Irony

I noticed a lot of irony while reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.  Although it was evident in the whole novel, I noticed it most when Amir confronts Assef for Sohrab.  First, it was ironic that Amir ended up being the one who needed rescuing.  Sohrab had to injure Assef to save Amir.  It was ironic that Sohrab felt guilty for hurting his captor.  At one point, he said "I'm so dirty and full of sin (page 319)."  Sohrab, although he was rescued and saved Amir's life, feels guilty.  Again, there is irony when Amir finds out that his lip was split in half by Assef so that it resembled Hassan's harelip.  This irony continues for much of the novel.  Ultimately, it goes to show that things never happen as expected.  Things never went well for Amir; however, as he learns to fight for love and redemption, his life begins to change for the better.  This helps to show the themes of the novel and also proves that the past, no matter how terrible, never eliminates all hope for a better future.

The Suspense is Killing Me!!!

While reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, I had trouble putting the book down.  The entire book had a certain suspense that left me wanting to know what would happen next.  This was in part caused  by Hosseini's narrative style.  His use of first person point of view allows him to present Amir as a link between the past and present.  Because Amir is telling this story from the present, he often makes comments that "tease" the reader by hinting at what is to come.  This was never more clear than when Hassan tries to commit suicide.  At that point, all Amir said was "I pushed the door open.... Suddenly I was on my knees, screaming....  Later, they said I was still screaming when the ambulance arrived (p 343)."  He leaves out all detail of Hassan's injuries until page 347.  This part of the book caused extreme suspense.  While it was much more prevalent there than any other part of the novel, suspense was still present throughout the story.

Themes

Now that I have finished reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, I have noticed certain themes.  In the novel, regret, redemption, and love are often portrayed.  Regret is manifested in Baba's affair with Sanauber and his secret son Hassan.  It is most prevalent as a theme of the novel in Amir's regret for letting Hassan get raped, as he faces this guilt for almost all of the story.  Redemption is present in Baba's many charitable works and again mostly in Amir's quest to rescue Sohrab.  Rahim Khan's phrase, "There is a way to be good again, (pg. 1) is repeated throughout the novel to emphasize this theme.  Redemption is probably the biggest theme of the novel, as the story revolves around Amir's search for redemption.  Love is the last prominent theme of the novel.  It is shown through Baba's divided love for his two sons.  It is shown in Ali and Hassan's loyal service.  It is also shown in the relationship between Amir and Soraya.  Ultimately, love is at its height in the novel when Amir risks all he has to save Sohrab.

Foreshadowing

In The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, there are many instances of foreshadowing.  Amir's narration from the "future" allows him to comment on the past and give the reader insights toward the action.  On page 275, Amir says "I popped another one in, unaware that it would be the last bit of solid food I would eat for a long time."  This foreshadows the terrible injuries he receives from Assef.  On page 313, he foreshadows Sohrab's prolonged silence saying "almost a year would pass before I would hear Sohrab speak another word."  In all of these instances, Amir's insight from the "future" gives the reader hints.  There are countless other times where he does the same thing.  Amir's frequent addresses to the reader are characteristic of the novel.  This keeps the novel suspenseful and moving at a good pace.  Personally, this method of writing kept me engaged the entire time I was reading.

Similes

In The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini uses many similes to describe Amir's emotions.  I already mentioned one example, where he describes pouring rain as melting silver, in a previous blog.  Another powerful example of simile in the novel can be found on page 189.  Hosseini wrote: "And I could almost fell the emptiness in Soraya's womb, like it was a living, breathing thing....  And late at night, in the darkness of our room, I'd feel it rising from Soraya and settling between us.  Sleeping between us.  Like a newborn child."  This simile not only describes Amir's sorrow at not being able to have a child, but it also show the effect it has on their relationship.  The couple that had been so in love now seems to be drifting apart.  Both of them are finding the situation difficult to deal with.  I think this simile might also foreshadow future relationship problems.  This inability to have a child could lead to a distancing in their relationship and eventually divorce.  I'll have to keep reading to find out.

Amir & Soraya

In The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Amir and his wife Soraya are very similar.  They share many circumstances which double as themes of the novel.  The first of these similarities is that they both love to read.  While this is more superficial, it does explain one of the reasons they make a great couple.  On a deeper level, they share regret for past mistakes.  Soraya ran off with a man in Virginia and Amir let Hassan get raped.  In this instance, the difference is that Amir doesn't ever tell anyone his secret. This explains why he is never truly happy while Soraya can move on with her life.  "But I think a big part of the reason I didn't care about Soray's oast was that I had one of my own.  I knew all about regret (p180)."  Additionally, the two are both very proud of their career aspirations.  Soraya and Amir both faced criticism from their parents but continued their studies.  Most recently in the novel, they are joined by their mourning for not being able to have a child.  I think these three similarities, regret, pride, and sorrow, are all themes of the novel stressed by Amir and Soraya's relationship.

Baba and Amir: foil characters?

While reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, many parts of the story seem to set up Amir and his father Baba as foil characters.  While I'm not quite sure if they are, they certainly differ greatly in their behaviors and opinions.  First, Baba is very successful   As a child, he was very successful, winning at everything and working his way to the top of the social ladder.  We also know that he loves to throw big parties.  Amir, on the other hand, is shy and is not popular at all.  In fact, he is often picked on by other kids.  Baba loves sports while Amir has no interest in them whatsoever.  Amir is a pushover, while Baba is very set and strong in his beliefs.  For instance, he refuses to receive welfare in America saying "In Afghanistan I work, in America I work.  Thank you very much Mrs. Dobbins, but I don't like it free money (p 129)." At many times in America, Amir and Baba see things differently, like when Baba refuses chemotherapy.  In the end, however, they are happy with each other, and I think Baba becomes a role model for Amir.

Irony & Imagery

There was a lot going on from a literary standpoint at the part of the The Kite Runner (by Khaled Hosseini) when Ali decides that he and Hassan needed to leave.  First, there is irony in the fact that Amir set up Hassan to be kicked out of the house by planting his gifts in their hut.  Instead, the opposite happens when Baba forgives them and asks them to stay, almost favoring Hassan over Amir.  When they insist on leaving and the Amir begins to describe their departure, Hosseini uses imagery to describe the sorrowful season.  "Slithering beads of rain sluiced down my window....  I stepped back and all I saw was rain through windowpanes that looked like melting silver (p 108, 109)."  This imagery makes good use of darkness and rain, archetypal symbols for sadness and mourning.  Similarly, Amir's likening the rain to melting silver recognizes the value of Hassan's friendship that is being lost.  The ultimate effect is that the reader senses how much this memory disturbs Amir.  It also points out the great friendship that Amir is losing.  It is one of the saddest scenes in the book so far.