-
Amir is Born
In the beginning of the novel, we learn about the stories of Hassan and Amir's births. Amir explains, "It was there, in that little shack, that Hassan was born in . . . 1964, just one year after my mother died giving birth to me" (Hosseini 6). This signifies the beginning of the novel and starts the adventure of Amir's life. However, Amir's mother is killed giving birth to Amir, causing Amir to be raised without a loving motherly figure in his life. -
Hassan is Born
We learn from Amir that Hassan is a year younger than him. On page 6 Hosseini writes, "It was there, in that little shack, that Hassan was born in . . . 1964, just one year after my mother died giving birth to me." By learning Hassan was born in a small shack, he is already forced into a life of poverty and servantship, even at the moment is brought into the world. In addition, by Amir being older, he holds more power over Hassan along with his control of Hassan having to serve him. -
Amir, Hassan, and Ali Hear the Beginning of the War
One night, Amir, Hassan, and Ali all awake to hear gunfire in the distance. Hosseini writes on page 36, "The shootings and explosions had lasted less than an hour, but still had frightened us badly, because none of us had ever heard gunshots in the streets. They were foreign sounds to us then." Here the author uses foreshadowing with the shootings and explosions. While this was new for the characters then, the sounds would soon be familiar with the war. -
Amir Wins Kite Competition
Amir wins the Kite Competition with the help of Hassan. Amir thinks to himself, "Then I was screaming, and everything was color and sound, everything was alive and good. I was throwing my free arm around Hassan and we were hopping up and down, both of us laughing, both of us weeping. 'You won, Amir agha! You won!'" (Hosseini 66). Amir has always dreamt of winning the kite tournament, and he and Hassan have finally succeeded. This bonds the two boys and is a happy memory before a tragic event. -
Hassan is Raped by Assef
After waiting for Hassan to return with the blue kite, Amir goes to look for him and finds him cornered in an alley with Assef and his two friends. As Amir looks around he sees "Hassan's brown corduroy pants thrown on a heap of eroded bricks" (Hosseini 75). This traumatic event was terrifying for Amir to witness, especially to see it happen to his best friend. After a happy moment of victory at the kite tournament, this horrific event occurs, scarring Amir and Hassan for life. -
Amir's 13th Birthday Party
Amir turns 13 and Baba throws a birthday party for him, but it is full of people Amir doesn't know, showing the party is more about Baba than it is Amir. Hosseini writes, "I remember scanning over the invitation list a week before my birthday party and not recognizing at least three quarters of the four hundred" (94). Amir is very upset that he doesn't get to spend his birthday alone with Baba. Had he not won the kite tournament, Amir believes Baba would not have thrown the party. -
Soviet Union Invades Afghanistan
Almost 40 years ago, the country of Afghanistan was invaded by the Soviet Union. The New York Times writes, "Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, has known little peace since 1979, when the Soviet Union invaded." -
Amir and Baba Leave Kabul
After Hassan and Ali leave, the novel moves ahead by 5 years, showing how Amir and Baba are now fleeing from Kabul. Amir explains, "[We were going] to Jalalabad, about 170 kilometers southeast of Kabul, where . . . [we were] waiting to drive across the Khyber Pass and into Peshawar" (Hosseini 111). The author shows how their lives go downhill once Ali and Hassan leave. They lost their best friends, and they must now lose their home. -
Amir and Soraya Get Married
Amir makes many efforts to win over General Taheri, and eventually he is so close with the General Amir is given permission to marry Soraya. When reflecting on the wedding, Amir explains, "I remember sitting on the sofa, set on the stage like a throne, Soraya's hand in mine, as three hundred or so faces looked on" (Hosseini 171). For the first time after leaving Afghanistan, Amir is truly happy. He now gets to celebrate his Afghan traditions and is proud of his wife and heritage. -
Baba is Diagnosed with Cancer
After being sick for a long time, Baba is finally diagnosed with cancer. Amir thinks to himself, "It turned out that, like Satan, cancer had many names. Baba's was called 'Oat Cell Carcinoma.' Advanced. Inoperable" (Hosseini 156). For Amir's entire life, Baba was always the strong one and never got sick. However, now Amir has to take care of Baba while his cancer slowly kills him, which is exactly the opposite of what Amir's childhood consisted of. -
Baba Dies
Only a month after Amir and Soraya get married, Baba unfortunately passes away from his cancer. After a family dinner "Baba asked [Soraya and Amir] to help him into bed . . . He asked [Soraya and Amir] to lean in, gave [them] each a kiss . . . [They] closed the door. Baba never woke up" (Hosseini 173). Throughout the novel, Baba always seems to be a powerful and strong figure, but his illness ultimately weakens and kills him. However, his remaining strength lets him watch Amir get married. -
