"Almost two years we bought his damn fruits ... " (pg. 127)
This book is a a bunch of stories and instances put together. Hosseini uses tool of time to put emphasis on important situations and skip over the unimportant things. In the quote above, it proves that the reader doesn't get to experience a detailed description of the first two years of Baba's and Amir's lives in America. For instance, from chapter nine to ten, the book skips five years. The reader doesn't get to see what life was like in Kabul for Amir and Baba without Hassan and Ali. It is said that they had about seven different servants in that period of time, so the reader can assume what happened, but obviously the author doesn't find those five years important and finds it much more important to express other events.
There are also times where the author takes up five pages to explain what happened in about five minutes. This is found in chapter tweleve when Amir is speaking to Soraya for the first couple times. The reader has the effect that time almost stops when they are in conversation.
Also, there were times like when the people were riding in the tank. Amir is so descriptive of what these couple hours were like, so I knew that this situation must be important.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Hassan = Lamb
"Hassan didn't struggle. Didn't even whimper. He moved his head slightly and I caught a glimpse of his face. Saw the resignation in it. It was a look I had seen before. It was the look of the lamb."
(pg. 76)
"But I walways watch. I watch because of that look of acceptance in the animal's eyes. Absurdly, I imagine the animal understands. I imagine the animal see that its imminent demise is for a higher purpose. This is the look.." (pg. 76-77)
Over these two pages, Hassan is compared to a lamb that has to be sacrificed to attain a means. In this book, Amir brings about this thought. "Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba." Lambs are sacrificed usually for religious ceremonies or rituals. Hassan's dignity was being sacrificed for Amir. Hassan ha the option to get out of this sacrifice by handing over a material good, a kite. This kite was the possession that had te potential of changing the relationship between Amir and his father and Hassan knew that. He sacrificed himself.
In the text, it talks about the "look of acceptance" on the lamb's eyes. The animal understands that this has to happen. Hassan thought so low of himself and his "servant" people that he thought this was the way it had to go. He accepted it.
(pg. 76)
"But I walways watch. I watch because of that look of acceptance in the animal's eyes. Absurdly, I imagine the animal understands. I imagine the animal see that its imminent demise is for a higher purpose. This is the look.." (pg. 76-77)
Over these two pages, Hassan is compared to a lamb that has to be sacrificed to attain a means. In this book, Amir brings about this thought. "Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba." Lambs are sacrificed usually for religious ceremonies or rituals. Hassan's dignity was being sacrificed for Amir. Hassan ha the option to get out of this sacrifice by handing over a material good, a kite. This kite was the possession that had te potential of changing the relationship between Amir and his father and Hassan knew that. He sacrificed himself.
In the text, it talks about the "look of acceptance" on the lamb's eyes. The animal understands that this has to happen. Hassan thought so low of himself and his "servant" people that he thought this was the way it had to go. He accepted it.
Amir jan
"Baba spoke in a low voice, the one he took on whenever I embarressed him in public. "Aren't you going to thank Assef jan? That was very considerate of him." I wished Baba would stop calling him that. How often did he call me "Amir jan?"" (pg. 97)
It is very important that the reader of this book realizes where this story is taking place throughout the entire book. One way Hosseini reminds the reader is through the words he chooses to use. I am sure that most people who read this book have no idea what these words mean in the beginning, but by using context clues, one can figure out their meaning. "I'm going to the baker to buy naan." Other times Hosseini translates the words right after he puts them in the text. "Tashakor." Thank you, "Bachem." Chair, "Khastegar." A suitor, "Mojarad." A single young man, "Nang. Namoos." Honor and Pride, "the Dil." the Heart. It is very important that he includes these words to give the story more of an ethnic background. I found that Hossseini uses these words more often when the plot changes over to America. I believe this is because he wants to show how they will always keep their roots no matter where they live.
Out of all of the terms that Hoseini uses, I believe that the word "jan" has the most significance in this book. When put after a name, this word is a term of endearment. The reader must recognize when this word is used because it shows if the people who are talking to each other truly care about the other person and respect them or not.
It is very important that the reader of this book realizes where this story is taking place throughout the entire book. One way Hosseini reminds the reader is through the words he chooses to use. I am sure that most people who read this book have no idea what these words mean in the beginning, but by using context clues, one can figure out their meaning. "I'm going to the baker to buy naan." Other times Hosseini translates the words right after he puts them in the text. "Tashakor." Thank you, "Bachem." Chair, "Khastegar." A suitor, "Mojarad." A single young man, "Nang. Namoos." Honor and Pride, "the Dil." the Heart. It is very important that he includes these words to give the story more of an ethnic background. I found that Hossseini uses these words more often when the plot changes over to America. I believe this is because he wants to show how they will always keep their roots no matter where they live.
