Summary This chapter opens with the heading “Fremont, California. 1980s.” Baba and Amir are living in California, but Baba, who is working at a gas station, is having a difficult time adjusting to life in this country. Amir claims to use America to “bury my memories,” whereas, for Baba, it […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 11Summary and Analysis Chapter 10
Summary The preface to Chapter 10 is “March 1981,” moving the narrative forward five years. An eighteen-year-old Amir and his father are leaving Kabul in the middle of the night to the relative safety of Pakistan. Amir hints at the changes Afghanistan has endured during the past five years and […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 10Summary and Analysis Chapter 9
Summary The day after his birthday party, Amir feels as if all of his gifts — except the notebook from Rahim Khan — are blood money gifts. Although Amir receives a new copy of Shahnamah from Ali and Hassan, that generous gift is not enough for Amir to change his […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 9Summary and Analysis Chapter 8
Summary Chapter 8 addresses some of the immediate aftereffects of Hassan’s attack. Although Hassan is still completing his daily chores, Amir barely sees him. When Ali questions Amir, Amir lies to him, asking, “how should I know what’s wrong with him?” Amir asks his father to go to Jalalabad, and […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 8Summary and Analysis Chapter 7
Summary On the morning of the tournament, Hassan shares a dream with Amir. The dream is about an alleged monster and how together they demonstrate bravery, friendship, and leadership and prove to people that it is safe to swim in the lake. When Amir hesitates when they should be starting […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 7Summary and Analysis Chapter 6
Summary Chapter 6 is divided into four shorter sections. The first section mentions the winter and how the schools shut down during the icy season. And it mentions the flying and running of kites. Kites, according to Amir, are the only things that connect him to his father. The next […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 6Summary and Analysis Chapter 5
Summary During the bombing and gunfire of that night, July 17, 1973, Amir, Hassan, and Ali huddle together for support. Amir attempts to tell himself that he is not jealous of Ali’s calming presence on his son during the long night. In hindsight, Amir realizes that this was the beginning […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 5Summary and Analysis Chapter 4
Summary Chapter 4 opens with the back story of Ali, who was orphaned and welcomed into the home of Amir’s grandfather, a respected judge. Ali and Baba grew up as playmates. Yet Amir comments that Baba never refers to Ali as his friend. Amir rationalizes this due to the history […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 4Summary and Analysis Chapter 3
Summary Chapter 3 opens with examples of the type of man Amir’s father is. One of the many things that Baba becomes known for is building an orphanage. Amir remembers and is somewhat jealous of the physical contact that his father had with Hassan, and Amir recounts examples of Baba […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 3Summary and Analysis Chapter 2
Summary In flashback, Chapter 2 starts identifying characters and telling the story of the narrator and his relationships to the names mentioned in the previous chapter. The narrator identifies Hassan as a childhood playmate and emphasizes, quite pointedly, Hassan’s cleft lip. As they grow up together, Hassan, who is skilled […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 2