Gabe's Response to Natalie's Reaction

I agree with Natalie on the fact that one event can't possibly mend a strained relationship between father and son. Although perhaps it provided Amir with a breif respite from the guilt that is tormenting him. It quickly became clear that he must face his problems on his own. Although I agree with Natalie on sympathizing with Amir a bit due to the guilt he so clearly feels , I find it infuriating on how he goes about coping with his guilt .The fact that he threw pomegranates at Hassan is understandable but deeply saddening and I attribute his juvenile coping methods with his similarly young age. No child should have to deal with that amount of guilt at such a young age and it sounds like Amir needs a therapist however the foreshadowing in the book tells me he won't be getting one any time soon.

Kite Runner Reaction 3

The last few chapters of the Kite Runner have been really intense. Amir is tormented with the guilt and amazingly develops insomnia at a very young age. This made me sympathize with Amir a bit because it is very obvious that he feels awful about what he did to Hassan. I found it interesting how Amir resents Hassan for his unwavering loyalty and it seems his resentment only intensifies as the story moves forward. Amir continues to seek his father's approval and savors the praise given to him for winning the kite tournament. It was sad to see that his father slowly lose interest in the fact that his son won a kite running tournament and things go back to "normal".The actions of Amir's father were rather predictable however I for one was hoping for Baba to finally open his eyes to the damage he is doing to the relationship with his son , perhaps with the help of Rahim Khan.My hatred Assef was greatly intensified in these chapters and when it became clear that Assef is smart enough to deceive those around him and intimidate his parents into obeying his wishes, I began to think only awful things can come next in the Kite Runner concerning Assef. The fact that he  jovially joked with Hassan at Amir's party was deeply unsettling. What I look forward to in the Kite Runner is hopefully that the issue will be addressed between Hassan and Amir. I hope that Amir's guilt drives him to confront Hassan directly and ask for his forgiveness.Given the events so far I doubt any closure will come so soon in the book ; However, I look foward to seeing  where Hosseini will take the story from here.

Raoul’s Response to Kaylee’s Reaction

Kaylee, honestly Amir’s actions did not surprise me. We already knew that Amir was selfish, and that Amir was jealous of Hassan. He probably had an unconscious hatred for Hassan. But his actions did truly confirm our assumption that Amir was a coward and a terrible friend. I agree that the worst part, is that Amir consciously knows that he is doing the wrong thing; however, he continued to do it, by doing nothing. It is crazy to think that doing nothing is evil. But it truly is clear that what Amir did during the raping of Hassan was evil. I think the quote you found could not be more perfect for defining Amir’s actions (I like how it was from mean girls J). I think that it is hard to hate Amir mostly because he is our protagonist. I don’t believe that Amir deserves the intense pain and remorse that he is feeling. I also believe that it is interesting that a single moment has transformed the life of not only Amir but also the life of Hassan. Within a few minutes there lives would never be the same. I also think that Amir should try to help Hassan after the event; however, I believe Amir was only making matters worse. Hassan needs a friend and Amir is now turning his shoulder to Hassan. This is truly sad to see. 

Kaylee's Reaction to Alex

Like Alex, I agree that Hassan’s social rank has played a major role in determining his destiny. In the book a comparison can be drawn from the sheep that is sacrificed by the mullah as apart of the celebration of Eid-e-Qorban. During the slaughter of the sheep, Amir always watches, unable to look away. He watches because of the look the sheep has it in its eyes seconds before it is killed, acceptance. I think that that is also one of the reasons Amir is unable to turn away during Hassan’s rape. He has this strange fascination with the will of Hassan and the acceptance he has for his life and destiny.

