As I'm reading The Kite Runner, I thought it would be a good idea to write a small summary of each chapter as I read them. In this post, I'll share my thoughts as I advance with the reading.Many characters are introduced, as Amir, Baba, Rahim Khan (who calls by phone to invite Amir to Pakistan) and Ali. After the phone call, Amir went for a walk by the park to think about his life. Memories from 1975: Something changed in those days.
Chapter 2
The Narrator (Amir) explains his childhood with Hassan. Amir was Pashtun, while Hassan was Hazara. They both lost their mothers and their fathers were Baba and Ali. Ali married with Sanaubar to restore his uncle's honor. Hassan (whose mother run away when he was borned) lived in a small house with his father, near Baba's Mansion. He used to play with Amir and they had a strong relationship, as they were fed by the same breasts. They once met a soldier who said he had a relation with Hassan's mother.
Chapter 3
Baba built an Orphanage. Against the popular beliefs against his idea, Baba was succesful. Baba was supposed to become a lawyer as is father, but he decided to be a businessman and became one of the richest merchants in Kabul.
Amir had a Islam teacher at the school. Baba thought that teachers weren't good, and he talked to Amir about sins. He believed that all sins were variations from theft. (Amir knew Baba's father was killed by a murder).
Baba felt his son was not like him. Amir tried to enjoy football, but he prefered to read poems. Amir listens Baba talking to Rahim Khan about him.
Chapter 4
Amir explains the relation between Baba and Ali. They had a similar childhood to Amir and Hassan, because Ali's parents died when they were crashed by a car and Baba's father, a famous lawyer, decided to adopt him. Amir also goes deeper referring to his relationship with Hassan and the differences they had, specially in terms of education. Amir used to read stories for Hassan in a tree in the cemetery. Once, he started creating a random story and Hassan, that thought Amir was reading, said it was the best story he had ever heard. Motivated by this, Amir wrote a story about a man who cried pearls, which was only read by Rahim Khan, as Baba didn't show interest in it. When Amir was going to read it to Hassan, something happened. Along this chapter, we can appreciate that Amir has a special rivalry with his friend Hassan, as he always wants to be better than him. For example, he laughed at Hassan because he didn't know some words to show he was "better".
Chapter 4
Amir explains the relation between Baba and Ali. They had a similar childhood to Amir and Hassan, because Ali's parents died when they were crashed by a car and Baba's father, a famous lawyer, decided to adopt him. Amir also goes deeper referring to his relationship with Hassan and the differences they had, specially in terms of education. Amir used to read stories for Hassan in a tree in the cemetery. Once, he started creating a random story and Hassan, that thought Amir was reading, said it was the best story he had ever heard. Motivated by this, Amir wrote a story about a man who cried pearls, which was only read by Rahim Khan, as Baba didn't show interest in it. When Amir was going to read it to Hassan, something happened. Along this chapter, we can appreciate that Amir has a special rivalry with his friend Hassan, as he always wants to be better than him. For example, he laughed at Hassan because he didn't know some words to show he was "better".
Chapter 5
Suddenly, they heard like a thunder outside. There was a coup and a new republic was established, along with a president. Amir and Hassan went out to read at the tree, when they met Assef, who was famous for his steel knuckles. He talked about Hitler, how he hated the Hazaras and his relation with the new president. Assef blamed Amir for treating the hazara as his friend. Amir and Hassan managed to escape from the knuckles thanks to Hassan's slingshot.
Time later, Hassan received his birthday gift from Baba: Dr Kumar, a surgeon. Amir got his harelip fixed.
Chapter 6
Winter starts. Most of the children in Kabul didn't have to go to school in winter, therefore it was considered the best season. In winter, cities held the Kite Tournaments, in which kite runners also take an important spot. Amir and Hassan used to make their own kites, but as they were better fighters than makers, they started buying them. Also, Hassan was the best kite runner Amir had ever seen. Amir remembers a story in which Hassan caught a kite, in which they had a very special and uncomfortable talk.
In 1975, Amir saw Hassan run a kite for the last time. In that year, Amir's neighborhood held a very big tournament. Baba told Amir that he thought he was going to win it. Amir considered this as a chance to prove he was a good son and decided to win the competition.
The night before the tournament, many men came to Amir's house to talk with Baba. Meanwhile, Amir and Hassan were playing cards. They talk about how iranians were more developed and they way many afghans were envious because iranians were Shi'a muslims. Finally, Hassan said Amir was going to make Baba very proud tomorrow and Amir said he was going to buy a TV for each one day. He then reflected and felt sad on how Hassan accepted he was going to live in his little shack in the yard forever.
