The Kite Runner

The first 80 pages of the novel, "The Kite Runner", grabbed me and didn't let go. I could hardly put it down when I reached page 80. The exposition of this emotional story definitely tugged at my heart as i read about two boys, Amir and Hassan. Two boys born into a culture, a society, a religion, a country they have no control over. Two boys that have lost their mothers. Prior to the end of chapter seven I felt as if Hassan was very content and happy with life. Even though he was born into poverty, was a servant, and outside Baba's home was an outcast, his father's love for him and his religion was so strong, nothing seemed to come over that. On the other hand is Amir, a boy born into wealth. Unlike Hassan who is sheltered, Amir must go out into the big world and learn. I feel like between his father, his teachers, and society Amir struggles with so much. Amir does not live up to his father's expectations. Amir so desperately wants his father's full approval and attention. Amir's interests are different than that of his father so it puts up a wall. I just felt awful when Amir was eavesdropping and heard his father say he wondered how they could be father and son. I thought these passages from page eleven were very important, "And, under the same roof, we spoke our first words. Mine was Baba. His was Amir. My name. Looking back on it now, I think the foundation for what happened in the winter of 1975-and all that followed-was already laid in those first words." (11) Amir is seeking the love and attention of his father. Amir will hurt people that get in the way of this. Throughout the story there was a couple times Baba wanted Amir to invite Hassan along on different outings and Amir would lie, make up excuses that Hassan could not join them, so he would have his father's undivided attention. Hassan has a brotherhood with Amir and would do anything for him, "For you, a thousand times over." (2) Those were the words Hassan spoke to Amir before going after the blue kite, the last fallen kite.