            An interesting point that Alex points out is that following the rape; Hassan spends most of his time sleeping, while Amir becomes an insomniac. Hassan finds an escape in his dreams, preferring to spend his time immersed in sleep. Meanwhile, Amir is kept awake by the gravity of his guilt and feeling of emptiness, all of which he deserves completely. It is also important to address Amir’s defense mechanism in dealing with Hassan. He embraces the saying, “Out of site, out of mind” and tries to avoid Hassan at all costs. Sooner or later, these problems will have to be addressed. 

Natalie's Response to Ryan C

            Like Ryan I believe that the longer Amir tries to forget the incident, and tries to bury it deeper, the harder it is going to be on him. When he is going to sleep one night he says out loud that he witnessed Hassan get raped, he says this because he can no longer suppress the guilt of what he let happen and needs to tell someone. Saying this out loud to no one but himself does not really make Amir feel better, he needs to talk to Hassan about it or at least to someone else. In the end the only way for him to get closure will be by discussing it with Hassan and riding himself of this burden, but I think that he will never completely rid himself of the guilt because in the end he let it happen. I believe with Ryan that Baba’s new relationship with Amir is another burden for him because he is constantly reminded of what happened. Baba is proud of Amir for winning the kite flying competition and repeats the story to all his family and friends, each time he repeats it Amir has to relive what he let happen and suffer through the guilt all over again. Also I think that Amir begins to see that this relationship with his father will not last forever. Hopefully Amir will be able to apologize to Hassan, or at least be there for him because it is now when he needs him most.

Natalie's Reaction

A lot changed in this chapter of The Kite Runner. Amir believed that his relationship with Baba would forever remain positive and exactly how he had envisioned it, but now he realizes that this is not the case. This makes sense and it was exactly what I believed would have happened because one event would never be able to completely change how a person sees you and how they feel about you. At first Baba does everything Amir had believed they would do together, but then slowly it starts to change. Rather then wanting to go with Amir alone to Jalalabad, he wants to invite Hassan and later he ends up inviting almost 20 people. I think Amir begins to realize that things are changing, and he realizes that what he let happen to Hassan was a mistake. In this section I began to stop hating Amir a bit. He clearly feels bad about what happened with Hassan, and mostly that he did not say anything to stop it. I guess now there is nothing he can do to change it, but I feel like he really misses his friendship with Hassan. I have many questions regarding Hassan. I am still wondering whether or not Hassan knows that Amir saw him, hopefully this will get resolved later in the novel because it changes a lot about Hassan and Amir’s relationship. I feel like Baba has a strange relationship with Hassan and his father. For some reason he cares a lot for Hassan, maybe it is because he grew up with Hassan’s father or maybe it is a different reason, but it is important to note. When Amir asks Hassan to go up to the hill and under the pomegranate tree I thought it was because he was ready to be friends with Hassan again, but clearly the events that transpired proved otherwise. I think Amir threw the pomegranates at Hassan because he wanted him to fight back because he felt so guilty over what happened. Amir wants to stop feeling guilty, and for this to happen he needs Hassan to throw the pomegranates at him. Obviously Hassan does not throw the pomegranate at Amir because he cares about him too much and instead hits it against his head. I feel really bad for Hassan because he is so nice and cares about Amir so much yet in the time that Hassan needs Amir most he is not there for him.

Juan's response to Raoul's blog

I agree with Raoul on the fact that this book is in fact very black and white. Hosseini does not attempt to hide any of the facts and tells the story as it is. I believe, like Raoul, that this does have a lot to do with the fact that the book is so powerful. The fact that Hosseini is so realistic and straightforward in his writing is what makes it relatable. When, as a reader, you can relate to the story, the story reaches you on a deeper level. This is what made this book so powerful, and in Raoul’s words, so good.

            On the other hand, I disagree with Raoul on the fact that Hassan and Amir are foils of each other. I think that you must analyze their situations independently due to the circumstances. I do agree that Amir has proven himself to be a coward and selfish, and that Hassan has proven himself loyal as well as powerful, but at the same time, these are not foils of each other.

