First Reaction to Kite Runner

        I can tell that I’m going to enjoy reading this book no matter how heartbreaking it seems as if it’ll be. From the start, Hosseini has created a vivid image of the characters and society they live in, threading the details through Amir’s innocent point of view. It’s clear that Amir and Hassan are childhood friends, yet Amir always belittles the latter. This is particularly striking to me because Amir factually thinks Hassan is beneath him as a conditioned statement in his life; he knows it’s due to social class, religion and ethnicity, yet doesn’t actually understand the meaning behind it. For example, Amir’s daily school mornings when Hassan makes his breakfast and bed for him, and then stays at home while Amir drives off to school –underneath the fun they have together, Hassan will always be the servant to Amir and it’s something both don’t question. Their childhood innocence is the only thing keeping them close as brothers and friends.
        I’m also conflicted because Amir’s jealousy towards Hassan makes it difficult to pinpoint his personality. Amir may be spoiled and mean-spirited, but his contempt is because Hassan has the one thing he will never: a father’s unconditional love. Amir understands Baba will never be proud of him, but I was shocked that he thought it normal for ‘fathers in their secret hearts harbor a desire to kill their sons’. For this reason, Amir’s character is marred by rejection and jealousy, constantly feeling like a failure; he demeans and holds his literacy as power over Hassan because it makes himself feel less unworthy.
        I’m looking forward to reading further; in particular, I would like to know what happens that makes Amir mention forebodingly that the future of his and Hassan’s lives seem connected to the first words they uttered as babies: “Amir” by Hassan, and “Baba” by Amir.