Kite Runner - Blog #2

Book: Kite Runner

Author: Khaled Hosseini

It is inevitable that we follow in our parents' footsteps. Very early we are transfixed into what becomes a familiar routine growing up, it becomes a normal environment for us. Life for Amir however definitely wasn't natural. Is he accustomed to his environment/way of living or still trying to figure out the life he wants for himself?

As of now I am on chapter seven, and we still have not figured out why Amir is so shameful with Hassan. Finally entering winter of 1975 Amir says something that stuck out to me, "Hassan's face changed. Maybe not changed, not really, but suddenly I had the feeling I was looking at two faces, the one I knew, the one that was my first memory, and another, a second face, this one lurking just beneath the surface". He claims after this he had seen the unsettling second face before. Once Hassan blinked he was back to being just Hassan. What could have triggered this? This might be the way Amir views him, very mysterious. When talking about the Kite Race we see a complete opposite side of both Hassan and Amir. They carry a bond with kites and work so good together. It's hard to tell the feelings Amir has for Hassan, shifting feelings back and fourth depending on what they talk about. Seeking for his father's approval/attention, Amir wants his father to think the best of him.

"Better to get hurt by the truth than comforted with a lie"

I think this quote applies to Amir the most. This connects to him because he is constantly messing with Hassan and giving him false information about different things. Hassan is illiterate and only learns what Amir teaches him, saying as he doesn't attend school. Amir finds humor in Hassan's lack of knowledge and taking advantage of him. Although there are moments where Amir thinks maybe what he does isn't right. The way Amir treats Hassan is hot and cold. These memories of fooling around with Hassan is what I believe hurts Amir the most now, as he regrets every bad thing he did to Hassan. 

Kite Runner - Blog #1

Book: Kite Runner

Author: Khaled Hosseini

Have you ever regretted something in your life so badly it never really went away? Where you wish you could reverse time and take it all back so that you could have a clean slate and start all over? Regret constantly eats us alive because nothing we do can change our actions of the past, so we are forced to carry this guilt with us and try to learn from it what we can.

Young Amir is one of the lucky ones. Rich home, even has a servant to cater to the family's every need. Fortunate enough, with the servant came a son Hassan, who comes to be one of Amir's best of friends. “But he’s not my friend! I almost blurted. He’s my servant! Had I really thought that? Of course I hadn’t. I hadn’t” (chapter 5 page 41) Internal self vs. self conflict shows as Amir isn't sure whether or not to consider Hassan as a friend or as only the servant's son; a mere source of company for when Amir is bored.

Opening up the story with an unexpected phone call from what  seemed like a different world, set Amir back before the winter of 1975. He flashes back to the fun childhood he shared with Hassan and how different everything had once been. There is a way to be good again. These words came from Hassan. After years of not existing in each other's lives, Hassan gives Amir a phone call, reassuring him that he should not feel guilt anymore. I think this was Hassan's way of giving Amir a sense of open arms in hope that he would finally let go of the past and not let his own guilt get in the way of his friendship with Hassan. But could Amir truly forgive himself for the horrible thing he has done?

The big question throughout the story as of now, is that even past eight chapters in the story we have yet to figure out what Amir did to Hassan. Will they ever tell us? Or will they leave us in suspense the entire book?

Saving Max - Blog #3

Book: Saving Max

Author: Antoinette van Heugten

Who would you believe in a serious situation? A stranger you had just met a couple of days ago, or a loved one? Most of you would automatically choose to believe your loved one. Why wouldn't you? You know them inside out so of course you would believe them. No stranger could ever take the trust like a loved one can. What if it is your own son, who you know has an anger issue. Would Danielle believe her son Max? Or will she hesitate, as if he's a complete stranger?


After being on a tedious phone call from work, Danielle heads back into Maitland where she and Marianne were with their sons. She hurries back in to hear an outburst from Max, and cries from Marianne. She comes to see big body guards suppress Max as he yells out curse words while Marianne hovers over her poor son. A pile of blood surrounds Jonas. What did Max do? Soon from Marianne, Danielle comes to know once Jonas tried going over to Max to give him a hug, Max lashed out. Pushing Jonas into a corner, splitting his head on a sharp corner (causing the blood). However, when talking to Max later on, he claims he only pushed Jonas, where as Marianne said he hit him. Marianne turned to Danielle and said, "Oh, God, Danielle, you've got to help me, promise me that you'll keep your boy away from Jonas." (Page 40) Marianne is informed from one of the Nurses, Jonas will be okay and that he is being sent to the Emergency room. Comforting Marianne, Danielle speaks with a nurse. She begs and pleads for them to not hurt Max. She reassures them Max didn't mean it. The nurse tells Danielle how her boy has been out of control too much, so she has no choice but to sedate him with a syringe to calm him down. Max will not be allowed to see anyone until the nurse sees he is in a more controlled state.

Here's something to think about. What might happen if Max were to lash out at Jonas again? What would they then do with Max, if after one incident they sedate him? How far would they go each time he gets worse? Will he even get worse? I am going to predict that Max will have another incident whether it is with Jonas or somebody else. After the second incident I think they will remove Max from Maitland and move him to a more strict Psychiatric hospital. From doing this, Danielle will lose her mind and do everything she can for Maitland to allow Max to stay, promising he will get better. Who knows what will happen with Max. He may get better, we never know. But I feel this isn't the only time he will lash out on someone. With his temper, it would not be very surprising.