Chapter 7
It is the kite tournament day. While Amir was having breakfast, Hassan told him about his dream ("There is no monster, just water"). They went out and saw a lot of people preparing for the competition. At the beginning, Amir thought about don't participating, but Hassan convinced him to go on. After hours of fighting, Amir's kite was the last in the air, and Hassan ran the blue kite for Amir. Amir was congratulated by all the neighbors, including Omar, who was playing soccer with his brother. Amir asked Omar about Hassan, and he said he saw him ran toward the bazaar. Amir started searching for him, and after a chat with an old fruit merchant, he managed to find him in an alley; Hassan had the blue kite, but he was also trapped by Assef and his two friends. Assef offered freedom for the kite, but Hassan wouldn't give it, so Assef tortured him and, at some point, he unzipped his jeans and dropped his underwear. At this moment, Amir saw the eyes of Hassan and remembered the look of the dying sheep in the religious ceremonies. Amir ran away, and hided. When he realized that Assef had left, he came back to Hassan, and saw him tired and his shirt was ripped, but he was holding the kite. Amir took the kite to Baba and the hugged strongly.
Chapter 8
Amir barely saw Hassan in the following weeks. Amir asked Baba to take him to Jalalabad on friday and he accepted, but he took all the family with them. After a fun weekend, they came back home. Hassan kept doing all the chores, but he was sleeping most of the time. By the other side, Amir tried to stay as long as possible in his bedroom to avoid seeing him, and he wanted to return to school. Amir was kind of cruel with Hassan and asked him to go away, but the Hazara would keep on doing the chores and being loyal.
When Amir was planted tulips with Baba, he asked about hiring new servants and Baba got angry at him. After the tense situation, school started. One day, Amir went to the cemetery with Hassan to read him a story. Before he started reading, he started firing pomegranates at Hassan, feeling a mix of emotions: He wanted Hassan to hit him back, but he wouldn't. Again, he showed to be a loyal servant, and that bothered Amir. He felt guilty.
After that, in 1976, Amir's birthday party was organized. Four hundred people was invited, from which Amir barely knew a quarter. Assef and his parents showed up, and he was really kind with Baba. Amir took the present and went out of the house: It was a Hitler's biography. In that moment, Rahim Khan sit behind him and told him about how he almost married a Hazara when he was 18. When Amir heard the fireworks, he returned to the party and saw Hassan serving drinks to Assef, while he grinned.
Chapter 6
Winter starts. Most of the children in Kabul didn't have to go to school in winter, therefore it was considered the best season. In winter, cities held the Kite Tournaments, in which kite runners also take an important spot. Amir and Hassan used to make their own kites, but as they were better fighters than makers, they started buying them. Also, Hassan was the best kite runner Amir had ever seen. Amir remembers a story in which Hassan caught a kite, in which they had a very special and uncomfortable talk.
In 1975, Amir saw Hassan run a kite for the last time. In that year, Amir's neighborhood held a very big tournament. Baba told Amir that he thought he was going to win it. Amir considered this as a chance to prove he was a good son and decided to win the competition.
The night before the tournament, many men came to Amir's house to talk with Baba. Meanwhile, Amir and Hassan were playing cards. They talk about how iranians were more developed and they way many afghans were envious because iranians were Shi'a muslims. Finally, Hassan said Amir was going to make Baba very proud tomorrow and Amir said he was going to buy a TV for each one day. He then reflected and felt sad on how Hassan accepted he was going to live in his little shack in the yard forever.
Chapter 7
It is the kite tournament day. While Amir was having breakfast, Hassan told him about his dream ("There is no monster, just water"). They went out and saw a lot of people preparing for the competition. At the beginning, Amir thought about don't participating, but Hassan convinced him to go on. After hours of fighting, Amir's kite was the last in the air, and Hassan ran the blue kite for Amir. Amir was congratulated by all the neighbors, including Omar, who was playing soccer with his brother. Amir asked Omar about Hassan, and he said he saw him ran toward the bazaar. Amir started searching for him, and after a chat with an old fruit merchant, he managed to find him in an alley; Hassan had the blue kite, but he was also trapped by Assef and his two friends. Assef offered freedom for the kite, but Hassan wouldn't give it, so Assef tortured him and, at some point, he unzipped his jeans and dropped his underwear. At this moment, Amir saw the eyes of Hassan and remembered the look of the dying sheep in the religious ceremonies. Amir ran away, and hided. When he realized that Assef had left, he came back to Hassan, and saw him tired and his shirt was ripped, but he was holding the kite. Amir took the kite to Baba and the hugged strongly.