            Finally, I completely agree with Raoul on the fact that Amir’s party was a very frustrating scene. While writing my blog, I also mentioned the fact that I wished I could enter the book and do something about the situation. I believe this is also due to the previously stated fact that the book is very relatable, and thus all the more powerful.

Raoul’s Response to pages 75-100 of The Kite Runner

All over our copy of The Kite Runner there are quotes about the book. Most of them are saying that The Kite Runner is a powerful book. But I believe powerful is an understatement for the intensity of The Kite Runner. There is no way of being ignorant when reading The Kite Runner, everything is disillusioned; nothing is hidden. Khaled Hosseini wrote The Kite Runner in the straightest forward way, using no euphemisms; he portrays how truly bad it can get. For me this is what makes The Kite Runner such a good book.

During pages 75-100 the characters of The Kite Runner are suffering the psychological consequences of an event that accord in the prior installment. For me it is interesting to investigate the how Hassan and Amir respond. I believe that Hassan and Amir are foils of each other, especially in their responses to the event. Hassan the direct victim, who lost his innocence, was willing to move on, after a while. He wanted to be friends with Amir again. On the other hand, Amir, the guilty bystander, was not willing to move on. The guilt that Amir contained destroyed his relationship between him and his best friend. Even after Hassan’s repeated attempts to re-friend Amir, Amir rejected Hassan out of guilt. In the face of this challenge we can see Amir and Hassan’s true colors. Amir has proven repeatedly that he is a coward and that he is selfish. On the other hand, Hassan has proven to powerful and loyal. I feel as if Hassan’s power and loyalty makes Amir even more mad, this is why Amir threw the fruits at Hassan.

In the last scene of the last installment it is Amir’s birthday party and Assef, the perpetrator shows up with his parents. This was is one of the most frustrating scenes in the book for me because I wanted to go into the novel and punch Assef in the face (but obviously I cant L). The installment ended with Hassan serving Assef drinks like a loyal servent. This was one of the most painful things to read, because Assef ruined Hassan’s life; however, Hassan has accepted his life as a servant.

So far I am loving The Kite Runner not only because it is much easier than Atlas Shrugged but also because it is an amazing novel. 

Alex's Comment to Kaylee's Reaction

     Kaylee, I agree that things take a turn for the worse. The kite competition brings honor and happiness, however it is only temporary. Remember that Amir did not win the tournament alone, he was able to win with the help of Hassan. It is rewarding to see his efforts and his determination finally pay off, but this is all shattered after he witnesses the rape of his best friend. I feel that Amir’s failure to intervene was a result of his own insecurities and cowardice. In fact, I don’t think the situation would have been any better if Amir had decided to intervene. Running away was his only way of dealing with the situation at the moment. It is truly traumatizing for both Hassan and Amir. I think that we forget to picture Amir’s point of view as a witness because our sympathy towards Hassan gets in the way. Yes Kaylee, I do feel that Amir has a grudge against Hassan as a result of his envy, however, I do not think it is so great that he would want to see him endure rape. 

     I think it is harsh to say that Amir is evil. It is clear that his longing for affection from Baba comes first above all, however, he still values his friendship with Hassan at times. I feel that you are forgetting the trauma that Amir endured in witnessing the rape of his best friend and how everyone copes with trauma differently. Amir chooses to isolate himself because seeing Hassan will bring up the feelings of guilt and disgust he feels for not having done anything. In other words, Amir is not completely emotionless. He feels regret, however, I would understand his reaction to "flight" in this fight-or-flight situation. 

