Brian

=Brian's Reading Log (Connector, Researcher, Discussion Director, Passage Master)=

SUMMARY Chapters one through four covers the lives of two groups of characters Amir and Hassan and the other group Baba and Ali. Baba is Amir's father and Ali is Hassan's father. Both relationships are similar in a way because Baba and Ali are seem to be more wealthy than Amir and Hassan, but it is obvious how good friends they are. Both families have no mother and in the first four chapters the two experience problems without their mother. Another important factor in their relationship is that they believe in two different religions.
 * __5/20/08__ Chapters 1-4**

CONNECTOR i feel like there is a connection with Amir and Hassan's relationship and my own relationship with Nathan in school. In the //Kite Runner// Amir and Hassan share a relationship although they have many differences; religion, social status, and family. Me and Nathan have a strong relationship given our different backgrounds, religions, and families.

RESPONSE 1. It is clear that Baba and Amir's relationship is rough but you cant exactly blame a specific person. Baba has many reasons to dislike Amir. Such as the fact that Amir's mother died at his birth. Another reason is the fact that Amir seems to be nothing like his father. In the book Baba has a conversation with Ali and explains to him that he does not see himself in Amir at all and it seems as if he isn't even his son. 2. Yes i agree, because under the circumstances of Baba's theory theft is the only sin. Becuase according to his theory theft can refer to many different sins, like killing someone is like stealing their life. 3. I predict that Amir and Hassan are gonna be faced with a hard decision in their future because society is so against their relationship.

SUMMARY Chapters 5-7 begins with an attack on Afghanistan. This is Amir and Hassans first experience in war and they are petrified. Later in the reading we are introduced to a character, Assef. Assef seems to be the antagonist of the novel. Assef doesnt seem to mind Amir, but when he sees Hassan he threatens to hurt him. This event shows discrimination in religion even upon the children of Afghanistan. A couple years pass and Hassan celebrates his birthday. For his birthday he got plastic surgery for his cleft lip. It was in the winter when we see why the book is titled Kite Runner. Amir talks about a kite racing contest that is held in Khaled every year and how him and Hassan spend a lot of time making kites.
 * __5/20/08__ Chapters 5-7**

RESEARCHER i researched the event in Afghanistan on July 17 1973, the event in the beginning of the reading where Hassan and Amir believe they are under attack. This is a time in Afghanistan where they experience many problems in government and leader, also famine. In July of 1973 the King, 1973, temporarily leaves the country. During his absense Daud Khan takes advantage and ruins the country.

SUMMARY The reading begins with Hassan and Amir experiencing a lot of tension. The two boys were once best friends, and now they never did anything together and day after day Amir would ignore him. Throughout the next couple days Amir and Hassan spent time together but they acted like they hated each other. Amir has his thirteenth birthday and Baba throws a party for him at their home. At the party of course Ali and Hassan are the servants. At the party Assef, and his family and friends come. An painful moment occurs at the party, for Hassan and Amir, when Hassan serves Assef and his family drinks. The next morning after the party Amir plants some of his presents under Hassans mattress and accuses him of stealing his presents. Baba confronts Ali and Ali doesn't punish Hassan because at this point we know that Hassan has told Ali everything that has happened to him. A sad point of the book Ali tells Baba he wants to leave. In the reading it seems like everyone understands the problem except for Baba. Baba is clueless as to why everything is happening around him, it seems like he doesn't even realize all the problems that are happening. The reading ends with Hassan and Ali leaving.
 * __5/21/08__ Chapters 8-9**

DISCUSSION DIRECTOR Baba doesnt really seem to understand whats going on but how does Baba feel towards Hassan? In the beginning of the reading why do you think Amir was ignoring Hassan, and what do you think of the time the two of them were at the hill and throwing pomegranate at each other? I was confused when Assef approached Amir and Baba at the party, how was Assef so sure that Amir didnt tell Baba about the whole incident?

SUMMARY The reading begins with Amir and Baba in Afghanistan but because of the war Baba has lost all his money and his home. He is trying to leave Afghanistan and his first step to doing that is for him and his son to go to Iran and then take a plane to America. Chapter 10 are is about Amir and Baba trying to leave Afghanistan but the things they have to do to leave is terrible and sad. Chapter 11 begins with the two of them in America, 5 years later. Baba has a job as a manager at a gas station, and Amir finishing high school. Baba is miserable, coming to America made him miss Afghanistan, the way he used to live. For Amir America is a dream, a place for him to forget his past and start over again. The two men are very poor and live in a hotel. Weekends they collect used items off the streets and sell them to pawn shops. Amir graduates high school and tells his father he wants to become a writer. For his graduation present Baba is able to purchase Amir a used Ford sedan.
 * __5/22/08__ Chapters 10-11**

MASTER "Then Baba rolled his head toward me. "I wish Hassan had been with us today," he said" -Baba tells this to Amir after he shows him his new car and after they celebrate his graduation. I thought this quote was important because it shows how the two of them still think about Hassan and that through all these years and rough times that haven't forgotten about him. This is when we know that Baba truly loved Hassan and he truly misses him.

"Baba loved the //idea// of America. It was living in America that gave him an ulcer" I thought this quote was funny because with the two lines the entire chapter was summed up. Living in America causes Baba to work twelve hour shifts 5 days a week at a miserable job, coming to America seemed to him like freedom and the good life but when he reached it he had to work his hardest and support his son.

