The Kite Runner Summary
5 min read ⌚
No matter how life turns out to be for you, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.
It’s never too late, to become a better person, and Khaled paves the way with hope and encouragement.
This is one way of recapping the story; you be the judge!
Who Should Read “The Kite Runner”? And Why?
This story shows you how a cowardice young man fearlessly embarked on a dangerous and noble mission to save a life. In all honesty, not many things are on the same humane wavelength as such actions.
“The Kite Runner” is an eye-opening novel, that we from the bottom of our hearts, recommend it to everyone.
Khaled Hosseini Biography
Khaled Hosseini is an Afghan-American novelist, whose work is widely acclaimed. So far, he has written 4 novels.
As an award-winning author, he abandoned medicine to become a full-time writer and storyteller.
Plot
Part I
It all starts with an introduction of the leading characters, Amir, the son of Baba, and a young Hazara boy Hassan, who is also a servant in the house. They spend most of their time playing and kite fighting. What separates Hassan from the rest of the kids, is his ability to locate where the defeated Kite will end, without even watching it going down.
All the action in the first part takes place in Kabul, Afghanistan – a city enriched with culture and tradition.
Amir’s father, also portrayed as Baba, despite being the owner of the house, he is also a wealthy merchant. On numerous occasions, he is critical of his son and extols the virtues of Hassan. Amir finds shelter in talking to Rahim Khan, Baba’s best friend, who encourages him to do the right thing.
Unlike Baba, Rahim emboldens Amir to continue writing his stories, despite Baba’s comments that such orientation is for girls only.
Every story has its evil end, and this one is no different. Assef, a sadistic, and violent young man, makes fun of Amir for hanging out with Hazara boy. He believes that Hazara people, like Hassan, are inferior and don’t belong to Afghanistan.
Hassan even manages to save Amir from the brutality of Assef, by warning him that if he doesn’t stop with the mocking, he’ll shoot him with a slingshot. Assef “withdraws” from the battle and swears up and down that one day, he will get his revenge.
One beautiful day in the city of Kabul, Amir finally earns Baba’s praises by winning in a local kite-flying tournament. Hassan so happy and excited about Amir’s victory runs to take his prize (the defeated kite in the last round). After finding the fallen kite, he bumps into Assef, who gives him two options:
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- To give him the kite
- To get beaten and ultimately raped.
Hassan refuses to hand over the kite, and as a result, he is severely beaten and sexually abused by Assef and his companions.
Amir finds himself in the heat of the scene but does nothing. He reckons that Baba would be much less proud if they don’t bring the last Kite home. After the incident, Amir refuses to talk to Hassan, because he is overwhelmed by a sense of guilt.
“To reduce the intensity of these feelings,” Amir decides to falsely accuse Hassan of being a thief, by planting a watch underneath his mattress. After being summoned by Baba to explain his role in this situation, Hassan confesses his guilt and Baba forgives him.
However, Hassan and Ali realize that life in that house would be unbearable, and they decide to leave once and for all. Amir feels disgusted with himself, and terrible memories continue to haunt him, which serve as a proof of his betrayal and timidity.
Part II
The Communist rule in Afghanistan takes a role in the 1979 Soviet intervention, which was launched with a single purpose in mind to fight and defeat the Mujahideen. Amir and Baba flee to Pakistan, mainly because of Baba’s recent negative comments on Communism.
War doesn’t negate decency. It demands it, even more than in times of peace.
Afterward, they settle in a small rented apartment in California, where Baba finds a job at a local gas station. After getting his high school degree, Amir decides to expand his skills by taking writing classes to nurture his prowess as a Wordsmith.
Baba and Amir make extra money selling goods at a flea market, where Amir lays eyes on Soraya Taheri -a refuge of Afghan origins. In the meantime, Baba gets diagnosed with terminal cancer and agrees to one last thing before passing away.
He does Amir a favor by asking Soraya’s father permission for marriage between Amir and Soraya. The Taheri family agrees, and Amir ends up marrying Soraya. They live happily and peacefully in America, but they are deprived of children.
Amir’s career as a novelist accelerates, but one day he receives a call from Rahim Khan that changes everything. He invites him to come to Peshawar, and says “There is a way to be good again.” Shocked by this surprising turn of events, Amir hits the road to meet an old friend.
Part III
Amir finds out from Rahim Khan, that a mine killed Ali, and the Taliban shotted Hassan because he didn’t allow them to confiscate Baba and Amir’s house. Rahim reveals to Amir that Ali was sterile and Hassan was not his son.
He is shocked to know that Hassan was his half-brother and cannot understand why Baba kept this secret away from him for so long. Nonetheless, Amir finds out that Hassan had a son Sohrab, who is now located in some orphanage in Kabul.
Amir doesn’t believe that he has the strength to find Sohrab all by himself and ask for assistance from a war veteran (Farid). Once there, they realize that Taliban officials bring cash in exchange for little girls or boys. Amir discovers that Sohrab was swapped in such “deal.”
Amir ends up meeting this man, who presents himself as Assef. This name does ring a bell, and Amir feels the intensity in the air. He decides to visit his house, where he founds Sohrab. Assef agrees to release Sohrab only if Amir beats him in a fight.
Assef hurts Amir badly, but Sohrab manages to fire a brass ball from the slingshot and hits Assef into his eye. Sohrab helps Amir to stand up, and they walk away.
The Kite Runner Epilogue
Amir reveals to Sohrab, that the plan is for both of them to return to the States, where he will live with them. American authorities demand proof or a document that verifies Amir’s claims that Sohrab is an orphan.
After a lot of struggle, Amir succeeds to take Sohrab to the U.S. At first; this scared little boy refuses to talk to them until Amir showcases some of Hassan’s tricks during a kite fight.
It all ends very emotionally; Amir runs to find the fallen kite and wholeheartedly says: “For you, a thousand times over.”
Quiet is peace. Tranquility. Quiet is turning down the volume knob on life. Silence is pushing the off button. Shutting it down. All of it.
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“The Kite Runner PDF Quotes”
For you, a thousand times over. Click To Tweet And that's the thing about people who mean everything they say. They think everyone else does too. Click To Tweet There is only one sin. and that is theft... when you tell a lie, you steal someones right to the truth. Click To Tweet There are a lot of children in Afghanistan, but little childhood. Click To Tweet A man who has no conscience, no goodness, does not suffer. Click To Tweet
Our Critical Review
Well, this is one of those books or novels that can make you burst into tears. It’s realistic and yet emotional storyline struck the minds and hearts of millions, and for a good reason!
We felt the energy that the author is trying to convey and can’t say anything else other than – BRAVO!
Emir is the Head of Marketing at 12min. In his spare time, he loves to meditate and play soccer.