Juan's Kite Runner Reaction pgs 60-100

            In these last 40 pages read much has happened. Essentially, the whole story has been set up with these past 40 pages. To begin, of course, Hosseini introduces what is meant to be Amir’s greatest moment. Hosseini adeptly establishes a correlation between Amir winning the kite-flying tournament and winning his father’s love. I think Hosseini does a great job with this because he constantly reminds the reader of the fact that Amir is attempting to win his father over and that this is the most important thing to him. When Amir does win the tournament, everyone is ecstatic. His confidence and self-esteem are soaring and his relationship with his father seems to be at a high point. Hosseini then quickly turns the story around with a plot twist as Hassan is raped when running down the kite. I believe that Hosseini did an incredibly good job with this, as I was truly drawn into the story and when Amir was not reacting to the fact that Hassan was getting raped for his sake I became upset at the fact that I was unable to do anything about the situation. As a reader, you feel like you are part of the story. In a way, because Hosseini writes his story in such a relatable fashion, it is almost as if I can see myself in Amir. To expand on the idea that Hosseini writes a relatable story, I mean that Hosseini makes his story very realistic and logical. In other words, all of Amir’s actions, thoughts, and feelings I could see taking place in real life. For example, the fact that Amir shows jealousy whenever Baba acknowledges Hassan, while frowned upon, is actually quite understandable. Amir wants his Father’s love and the fact that Hassan more readily earns it, even though he is a Hazara and a servant, gets to him. Subsequently, Amir acts aggressively towards Hassan despite the fact that Hassan has shown undying loyalty towards him. While this drives me crazy as I read it, I can also understand Amir’s point of view. Personally, I would rather bear the pain that Asseff would inflict upon me than the guilt that Amir is feeling, but Amir’s thought process makes sense. Amir wants Hassan to lash out at him, feeling that there is no other way him and Hassan will be even. This far, I love the book. It is captivating and easy to read. I look forward to reading the rest.

Sharon's Response to Ryan P.'s Reaction

         Like Ryan, there are numerous instances in which I feel frustrated about how Amir acted, or rather did not act, yet at the same time, I sympathize for him because all his actions stem from the desire to be accepted and loved unconditionally by his own father, who treats him harshly. Additionally, I thought it was interesting that Ryan mentioned Amir’s age, as it was something I had also previously forgotten until I realized the birthday party meant Amir was turning 13; I cannot imagine myself at 13 years old making decisions that would last a lifetime. In particular, for privileged Amir who has never worried about anything except playing and trying to gain his father’s love, it seems immature yet reasonable for his age to be unsure and frustrated at his own feelings, acting in a way that vents these emotions. However, I am in no way saying that Amir’s actions are acceptable; rather, it is only understandable that he acted rashly as controlling his feelings may have been hard at that age.
         My reactions to the passages were also the same as Ryan. I was consistently frustrated, saddened, or just plain emotional, so much so that I did not know how to adequately form these feelings into short annotations on the side. One such situation, like Ryan felt as well, was Assef’s appearance at the party. The very fact that he gives Amir a seemingly thoughtful gift –‘one of his favorite’ books- in front of Baba, only for Amir to open it in private and see it is one about Hitler, speaks volumes of Assef’s twisted character. I cannot help but think that his parents know what he did to Hassan, as Amir mentioned Assef’s mother seemed to want to say something, but withheld it.

Alex's 3rd Reaction to The Kite Runner

     As I had pointed out in my previous reaction, the division of the social classes in Afghanistan ultimately plays a role in Hassan’s destiny. Amir’s initial instinct to “throw Hassan under the bus” in the first scene with the bullies is a foreshadowing of what occurs throughout these next 40 pages of The Kite Runner. 

     The reading started of light, depicting vivid details of the day of the tournament and Amir’s victory. That day, Amir’s primary thought was retrieving the kite and picturing the face of approval from Baba, however the image of Hassan’s corduroy pants lying on the floor and Amir’s refusal to help would haunt him for the rest of his life. Amir’s reaction towards Hassan’s rape did not surprise me, after all, fetching the blue kite was his first priority. He was able to gain Baba’s love temporarily, and as a result, lost his best friend. 