SUMMARY The reading begins with a girl that Amir meets, Soraya. They fall in love and Amir wants to marry Soraya. Baba has cancer. Baba refuses any kind of medical help or doctors, he wants to die. The cancer eventually reaches his brain. Soraya and Amir get married and Baba is able to celebrate and see their marriage. Baba approves of Soraya and when he meets her the for the first time the have fun. Baba dies. Further into thier marriage Baba and Soraya think a about having children but they cant. The couple considers adoption but later decides not to. While in America Baba hears that Rahim Kahn is sick and travels back to Afghanistan to see him. Amir has been gone for so long that when he comes back he has a lot to explain. also when hes back home he hears stories about Hassan.
 * __5/22/08__ Chapters 12-15**

CONNECTOR Baba's death and how he acts as he dies reminds me of the Star Warz movie Episone one when Obe Won Kanobe is dangling over a pit after fighting the Sith and Anakin Skywalker is holding onto his arm keeping him alive, and Obe Won tells him just to let go and let him die. I see Obe as Baba refusing to live and Amir reminds me of Anakin. Amir keeps telling Baba to go see a docotor and Anakin keeps telling Obe to come out of hte bottomless pit but he refuses.

SUMMARY When Amir goes back to Pakistan he learns about all the things he has missed while he was gone. In Pakistan Amir is shocked at how much Kabul has changed. Amir is in Kabul and visits Rahim Khan. Amir and Khan talk for a long time and Amir talks about why he moved to America, his fathers death, his new wife, and his life in America. Khan tells Amir many stories of what has happened in Kabul when he was gone. Amir learns that Hassan has married a woman named Farzana. The couple has a child, his name is Sohrab. Hassan and Farzana have moved into Amir's old home. Amir learns that Hassan and his wife were killed and he is devastated. Amir also discovers that Hassan is his half brother. Suddenly everything makes sense to Amir, how Baba loved Hassan so much and treated him so well. Khan talks about all the similarities with Hassan's son and Hassan as well as Amir. Sohrab is Hassans nephew. Sohrab was taken by the Taliban and he is raped. When Amir thinks hears this he cant help but think of how Hassan was also raped. This shows two things; Hassan grew up and was treated the same way Sohrab has grown up and treated, and/or these things were common during this time in Afghanistan.
 * __5/27/08__ Chapters 16-20**

RESEARCHER "Outside, a donkey was braying and someone was shouting something in **Urdu**." (p. 214)

Urdu is a language based on Person and Sanskritic dialects of North India.

SUMMARY Chapters 21-22 begins with Amir traveling back to Afghanistan visiting his old city and his old home. Back home he finds his city in ruins. After visiting his old home Amir goes back to trying to find Sohrab and the man that has taken him away. The two, Amir and Farid, find the man who has found the man who has been accused of taking Sohrab. When they see him he is harrasing a man and a woman. They realize that this man is Assef. Amir demands Sohrab and Assef refuses. Sohrab, clueless as to who Amir is and curious as to why he wants him, is forced to witness the fight. Amir and Assef fight but Assef wounds Amir badly. Assef saves Amir by using a slingshot to fight against Assef. The coincidence in this event seems to be what happened long ago with Amir and Hassan. Except this is what was supposed to happen. When Amir was a kid he was afraid to stand up for Hassan and that hurt him for the rest of his life. Now was his time of revenge but he was beaten, until Sohrab saved him, just as Amir was supposed to as a child with Hassan. Being beaten and hurt Amir is relieved and happy about what happened.
 * __5/29/08__ Chapters 21-22**

DISCUSSION DIRECTOR Back in Afghanistan, why do you think Amir was surprised about the condition of his home? After his fight with Assef, why was Amir relieved?

SUMMARY From his fight, Amir suffered many wounds. The chapter begins with Amir in the hospital falling in and out of sleep. Amir is told a Rahim Khan's fortune was left for him in a safety deposit box. Amir stays with Sohrab but one morning Sohrab is missing. Amir asks the man at the front desk to find Sohrab. After their conversation Amir realizes he must be at the Mosque. When Amir finds Sohrab he learns that the only reason he is even there is because Sohrab feels bad for hurting Assef. Amir reassures him that he will not go to hell and that some bad people stay bad. Sohrab at first doesn't feel very confortable around Amir. Amir treats Sohrab as his own son and eventually Sohrab warms up to him .Amir asks Sohrab if he would like to live with Amir and his wife, Sohrab says yes. The process for an adoption seems almost impossible but Soraya is able to make it happen, maybe? For now Sohrab is forced to live in an orphanage, he is upset about this. The chapter ends with Soraya screaming.
 * __5/30/08__ Chapters 23-24**

PASSAGE MASTER "No one told him," I said. "No one told me either. I just found out recently." -This passage was particularly important because for the first time it clears things up with Sohrab and his confusion as to who Amir is.

SUMMARY After realizing he cant stay with Amir and is forced to go to an orphanage, Sohrab cuts himself. The chapter begins with Sohrab in the hospital. Sohrab is so badly injured that Amir isnt allowed to even see him. In the hospital, maybe for the first time in the book, Amir places a blanket on the floor towards the west and prays to allah. Sohrab is alright. Amir takes Sohrab to America to go to an American orphanage. Sohrab no longer speaks. At this point in the book the United States twin towers have fallen from terrorist attacks. Amir and Soraya try to help their family and friends in Afghanistan. The couple brings Sohrab to celebrate the Afghan new year. The last scene depicts a kite flying event and Amir and Sohrab run kites together, Amir shows Sohrab tricks and the two have a fun time together, the scene reminds Amir of the times of himself and Hassan running kites together as children.
 * __5/31/08__ Chapter 25**