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Baba is born
In the book, it states, "In 1933, the year Baba was born" (24). 1933 started Baba's legacy, which he continued to change. The fact that Baba was born before the Soviet or Taliban involvement changes his political perspective. -
Amir is born
In the book, Amir is born in, "1964, just one year before giving birth to [Amir]" (6). Amir is born in the summer of 1963 obviously being one year before 1964. At this point, Hassan is inexistent and the rift between them hasn't been constructed yet. -
Birth of Hassan
In the novel, Hassan, "was born in the winter of 1964" (6). Hassan is born in 1964 to Sanaubar along with the delusion of Ali being Hassan's father. This secret dies with the Baba, and the truth isn't discovered for decades. -
Hassan's cleft lip is repaired
In the winter of 1974, It was Hassan's birthday. When Hassan didn't see any wrapped gift or toy Baba said, "'I have summoned Dr. Kumar from New Delhi. Dr. Kumar is a plastic surgeon"'(Hosseini 45). in this quote, Baba shows his relationship with Hassan by paying for the surgery to fix his cleft lip. This quote is important because later on in the story when we find out that Baba is Hassan's father, we start to know why he did those things for Hassan. -
Beginning of s
The story begins with Amir's flashback to "a frigid overcast day on the winter of 1975. I remember the precise moment, crouching behind a crumbling mud wall, peeking into the alley near the frozen creek. That was a long time ago, but it's wrong what they say about the past, I've learned, about how you can bury it" (Hosseini 1). This is foreshadowing the events that will happen later in the story. The last sentence in particular hints the reader of future events in the story. -
Amir and Hassan's kite running interest is sparked
When the kite event was around the corner, the author says that "In the winter of 1975, I saw Hassan run a kite for the first time"(Hosseini 55). This was a very important event because not only did Amir and Hassan win the kite event, and spark an interest. Amir somewhat gained Baba's acceptance and faith that he could do "manly" activities which favored sports and didn't include writing or reading. -
Hassan is sexually assaulted in an alley
While Hassan was being raped, Amir thought, "I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan-the way he'd stood up for me all those times in the past- and accept whatever would happen to me. Or I could run. In the end, I ran"(Hosseini 77). In this situation, Amir is given the choice of intervening with the rape or not. Amir demonstrates his cowardice by fleeing the scene instead of helping. This is where the distance between Amir and Hassan is established, and dictates later events. -
Amir frames Hassan for stealing his birthday presents
It was Amir's birthday in the summer of 1976 where Amir had a party and received many gifts. After Amir put the gifts under Hassan's mattress, Baba asked, "Did you steal that money? Did you steal Amir's watch, Hassan?'...'Yes'"(Hosseini 105). Amir begins to carry out actions that he hopes will get a reaction from Hassan. He wants Hassan to be vengeful towards him so that he can feel atoned for his cowardice. -
Hassan and Ali leave
Amir realizes the damage that he had done when "Ali drew Hassan to him, curled his arm around his son's shoulder. It was a protective gesture and I knew whom Ali was protecting him from now -
Time of peace ends in Afghanistan
"Afghanistan, officially Islamic the Republic of Afghanistan, has known little peace since 1979" (New York Times). -
The Soviets invade Afghanistan
Thanks to the soviets, "The turmoil and extremism that have dominated it's history since can be traced back to the 1979 invasion" (New York Times). -
Amir and Baba escape Afghanistan
Russian tanks invaded Afghanistan "Bringing the death of Afghanistan I knew"(Hosseini 36). This marks the end of an era of moderate peace in Afghanistan and the beginning of decades of war and turmoil. The contemporary situation in Afghanistan becomes unsafe and precarious prompting Baba and Amir to flee their home country to the United States. -
Baba and Amir begin adjusting to their new lives in America
One day when Baba went to the store ran by mr. and mrs. Nguyen, Amir was, "flipping through a worn copy of a Mike Hammer mystery when I heard screaming and glass breaking. I dropped the book and hurried across the street" (Hosseini 127). Baba is not used to the stricter regulations in the United States, coming from a place where it was a lot more low key. He is furious when Mr. Nguyen asks for his I.D. when he'd been buying their merchandise for a long time. -
Amir produces his first story
Amir utilizes his interest in writing stories when finally, "In the summer of 1988, about six months before the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan, I finished my first novel, a father-son story in Kabul"(Hoesseini 182). This shows that Amir took up a job that he loved to do, with great influence from Rahim Khan. He did this even with the risk of disapproval from Baba -
Hassan and his wife are massacred by the Taliban
While Amir was talking to Rahim Khan, Amir found that "in 1988, [the taliban] massacred the Hazaras in Maza-i-Sharif"(Hosseini 213). This event left Sohrab homeless and without parents, landing him in a dreadful orphanage where everyday children were abducted by the Taliban. He later ended up in the possession of Assef, and most likely received sexual abuse, -
Withdrawal of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan
After negotiations, "The last Soviet troops left Afghanistan is 1989" (New York Times). -
Sohrab is born
After Hassan finds his mother, "Sanaubar who delivered Hassan's son that winter if 1990"(Hosseini 211). This event holds great significance because it represents major atonement. Sanaubar deliver's Hassan's son to make up for leaving Hassan, and the birth of Sohrab presents itself as an opportunity for Amir to atone his actions by taking care of Sohrab later in the story. -
Aftermath of Soviets leaving Afghanistan
In the time after the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan, "Power was anarchically divided among competing warlords and individual fiefdoms" (New York Times) -
Taliban take over of Afghanistan
The Taliban "by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan" (New York Times). -
Beginning of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan
The United States began it's involvement in Afghan affairs in 2001 when "it led an invasion after the sept. 11 attacks by Al Queda" (New York Times). -
Baba goes back to Afghanistan to search for Sohrab
Once Amir is presented with Sohrab, he realizes that Assef is now in a high ranking position with the Taliban. Assef says to Amir "I wonder why you've come all this way, Amir, come all this way for a Hazara? Why are you here?" (Hosseini 284). This quote highlights the sheer dedication that Amir has for atoning his childhood actions with Hassan. Amir sees Sohrab as a vehicle of opportunity to redeem himself for all the things he did to Hassan as a child. -
Sohrab arrives safely to Amir's house
When Sohrab and Amir arrived at their house in California, "Soraya had turned the study upstairs into a bedroom for Sohrab" (Hosseini 358). This displays the effort and energy that both Amir and Soraya had put into making Sohrab comfortable despite his prevailing mental struggles. Sohrab is still very much haunted by the horrendous events that have taken place in his life, so he doesn't say anything to neither Amir nor Soraya and decides to go to sleep speechless. -
9/11 attack on WTC
Al Queda carried out their "attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001" (New York Times). -
The Karzai government
Hamid Karzai "took office as interim president in June 2002" (New York Times). -
Obama announces addition of troops in Afghanistan
In 2009, President Obama "announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops" (New York Times). -
Osama Bin Laden death
On May 1, 2011, after years of searching for him, "Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, responsible for the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington, is killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan" (Cfr.org)