Chapter 8
Amir barely saw Hassan in the following weeks. Amir asked Baba to take him to Jalalabad on friday and he accepted, but he took all the family with them. After a fun weekend, they came back home. Hassan kept doing all the chores, but he was sleeping most of the time. By the other side, Amir tried to stay as long as possible in his bedroom to avoid seeing him, and he wanted to return to school. Amir was kind of cruel with Hassan and asked him to go away, but the Hazara would keep on doing the chores and being loyal.
When Amir was planted tulips with Baba, he asked about hiring new servants and Baba got angry at him. After the tense situation, school started. One day, Amir went to the cemetery with Hassan to read him a story. Before he started reading, he started firing pomegranates at Hassan, feeling a mix of emotions: He wanted Hassan to hit him back, but he wouldn't. Again, he showed to be a loyal servant, and that bothered Amir. He felt guilty.
After that, in 1976, Amir's birthday party was organized. Four hundred people was invited, from which Amir barely knew a quarter. Assef and his parents showed up, and he was really kind with Baba. Amir took the present and went out of the house: It was a Hitler's biography. In that moment, Rahim Khan sit behind him and told him about how he almost married a Hazara when he was 18. When Amir heard the fireworks, he returned to the party and saw Hassan serving drinks to Assef, while he grinned.
Chapter 9
The birthday is over. The morning after, Amir looks at his presents, but he is not really happy, although he got an awesome bicicle. After some reflections, he went for a ride and he received a present from Ali: The Shahnamah. After that, he left his watch and some money in Hassan's place, and told Baba Hassan was a thief. This provoked Baba to call them all together. Hassan said he had stolen those things, and Baba decided to forgive him, surprisingly. However, Ali said that they were leaving anyways. Amir was shocked by Hassan's action and loyalty, but he felt it was his final sacrifice. Baba asked them to stay, but the wouldn't, so he drove them to the station in a sad, raining day.
Chapter 10
Baba and Amir escape from Kabul, and they're in there way to Pashwar, in Pakistan. They were travelling with a young couple. Amir felt sick, so Karim had to stop the vehicle for some time. At a checkpoint, a Russian soldier wanted to have half an hour with the lady, but Baba stood firm and refused. He would have been killed if it wasn't for another soldier, who apologized for his partners atitude (He said he was into drugs). After the passed, the husband kissed Baba's hands. When they arrived to Jalalabad they slept in a small house, where they should wait for Toor (Karim's brother) to continue the trip. However, Karim informed they that Toor's truck was broken and that he was waiting for the parts to fix it. When he heard this, Baba almost killed Karim, but the lady stopped him. In the small basement, they met Kamal and his father (Assef friend). After one week waiting, Karim said the truck was not going to be fixed. At last, he offered his cousin fuel tru
ck. That same night, they left in the fuel truck. During the trip, Amir tried to have good thoughts and he remembered some adventures with Hassan. Finally, they arrived to Pakistan. A bus would take them to Peshawar. Amir felt sad for Baba: After all, he only had one disappointing son and two suitcases. Also, he realized that Kamal had died during the trip (He won't breathe!) . At last, they saw how Kamal's father shot at Karim, killing him.
Chapter 10
Baba and Amir escape from Kabul, and they're in there way to Pashwar, in Pakistan. They were travelling with a young couple. Amir felt sick, so Karim had to stop the vehicle for some time. At a checkpoint, a Russian soldier wanted to have half an hour with the lady, but Baba stood firm and refused. He would have been killed if it wasn't for another soldier, who apologized for his partners atitude (He said he was into drugs). After the passed, the husband kissed Baba's hands. When they arrived to Jalalabad they slept in a small house, where they should wait for Toor (Karim's brother) to continue the trip. However, Karim informed they that Toor's truck was broken and that he was waiting for the parts to fix it. When he heard this, Baba almost killed Karim, but the lady stopped him. In the small basement, they met Kamal and his father (Assef friend). After one week waiting, Karim said the truck was not going to be fixed. At last, he offered his cousin fuel tru
ck. That same night, they left in the fuel truck. During the trip, Amir tried to have good thoughts and he remembered some adventures with Hassan. Finally, they arrived to Pakistan. A bus would take them to Peshawar. Amir felt sad for Baba: After all, he only had one disappointing son and two suitcases. Also, he realized that Kamal had died during the trip (He won't breathe!) . At last, they saw how Kamal's father shot at Karim, killing him.
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