"I envied her. Her secret was out. Spoken. Dealt with. I opened my mouth, almost told her how I'd betrayed Hassan, lied, driven him out, and destroyed a 40 year relationship between Baba and Ali. But I didn't. I suspected there were many ways in which Soraya Taheri was a better person than me. Courage was just one of them" (165).
This I think was a tough thing for Amir to handle. He decided to get married to Soraya even though his father was dying, knowing it would make his father, and him, quite happy.
I really liked this except from the book, the simplicity, the tone, just the general way it's written, I think it's all great.
However, it's a sad and true quote. Seeing Amir growing up, I think we can say- safely and sadly- that Soraya is a better person, and definetly a more couragous person. I understand that Amir has a much tougher thing to disclose, but I think he ought to get it off his chest as soon as possible and would have been much better off to talk about it before he even left Afghanistan.
I know it was the wrong thing to set up his friend, but I think talking about that and getting that out would be nice, too.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
The Kite Runner: Week 3, Post A
VOCAB
Ochre: (133) An earthy usually red or yellow and often impure iron ore used as a pigment
Tenets: (145) A Principle, belief, or doctrine generally held to be true
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
"Despite the sun bearing down like a branding iron..." (144) This is a simile since it uses "like" to compare the suns beating down on Baba and Amir in the market to an iron.
"I burst into giggles. Baba joined in" (162). I think in some ways this is irony, since Baba was always the mature character and only discussed "grown-up" topic, and yet he giggles when thinking of Amir getting married.
"... a rising sun over a new day..." (170) This is a metaphor because it compares a rising to the marriage and new life of Amir.
QUOTE
"We closed the door. Baba never woke up" (173). This quote was tough because Baba was there for Amir from the beginning, and even though they haven't always been best friends, Baba's been the one Amir has always wanted to impress.
THEME
Love can come in all shapes and sizes, since Amir loves Soraya in one way, and Baba, his father, in another, and yet he loves them both tremedously
Ochre: (133) An earthy usually red or yellow and often impure iron ore used as a pigment
Tenets: (145) A Principle, belief, or doctrine generally held to be true
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
"Despite the sun bearing down like a branding iron..." (144) This is a simile since it uses "like" to compare the suns beating down on Baba and Amir in the market to an iron.
"I burst into giggles. Baba joined in" (162). I think in some ways this is irony, since Baba was always the mature character and only discussed "grown-up" topic, and yet he giggles when thinking of Amir getting married.
"... a rising sun over a new day..." (170) This is a metaphor because it compares a rising to the marriage and new life of Amir.
QUOTE
"We closed the door. Baba never woke up" (173). This quote was tough because Baba was there for Amir from the beginning, and even though they haven't always been best friends, Baba's been the one Amir has always wanted to impress.
THEME
Love can come in all shapes and sizes, since Amir loves Soraya in one way, and Baba, his father, in another, and yet he loves them both tremedously
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Week 2 Post B: The Kite Runner
Wow. That's all I can say about this book so far. Just wow. I don't even know where to start, but I can say this: For all the hype this book has had, so far it lives up to it. It's an emotional rollercoaster: Going for delighted at Amir's kite fighting victory- something that finally impresses his father- to the brutal rape of Hassan, a part that shook me more than I think anything I've read in long time, maybe ever.
Khaled Hosseini, the author, must have toned down his writing for "A Thousand Splendid Suns," that's for sure. And let me just say, that hurt him. While this book is raw, filled with emotion, "Suns" seems pale in comparison, a half-hearted story.
As I continue in the story, I truly wonder how Hosseini's going to wrap things up. He's got Amir, a boy turned man hiding a secret deep down that'll hurt him until he dies. He also has Hassan, the one the secret is about, on the other side of the world, seperated by war and disagreements.
Finally, I'd like to point out in my opinion the second most moving part of the book to this point: Hassan taking the blame for Amir's crime. Amir hides his money under Hassan's bed in an attempt to get him fired. When asked if he did it, Hassan has a simple answer :"yes." Hassan's devotion, even admiration of Amir is something amazing.
Khaled Hosseini, the author, must have toned down his writing for "A Thousand Splendid Suns," that's for sure. And let me just say, that hurt him. While this book is raw, filled with emotion, "Suns" seems pale in comparison, a half-hearted story.
As I continue in the story, I truly wonder how Hosseini's going to wrap things up. He's got Amir, a boy turned man hiding a secret deep down that'll hurt him until he dies. He also has Hassan, the one the secret is about, on the other side of the world, seperated by war and disagreements.
Finally, I'd like to point out in my opinion the second most moving part of the book to this point: Hassan taking the blame for Amir's crime. Amir hides his money under Hassan's bed in an attempt to get him fired. When asked if he did it, Hassan has a simple answer :"yes." Hassan's devotion, even admiration of Amir is something amazing.
Week 2 Post A: The Kite Runner
VOCAB
Beneficent (74): Doing or producing goods
Guileless (78): Innocent, naive
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
"I felt as empty as this unkempt pool..." (85). This is a simile because it uses as to compare Amir's feelings to that of the pool- Empty after all he's seen.
"By the following summer, it was only a faint scar" (47). As Amir points out, this is ironic, because just as Amir is able to smile, he stops. As much as this is irony, it also means much, more more.