Out of all of the terms that Hoseini uses, I believe that the word "jan" has the most significance in this book. When put after a name, this word is a term of endearment. The reader must recognize when this word is used because it shows if the people who are talking to each other truly care about the other person and respect them or not.
Baba & Rahim Kahn
Amir jan,
I enjoyed your story very much. Mashallah, God has granted you a special talent. It is now your duty to home that talent, because a person who wastes his God-given talents is a donkey. ... My door is and always will be open to you, Amir jan. I shall hear any story you have to tell. Bravo.
Your friend,
Rahim
(pg. 32-33)
This note given to Amir was heart-felt and serious. Rahim Khan cares about Amir and everything he does, unlike Baba. Rahim Khan and Baba are business partners, but they are complete foils in this book. Rahim's nice and loving actions emphasize the selfish actions of Baba. Then, on the other hand, Baba's being an unsupportive father shows how great of a friend Rahim is to Amir. Baba pays no attention to Amir because Amir is nothing like Baba. He doesn't like to play or watch soccer and he would rather read poems or write stories instead of being a "normal boy" and striving to be a winner, not a coward. Rahim understands that Amir is not going to be exactly like his father and he accepts the way he is. In the note above, he shows how he is proud of Amir and encourages him to develop his talents and do what he loves. Baba is ashamned that Amir isn't like himself when he was a boy and barely talks to him.
I enjoyed your story very much. Mashallah, God has granted you a special talent. It is now your duty to home that talent, because a person who wastes his God-given talents is a donkey. ... My door is and always will be open to you, Amir jan. I shall hear any story you have to tell. Bravo.
Your friend,
Rahim
(pg. 32-33)
This note given to Amir was heart-felt and serious. Rahim Khan cares about Amir and everything he does, unlike Baba. Rahim Khan and Baba are business partners, but they are complete foils in this book. Rahim's nice and loving actions emphasize the selfish actions of Baba. Then, on the other hand, Baba's being an unsupportive father shows how great of a friend Rahim is to Amir. Baba pays no attention to Amir because Amir is nothing like Baba. He doesn't like to play or watch soccer and he would rather read poems or write stories instead of being a "normal boy" and striving to be a winner, not a coward. Rahim understands that Amir is not going to be exactly like his father and he accepts the way he is. In the note above, he shows how he is proud of Amir and encourages him to develop his talents and do what he loves. Baba is ashamned that Amir isn't like himself when he was a boy and barely talks to him.
Technique - Transitions
"Rahim Kahn had been wrong about the mean streak thing" (pg. 23)
" "Well," I began. But I never got to finish that sentence. Because suddenly Afganistan changed forever." (pg. 34)
"Because that was the winter that Hassan stopped smiling." (pg. 47)
"Then I knocked on Baba's door and told what I hoped ould be the last in a long line of shameful lies." (pg. 104)
These are some of the sentences that end a few of the beginning chapters of the book. Hosseini somehow ties in what he is saying and brings about something new and random that keeps the reader moving forward. These transitions leave the reader wanting more and they keep the reader from setting the book down. Suspense is somthing that every book needs to have to keep the reader engaged. Hosseini does this well by placing suspense in his transitions from chapter to chapter. Sometimes there are sections to the chapters and suspense can be found there too. This book jumps around so much and transitions from place to place so quickly that it always keeps the erader on their toes.
This book doesn't have a common plot, so the reader can't truly infer what will happen next. That is what makes this book so interesting.
" "Well," I began. But I never got to finish that sentence. Because suddenly Afganistan changed forever." (pg. 34)
"Because that was the winter that Hassan stopped smiling." (pg. 47)
"Then I knocked on Baba's door and told what I hoped ould be the last in a long line of shameful lies." (pg. 104)
These are some of the sentences that end a few of the beginning chapters of the book. Hosseini somehow ties in what he is saying and brings about something new and random that keeps the reader moving forward. These transitions leave the reader wanting more and they keep the reader from setting the book down. Suspense is somthing that every book needs to have to keep the reader engaged. Hosseini does this well by placing suspense in his transitions from chapter to chapter. Sometimes there are sections to the chapters and suspense can be found there too. This book jumps around so much and transitions from place to place so quickly that it always keeps the erader on their toes.
This book doesn't have a common plot, so the reader can't truly infer what will happen next. That is what makes this book so interesting.
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