The Kite Runner
The Kite Runner Summary: Amir spent most of his childhood days in the majestic valleys of Afghanistan alongside Hassan. Their days were filled with mischief and mundanity, just two children being children. As time unfolds horrifying events happen, wars are waged, and people are killed.
Amir is forced to abandon his homeland and flee. Decades later, a secret is unraveled, shaking Amir’s life and making him question his existence. Can he gather the courage to return to his homeland and fulfill his duty? Here’s The Kite Runner Summary.
Quick View
| Pages | 340 |
| Age Rating | 18+ |
| Genre | Literary Realism, Historical Fiction, Drama, Coming Of Age, Bildungsroman |
| Themes | Angst, Friendship, War, Redemption, Realism |
| Trigger Warnings | Child Abuse, Sexual Assault, Violence, Gore, Angst, Death |
| Readability | Easy |
Characters
Amir
Baba
Ali
Hassan
Rahim Khan
The protagonist of the narrative is Amir: a twelve-year-old boy from Afghanistan. His disposition was timid and meek and Hassan always stood up for him. Amir was more of a writer and reader like his mother who died giving birth to him. There was one more thing Amir excelled at, and that was flying kites.
He wouldn’t back down when the opportunity to win the town’s biggest kite-flying competition came. He wanted to win the competition to get his father’s affection, which he had desperately craved for all his life.
Amir’s father whom he always addressed as Baba was a well-known and respected man, known for his riches, kindness, and royalty. He was a hard-working and tough man and expected his son to be the same too. Despite his tough exterior he deeply loved his son and his people.
He was a man of morals who wouldn’t hesitate to take a bullet head-on for the right cause. Unlike Amir, he wasn’t afraid. Throughout the story, he does his best to give Amir a good life. Baba was always known as the perfect man but even the most perfect people have hidden agendas.
Ali was Baba’s servant. Baba has known him since childhood, they had practically grown up together. Baba had a deep love for all his servants and always treated Ali nicely. Ali was a Hazara; an ethnic group in Afghanistan considered as outsiders and frequently mistreated. Ali had a deep affection for his son Hassan. Ali had determined to serve Baba for a lifetime but up to what cost?
Hassan was a thin little kid with a harelip. He was often bullied because of his lips, his eloping mother, his ‘Hazara’ status, and because he was a servant. Irrespective of everything Hassan was the kindest soul. He was brave and the best kite runner in the town. To him, Amir was his best friend. His loyalty had no bounds. He had dedicated his whole life to Amir and Baba’s care. What would his unwavering loyalty and kindness cost him?
Rahim Khan was Baba’s friend. He was like a father figure to Amir. The first person to support Amir’s dream of becoming a writer. Rahim Khan was an observant man who caught upon Amir’s need for his father’s affection. He caught upon a change in Hassan’s nature. He was the only one aware of Baba’s secrets. He was a wise man but he too made mistakes. He only wished for one thing at the end: Redemption.
The Kite Runner Summary
Short Summary
Full Summary
The Kite Runner follows the narrative of Amir; a native Afghan. Amir spent his childhood days in a happy daze alongside his companion Hassan. In the prejudiced Afghanistan Hassan wasn’t treated kindly. One winter morning something terrible happens as Hassan is cornered by some local bullies. The incident that takes place scars Hassan for life. Amir being a witness of the incident is filled with guilt. Amir’s guilt rises to great heights and he drives Hassan away to soothe his own wounds.
As Hassan leaves, Amir stands and watches from his window. Years pass by and Afghanistan changes. When the Russian forces invade Afghan land, Baba and Amir flee to the USA.
They settle into their new lives. Amir marries Soraya and pursues a career in writing. In 2001 he gets a call from Rahim Khan who is ill. To see the dying man Amir visits him in Pakistan. Rahim Khan unravels some shattering secrets that leave Amir flabbergasted.
A piece of Amir’s legacy still lives in Afghanistan. The opportunity to atone for his sins presents itself and Amir is determined to not be a coward this time.
The story is one hell of a rollercoaster ride with ebbs and flows, highs and lows, drama and dreams, love and friendship, war and peace, and love and loss.
Major Spoilers Ahead!!
Living in Afghanistan young Amir’s life was perfectly pleasant. He spent his days wandering around the Wazir Akbar Khan district in Kabul with his companion Hassan. Most of Amir’s childhood memories are filled with Hassan. Climbing up the hill, reading ‘Shahnamah’, sitting under a sour cherry tree, and flying kites.
Everything was well until the winter of 1975. The annual kite flying competition was held in the Wazir Akbar Khan District. Winning the competition was a thing of honor. Amir was determined to win this competition. This was his chance to get his father’s attention and affection. The competition rolled up and Amir won standing beside an equally joyful Hassan. Hassan ran for the kite and when he didn’t return for a long time Amir went to look for him.