Final Soviet Troops Leave Afghanistan
After 10 years of holding control in Afghanistan, the Soviet Union finally agreed to remove all troops from the nation. This agreement was only met "after peace talks moderated by the United Nations, [when] the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989" (New York Times 2). -
Soraya Becomes a Teacher
At the beginning of Chapter 14, the book jumps forward in time to 2001. The novel describes Soraya "half-correcting essay from her summer-school class--she'd been teaching at the same school now for six years" (Hosseini 190). After a long-time disagreement with her family, Soraya finally achieves her goal of becoming a teacher. This has been a dream of hers since she was a child, and now she finally is able to help others learn every day. -
The Taliban Gains Power of Afghanistan
Only 7 years after the Soviet troops left, the Taliban has accumulated power over Afghanistan. The New York Times reports, "Buoyed by Pakistani aid, the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan, imposing strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law." -
Hamid Karzai is Named Interim President of Afghanistan
Late in 2001, a relative of former king Mohammad Zahir Shah is announced to be in control of the Afghanistan government for a temporary period of time. The New York Times reports, "Hamid Karzai, a supporter and relative of Mohammad Zahir Shah, the former exiled king of Afghanistan, was named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban, making him the leader of the country." -
Sohrab Saves Amir
While Amir and Assef are fighting, they hear "'Bas.' A thin voice. [Amir and Assef] both look . . . Sohrab had the slingshot pointed to Assef's face . . . The slingshot made a thwiiiiit sound when Sohrab released the cup. [Assef] put his hand where his left eye had been just a moment ago . . . [Amir and Sohrab] made it outside, into daylight" (Hosseini 290). At the first fight, Hassan was able to save Amir. Now, Hassan's own son saved Amir with a slingshot, just like his father. -
Sohrab comes to America
After many weeks, Amir and Sohrab are finally able to come. Amir describes that "Soraya had turned the study upstairs into a bedroom for Sohrab. . . The sheets showed brightly colored kites flying in indigo blue skies . . . Soraya asked if he liked his room . . . Sohrab lowered his head. Hid his hands under his thighs and said nothing" (Hosseini 358). Sohrab is still depressed, even after getting to come to America. Amir's promise came true, but Sohrab still misses his family and Afghanistan. -
Assef Fights Amir
As Amir is reflecting on the fight he had with Assef, he thinks, "I remember this: [Assef's] brass knuckles flashing in the afternoon light; how cold they felt with the first few blows and how quickly they warmed with my blood . . . Getting hurled against the wall. The knuckles shattering my jaw. Choking on my own teeth, swallowing them" (Hosseini 288). After all these years, Assef and Amir finally battle one-on-one. Hassan originally was there to stop the fight, but now Amir is on his own. -
Sohrab Attempts to Commit Suicide
Amir tells Sohrab he may have to return to an orphanage before going to America. Amir "stepped into the bathroom. . . [He saw] the water drops dripping from the faucet and landing with a plink into the bloody bathwater, the left arm dangling over the side of the tub, the blood-soaked razor sitting on the toilet tank . . . and [Sohrab's] eyes, still half open" (Hosseini 343). Amir breaks his promise to Sohrab. Having to go to an orphanage makes him feels as if life is not worth living. -
The World Trade Center is Attacked
In early fall of 2001, the World Trade Center was destroyed by a terrorist attack in New York City. President at the time "George W. Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr. bin Laden" (New York Times 3). -
General Petraeus Commands Troops In Afghanistan
General Petraeus was an Iraq commander who was very successful in the surge in Iraq, encouraging the United States to give him the new position. General Petraeus "had taken charge of United States Central Command in October 2008, with responsibility for military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and across the region" (New York Times 4). -
George Bush Sends Extra Troops
In September of 2008, United States President George Bush "sends an extra 4,500 US troops to Afghanistan" (BBC News). -
Obama Announces Deployment of Troops in Afghanistan
On December 1, 2009, President Obama told the press that there would be a new deployment of troops in Afghanistan. Barack Obama "announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops" (New York Times 4). -
India and Afghanistan Sign Partnership
According to BBC News, "as relations with Pakistan worsen[ed] after a series of attacks, Afghanistan and India sign[ed] a strategic partnership to expand co-operation in security and development." -
President Obama Announces Troops to Remain in Afghanistan
In the summer of 2016, President Barack Obama announced that "8,400 US troops [would] remain in Afghanistan into 2017" (BBC News).