wedding. He finally is married to the woman of his dreams, and he is truely happy. -
Baba Dies
After living in pain for months, Baba "never woke up" (Hosseini 173). This agonizing part of the book ends the chapter of Baba's life. After seeing him weak for the first time, Amir and Soraya take extremely good care of Baba until he passes. -
Baba's Funeral
Baba was loved in the Afghan community in the United States, and after hearing everyone talk about how Baba had helped them, Amir "realized how much of who I was, what I was, had been defined by Baba and the marks he had left on people's lives" (Hosseini 174). Amir is finally able to step back and see the impact Baba has had on everyone around him. Amir realizes that he is who he is because of this. -
Amir Finishes his First Novel
Amir "finished my first novel, a father-son story set in Kabul, written mostly with a typewriter the general had given me" (Hosseini 182). It seems as if Amir's whole life has been leading to this moment: publishing his first novel. He was meant to become a writer, and after the death of Baba, a father-son story is exactly the kind of book that he would write. -
The Taliban Takes Power
The Taliban takes power in Afghanistan in 1994. The Taliban keeps a strong hold on Afghanistan for a while, and " The Taliban and the groups it collaborates with remain deeply rooted" (The New York Times). -
Al Qaeda Gains Control
Al Qaeda "had been given safe haven in the country by the Taliban, the extremist Islamic group that had seized control in 1996 after years of civil war" (The New York Times). -
Rahim Khan Calls Amir
After buying a house and building a life in America, Amir gets a call from Rahim Khan, telling Amir he must "go to Pakistan" (Hosseini 191). Rahim Khan is very sick and just about on his deathbed when he gives a Amir a call, asking him to come to Pakistan. Amir is scared of what will happen in Pakistan. -
Amir Returns to Afghanistan
After leaving the unsafe country many years ago, Amir returns to a much more "rural landscape" (Hosseini 233). This is just one of the many changes that Amir notices about Afghanistan. Everything is ruled by the Taliban, and death is much more present. -
Sohrab Comes to America
After experiencing scarring and horrific events in Afghanistan, Sohrab is finally brought to America by Amir, and is given a be d with "Sheets [that] showed brightly colored kites flying in indigo blue skys" (Hosseini 358). Sohrab's sheets remind the reader of his father, Hassan, and the talent he had for flying kites. It is a sort of sad reminder of all the horrible events that have led Amir to have to rescue Sohrab from afghanistan. -
9/11 Attack
An airplane hijacked by al-Qaeda crashed into the Twin Towers in New York. 4 other planes were hijacked and their destruction resulted in the death of 2,996 people. The US responded by getting "militarily involved in Afghanistan since 2001, when it led an invasion after the Sept. 11 attacks by Al Qaeda" (New York Times). -
Taliban Loses Power
The Taliban is overthrown after 9/11 in an American led invasion. This played out and "The 2001 invasion succeeded in dislodging Al Qaeda and removing the Taliban from power, but not in eradicating either group." -
The Taliban Makes a Comeback
Although the US already led a successful invasion, "With American military efforts focused on Iraq, the Taliban made a steady comeback, fueled by profits from the opium trade, dissatisfaction with the weak and often corrupt Afghan government, and safe havens in Pakistan" (The New York Times). -
The US Places forces in Afghanistan
President Obama felt it was necessary to put more troops in Afghanistan "President Obama made Afghanistan the central military focus of his administration, drawing troops out of Iraq and increasing the number in Afghanistan by almost 50,000" (The New York Times). -
Gen. David H. Petraeus is put in Command of American forces in Afghanistan
President Obama put "Gen. David H. Petraeus, the architect of the 2007“surge” in Iraq, in command of American forces in Afghanistan, and the pace of American operations stepped up enormously, initially in the Taliban's strongholds in the south" (The New York Times). -
The US Decides to Remain In Afghanistan Until 2014
President Obama made a decision to "l have forces in the country until at least the end of 2014, when it intends to pass responsibility for security to the Afghan government" (The New York Times". -
The Taliban Remain Safe in Afghanistan
Due to the extreme corruption in Afghanistan, "he country's borders remain porous; Kabul Bank, which processes government salaries, is wormy with fraud, and Mr. Karzai's government, by almost all accounts, remains weak, corrupt and erratically led. And the Pakistani frontier remains a Taliban safe haven" (The New York Times).