What he found changed his whole life. Hassan was cornered by Assef; a local bully, and his minions. Hassan had the opportunity to trade his escape with the kite but he wouldn’t do that because of his loyalty towards Amir. Amir stood behind the rock as Assef sexually assaulted Hassan. He froze and stood there motionless like a coward, and finally ran away. Hassan returned with bloodied pants. That was the last time Hassan ran for a kite and the last time he smiled.
Amir doesn’t see Hassan for the next week. When he finally returns he isn’t the same, although he tries to be. Life goes on for Amir as he goes to school, enjoys his birthday, and reads but a sense of guilt lurks around, haunting him.
Looking at Hassan Amir is filled with anger toward himself. As a final act, he plants some money in Hassan’s quarter and accuses him of theft. Soon Ali and Hassan have had enough of this and decide to quit. Baba tried to convince them otherwise but it was unfruitful.
One look in Hassan’s eyes told Amir that he was aware of his cowardice, about how he stood there behind the rock, motionless. Brimming with guilt Amir finally manages to drive Hassan away further. Baba weeps as Ali and Hassan leave as Amir watches from the window.
Years pass by and Afghanistan changes. When the Russians invade Afghanistan Amir and Baba are forced to leave their homeland and flee to the USA. Baba gets a job at the gas station, and Amir graduates and pursues a career in writing. Amir eventually marries Soraya; a fellow Afghan. Baba dies of cancer a short while after Amir’s marriage. Amir and Soraya’s desire for a child remains unfulfilled because of some unknown issue which leaves the couple sour.
Life moved on from there, memories of Afghanistan fading away slowly.
One day in December 2001 Amir gets a call from Rahim Khan who is on his deathbed and wishes to see him. Rahim Khan tells Amir there is still a way to atone for his sins which immediately piques Amir’s interest. Amir goes to Pakistan to meet Rahim Khan where some life-shattering secrets are unfolded.
Rahim Khan informs Amir about the horrifying conditions Afghans have been facing since the Taliban regime was established. Rahim Khan then proceeds to tell Amir about Hassan.
After the Russian Invasion, Rahim Khan stayed back in Afghanistan to take care of Amir’s old house. Years later when old age started troubling Rahim Khan he decided to contact Hassan. He learned that after leaving Akbar Khan District, Hassan moved to a small village where he lived a peaceful life. Hassan married and had a son named Sohrab. Unfortunately, Ali was killed by a landmine, other than that Hassan lived a good life with a loving family. On Rahim Khan’s request, Hassan moves back to Wazir Khan District to help him take care of Amir’s old house.
When Rahim Khan goes to Pakistan for his treatment things go downhill. The Tabilbanis kill Hassan and his wife because a rumor spread that a Hazara was living in the mansion nearby. Hassan’s son was sent to an orphanage.
Ending
When the final truth unfolds Amir is dumbfounded. Rahim Khan informs Amir about Ali’s infertility and Hassan’s real father. Hassan’s real father was Baba implying that Hassan was Amir’s half-brother. Amir is furious and confused all at the same time. Rahim Khan asks him one last favor and asks him to bring back Sohrab.
That’s how Amir finds himself on his journey to atonement, marching towards a war-ridden Afghanistan. With the help of Farid Amir enters Afghanistan and manages to find the orphanage. Unfortunately, Sohrab had already been taken by the Taliban. Amir finds the man who took Sohrab and jumps into the Taliban area to negotiate. The man who took Sohrab was none other than Assef.
Assef captured Sohrab out of spite towards Hassan and had been regularly torturing and assaulting the little kid. Assef proposes that if Amir beats him he can take Sohrab away. Amir is cornered and beaten badly by Assef but Sohrab attacks Assef with a slingshot. Just like his father Sohrab saves Amir and they manage to escape.
In the end, Amir takes Sohrab under his care. The journey to bring Sohrab to the USA was tumultuous and difficult. With a lot of struggle, Amir manages to bring Sohrab to the USA. Sohrab was a traumatized kid who had watched all kinds of horrors. He becomes a loner who never smiles or speaks more than two words. This worried Amir but he is unable to do anything. It was one fine day when a kite-flying event brought a little life to Sohrab’s eyes.
Amir could only think of all the things that could’ve gone right if not for his mistakes. After being beaten to a pulp now he too has a harelip just like his half-brother. He suffered for the damage he caused. The thing he had desired for years finally came to him: Redemption.
Quotes
Conclusion
The Kite Runner is undoubtedly one of the most impactful books of all time. The powerful message it carries alongside its intriguing story makes it one of a kind. The book takes us from the majestic valleys of Kabul to the streets of San Francisco.
From friendship to betrayal to redemption to heartache. Every character and emotion weave together perfectly to create a masterpiece. ‘The Kite Runner’ is bound to leave a long-lasting impact on each reader’s mind.
Looking for more amazing summaries and recommendations? Explore Here