     Their friendship will never remain the same. I feel that even if Amir decided to intervene, it would remain so. The two cope with the trauma differently and separately. Hassan is able to sleep, in fact, he sleeps too much and Amir suffers from insomnia because he is haunted by his thoughts. Retreating back to the instincts of referring to Hassan as his servant, Amir is able to create this boundary around the trauma as a kind of emotional protection mechanism and distance himself from the situation. 

     The following 40 pages of The Kite Runner have determined much of what I believe will comprise the rest of the novel. The references or flashbacks made by Amir’s older self in the first couple pages of the novel are now clear and perhaps the rest of the book will depict the changes in his relationship with Hassan (if any) and how he will continue to cope with the incident throughout the years. 

Kaylee's Third Reaction

In the next section of The Kite Runner, things take a turn for the worse. Amir wins the kite competition, bringing him great honor and happiness. Seeing Amir work hard through the competition and take the victory in the end is rewarding as a reader because he finally gets what he so strongly desired. However, his pride and happiness is only temporary as a result of Hassan’s rape.  I was shocked to read that Amir failed to intervene on the malicious attack from Assef. The scene is truly heartbreaking. From the minute Amir approaches Hassan in the alley, his eyes are locked on the precious blue kite, aka “the key to Baba’s heart”. Amir is paralyzed by the situation and unable to help Hasssan or walk away.  Amir is a coward of a man and terrible friend. I believe that Amir failed to intervene for two reasons – one because he is ashamed to defend a Hazara and the other is a dark part of him wanted Hassan endure the pain to weaken his good spirit. Amir is well aware that he is wrongful in his doing; all he can do is stand there.

            “There are two kinds of evil people in this world. Those who do evil stuff and those who see evil stuff being done and don't try to stop it.” (Janice Ian, Mean Girls) I would like to consider Amir evil. I really want to because I just hate him for not helping Hassan, but I can’t. I think that his desire for Baba’s love and the division of class rank between the boys are deciding factors in Amir’s inability to help Hassan. Amir tries to justify the situation, but cannot get past the remorse and how f**ked up it was. His pride from obtaining the kite and connection to Baba is short-lived, as it should be.  Amir deserves the intense pain and disgust in himself that he is feeling. The events that follow highlight the power of guilt and remorse that Amir feels. That single moment has transformed Amir’s life into sh*t. He is unable to enjoy things like he used to and him and Hassan’s relationship has been ruined. It breaks my heart to see Hassan after the rape. His spirit has been beaten down and changed him forever. I hate Amir for disconnecting Hassan from his life and causing him more pain than he hasn’t already experienced. This aspect pisses me off. Its like Amir you f**ked up his life, so why don’t you dedicate yours to making his better, instead of making it worse. Amir so desperately wants to justify his actions and get Hassan to act out violently on him or get Amir back, but Hassan is just too good a person. He accepts his life, he accepts his troubles and he lives on. 

Ryan C's response to Ciara's Reaction

I agree with Ciara that in this section Amir become completely consumed by his guilt. Also, I do think Amir is more upset with himself than anyone else could hate him. He strove for a relationship with his father and was given that opportunity at the cost of a person who basically acted like a father figure to Amir, like Ciara pointed out. Hassan provides emotional stability, physical protection, and unconditional love all of which Amir wanted from his father. Like Ciara, I think it was absolutely true that Amir needs Hassan; Amir needs someone to always be there for him, which Amir was not able to do for Hassan, which is truly tragic. Although, Amir does feel guilty and is disappointed with himself, Amir is still selfish after the incident. Hassan must be going through a more difficult time than Amir no matter how guilty Amir feels. Hassan was the victim of an extremely traumatic experience and has no one to talk to, no one to support him and tell him it’s going to be ok. Amir is the only person who could do that because he witnessed what happened. It would be difficult, almost impossible, for Hassan to go to someone and tell them what Assef did to him. On top of that, from Hassan’s perspective, his best friend no longer talks to him and he does not know why; I feel very bad for Hassan.