Monday, January 8, 2007

After reading

The author begins and ends the novel with Amir's favorite pastime, kite flying. At the novel's beginning, Amir, while looking for Hassan who is "running" his kite, witnesses a horrible tragedy. At the conclusion of the novel, Amir is once again flying kites, this time with Hassan's son. Why do you think he chooses to bookend the novel with kite flying?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think the ending is an obvious example of closure. This moment lets Amir reedem himself by being a real friend to the son of the friend he betrayed. I think it really brought the past and present together in this one instance and I think it was a very good place to end, but overall I wasn't happy with the ending. I felt like he needed to explain how Amir and Sohrab get along and how they grow together or apart.

Anonymous said...

I agree I think the author choose this ending because it is a great way to bring closure. I think overall the ending is slightly weaker than the rest of the book but I did like the way Amir was finally able to connect with Sohrab thorugh kite flying and running. And Amir saying the word "For you, a thousand times over" to Sohrab. The Afghani tradition of kite fighting and chasing the fallen kites serves as a metaphor: running away, coming back victorious; falls from grace; conflict, struggle, glory, but most of all, the play of children, the wounds of glass, the teamwork required.