The Kite Runner

Finished the book!!!!
Setting:
In the beginning the novel takes place in Afghanistan in the 1970’s, when the main character, Amir, is a child. He lives in the town of Kabul, He lives in Afghanistan until he is 18, and he and his father flee to America, in the 80’s, where they start a new life. He stays in America until 2001, when his friend falls in, and he goes back to Afghanistan, and finds it in none of its former glory. Afghanistan is in the middle of a war, and it hurts Amir to see his country in such a bad state. The setting of the book switches back and forth from Afghanistan to America throughout the span of about thirty years. The setting of the novel affects the plot of the book because the two main places are very different, Afghanistan and America. Also Afghanistan was in teh middle of a war at the end of the book, which affected the characters alot, especially Amir, as it was hard to see his country in such a state.
Important Part:
The most surprising part in the novel is when Rahim Khan reveals to Amir one of his father’s well kept secrets, that Amir and Hassan share the same father. When he learns this, Amir is shocked, but he understands why his father treated Hassan different than one would treat a servant, and always gave Hassan the equal to what Amir had. He was deeply hurt when Amir suggested they get new servants because, after all, Hassan was his son. Hassan’s death caused Amir a lot of pain, but he managed to overcome it and accept Hassan’s son into his family, no matter how hard it was, or how long it took.
Summary:
After a visit to the hospital, Amir and his father discover that his father has cancer. His father decides not to get any sort of treatment, despite how Amir tries to convince him to do something about it. But his father’s pride won’t waver, and so they return home. As Amir’s father is getting worse and worse, Amir makes an important decision. He decides to get his father to ask General Sahib for his daughter, Soraya’s, hand in marriage. His father agrees, and the wedding is set. The wedding goes through smoothly, and Soraya moves in with Amir and his father, so she can help take care of him in his weakening condition. They take good care over him, but the cancer quickly consumes him, and he dies. After his Funeral, Amir and Soraya move into their own house. They get some bad news from the hospital, telling them Soraya can’t have any kids, and if they want any children they should adopt. But the idea of adoption isn’t appealing for them, so they decide against it. 15 years later, Amir receives a phone call from Rahim Khan, who has fallen ill. He makes a quick decision, and hops on a plane to Afghanistan. He meets up with his old friend to find him in poor conditions. They chat for a while, before Rahim brings up an interesting subject. Hassan. So Rahim begins to tell Amir how Hassan married ad went to live with Rahim, where his wife had their second child (the first was stillborn), who delivered by an old woman who turned out to be Hassan’s mother, who he never met. They named their son Sohrab. Rahim tells him they left, and returned to their town, and hands Amir a letter from Hassan, and a picture. Rahim also tells him two more things. That Hassan’s father was sterile and that Hassan and his wife were slaughtered a little while ago by the Taliban. Amir figures out that Hassan’s shared the same father as him, which was the reason for his dad treating Hassan like he did Amir. He has a friend of Rahim, Farid, take him to find Hassan’s son and transport him to a couple of people who can look after him. They arrive at the orphanage, and meet the person running it. They learn that Sohrab isn’t there, that the person running the orphanage gave him away. Farid is enraged when he hears this and attacks the man, because he has children of his own. After the two men break apart, Amir gets the address of the place where he can find Sohrab, and they leave the orphanage. They finally find Sohrab, and to Amir’s great shock, they meet up with Assef, the bully from Amir’s childhood. He tells them his story, and his past. When Amir tells him all he wants is the boy, Assef tells him he can take Sohrab, but after he settles the score between him. Amir awakes in the hospital a few days later with a punctured lung, fractured ribs and other severe injuries. He asks to leave, even though he isn’t healed. News that Rahim Khan has gone missing hits them, and Amir receives a letter entitling him to a sum of money in the bank. He retrieves the money, and tries to get hold of the couple who are two look after Sohrab. However, in the end they can’t reach them. Farid departs them, and Amir gives him a large amount of money for him and his family. He wishes them luck and leaves. Amir is faced with the decision in what to do with Sohrab. He knows a choice but is afraid to voice it. Finally, he asks Sohrab if he wants to stay with them. Sohrab, however, doesn’t say anything. A few days later, Amir brings the subject up again and Sohrab agrees. Amir calls his wife and tells her everything, and she is quite happy to hear it. So they try to get a lawyer to help Amir take Sohrab back to America with him. But all the lawyers say is that Sohrab is not technically an orphan because his parents don’t have death certificates. Amir tells them it isn’t fair, and they tell him to give up hope, so the two of them go back to a hotel. He and his wife talk it over, and she tells him a way to bring Sohrab into the country. Elated, Amir goes to find Sohrab to tell him the good news. But when he goes into the bathroom he finds a horrible site. Sohrab in the bathtub, blood everywhere He calls the hospital, and prays that Sohrab is alright. When the doctor comes to speak with his he fears he brings bad news, but he is wrong. The doctor informs him Sohrab is okay. Amir finds out that Sohrab slit his writs with Amir’s razor. When Sohrab tells him he wishes that Amir hadn’t saved him, Amir is very upset. Amir asks him if he wishes to live with him still, but the boy doesn’t respond, even when Amir tells him that he can get in to America. He never accepts or declines, however, Amir takes him back anyway. Soraya is delighted to see her husband and her new son. However, Sohrab is silent. He refuses to speak or interact, which worries his faster parents. Finally, during a kite flying event, Amir gets him to respond. He and Sohrab run a kite, and Amir remembers doing the same with Sohrabs father. The book ends with Amir running after a kite.