Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Hello everyone!

Before we start to talk about this amazing novel, we're gonna introduce ourselves first. 
We are three students of Food Technology class C in Pelita Harapan University, Joanina, Samuel Jusuf, and last but not least, Tiffany Nathalie. We are reading this novel because it was an assignment given by our lecturer of American Literature class, Mam Clara Evi Citraningtyas. After reading Kite Runner during our American Literature class, we are finding a topic that is intriguing to be discussed. It is about the religion and race in Kite Runner. So, in this chance, we are going to discuss more about the religion and race in the novel itself and how it is a beneficial read for Indonesian readers. We hope this information can help you in many ways :)!

Before we discuss the main topic of this blog, we're gonna tell you all a summary of this novel, in case there are some of you who are forget about this novel or haven't read it before.

The Kite Runner, a historical novel by Khaled Hosseini, tells a story of Afghanistan people, which mainly divided into two groups, Pashtuns, the group which is in control and Hazaras, the weaker ethnic group. The main character in this novel is Amir, a Sunni Muslim. Amir has a childhood fried, Hassan, the son of Amir's servant named Ali who is a Shi'a Muslim. Amir didn't have a close relationship with his father. When he won a local kite fighting tournament, he finally earned Baba's attention. Amir witnessed how Hassan was beaten and raped by Assef, feeling guilty and distanced himself from Hassan and finally made Hassan and his father left the house. 

Hassan (left) and Amir (right) reading a book

As the time goes by, Amir and his father are forced to flee Afghanistan and moved to California, America due to the Uni Soviet military interverens. Amir views coming to America as an opportunity to leave his past behind. Amir graduated from San Jose State University. At a flea market in San Jose, where Amir and Baba sold used goods, Amir met Soraya Taheri and her family. Amir developed a feelings towards Soraya and finally married to Soraya and settled in a happy marriage shortly after Baba died. After fifteen years of marriage, Amir got a phone call from Rahim Khan who was dying and he asked Amir to come to Peshawar.

The wedding of Amir and Soraya

As Amir flied to Peshawar, he met Rahim Khan and found out that Ali was killed by a land mine, and Hassan along with his wife were killed by the Taliban. Rahim Khan then revealed that Hassan was Amir's half brother and he told Amir to rescue Hassan's son, Sohrab, from an orphanage in Kabul. With a help from a man named Farid, Amir was looking for Sohrab but found out that a Taliban Official took Sohrab. Amir then met a Talib and to his surprise, the Talib was Assef. Sohrab was kept in Assef's house and Assef said that he would release Sohrab if Amir can beat him in a fight. When Assef beat Amir badly, Sohrab shot Assef with a slingshot and with Farid, the three of them ran away. Although it takes a really long time but finally Amir managed to adopt Sohrab.

Amir (left), Sohrab (middle), Amir's wife (right)

That is the end of the summary, it a touching story that teaches us great lessons in life. We will posts our next topic soon, please wait patiently :)