"I stepped back and all I saw was the rain through windowpanes that looked like melting silver" (109). This is a simile because it uses like to compare the rain Amir sees through the window to melting silver.
QUOTE
"'What am I going to do with you?' But by the time the tears dried up and I trudged down the hill, I knew the answer to that question" (93). This is a turning point for Amir- He's so fed up with the fact that he could have saved his friend Hassan and yet still hasn't told anyone, he decides that he has to make the next move- get rid of Hassan. Not a good call, but a huge turning point.
THEME
Pressure changes people, because as good of friends as Hassan and Amir were, it didn't help much in the end.
Beneficent (74): Doing or producing goods
Guileless (78): Innocent, naive
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
"I felt as empty as this unkempt pool..." (85). This is a simile because it uses as to compare Amir's feelings to that of the pool- Empty after all he's seen.
"By the following summer, it was only a faint scar" (47). As Amir points out, this is ironic, because just as Amir is able to smile, he stops. As much as this is irony, it also means much, more more.
"I stepped back and all I saw was the rain through windowpanes that looked like melting silver" (109). This is a simile because it uses like to compare the rain Amir sees through the window to melting silver.
QUOTE
"'What am I going to do with you?' But by the time the tears dried up and I trudged down the hill, I knew the answer to that question" (93). This is a turning point for Amir- He's so fed up with the fact that he could have saved his friend Hassan and yet still hasn't told anyone, he decides that he has to make the next move- get rid of Hassan. Not a good call, but a huge turning point.
THEME
Pressure changes people, because as good of friends as Hassan and Amir were, it didn't help much in the end.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
The Kite Runner: Week 1, Post B
Although limited, there is some good information to get out of the first few chapters of "The Kite Runner." We're introduced to our (seemingly) main characters, Amir and Hassan. We see them as best friends, attached at the hip and bonded with a "kinship that not even time could break" (11). I think that as we see these characters more, we could see either a) a relationship that really is as strong as it can be, or b) a relationship from 2 point of views, where one member may be decieved.
Also in the beginning, we see some family background, mostly discussing Ali, Hassan's father, who was a cripple and was often made fun of by the villagers. While this story seems as sad as it is, I hope it proves to have more meaning and carries more weight then it does at this point, a dramatic yet somewhat one-dimensional tale.
As the story unfolds obviously we will meet more and more characters who will influence the story in their own way. All I except is a great read, since all I hear are positive reviews for this novel. For me, a good book has a good opening, middle, and close. If one of those parts is lacking, the book is automatically taken out of the running. However, it can be tough to judge a book, considering certain books take many readings to fully appreciate. We'll see what "The Kite Runner" brings.
Also in the beginning, we see some family background, mostly discussing Ali, Hassan's father, who was a cripple and was often made fun of by the villagers. While this story seems as sad as it is, I hope it proves to have more meaning and carries more weight then it does at this point, a dramatic yet somewhat one-dimensional tale.
As the story unfolds obviously we will meet more and more characters who will influence the story in their own way. All I except is a great read, since all I hear are positive reviews for this novel. For me, a good book has a good opening, middle, and close. If one of those parts is lacking, the book is automatically taken out of the running. However, it can be tough to judge a book, considering certain books take many readings to fully appreciate. We'll see what "The Kite Runner" brings.
Monday, February 11, 2008
The Kite Runner: Week 1 Post A
VOCAB
Unscrupulous: (8) Unprincipled (adj)
Atrophied: (8) Decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue (n)
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
"A face like a Chinese doll..." (3). This is a simile because it uses like to compare Hussan's face to that of a Chinese doll, carved and chiseled by a doll maker.
"My father was a force of nature" (13). This is a metaphor, comparing our main character Amir's father to a force of nature due to his strength and his ability to wrestle bears. No joke.
"They danced high above the trees on the west..." (2). This is a personification because it gives the kites the ability to do human things, such as dance.
QUOTE
"Looking back on it now, I think the foundation for what happened in the winter of 1975-and all that followed- was already laid in those first words" (11).
This really sets the base for the book to follow. All we saw in these first few chapters were some introductions and some (very) minor action. Obvously we don't know what happened in the winter of 1975, but I think we'll find out.
THEME
Bad things can happen to good people, because so far we are introduced to several nice characters with tough lives/backrounds
Unscrupulous: (8) Unprincipled (adj)
Atrophied: (8) Decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue (n)
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
"A face like a Chinese doll..." (3). This is a simile because it uses like to compare Hussan's face to that of a Chinese doll, carved and chiseled by a doll maker.
"My father was a force of nature" (13). This is a metaphor, comparing our main character Amir's father to a force of nature due to his strength and his ability to wrestle bears. No joke.
"They danced high above the trees on the west..." (2). This is a personification because it gives the kites the ability to do human things, such as dance.
QUOTE
"Looking back on it now, I think the foundation for what happened in the winter of 1975-and all that followed- was already laid in those first words" (11).
This really sets the base for the book to follow. All we saw in these first few chapters were some introductions and some (very) minor action. Obvously we don't know what happened in the winter of 1975, but I think we'll find out.
THEME
Bad things can happen to good people, because so far we are introduced to several nice characters with tough lives/backrounds
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Sound Track of The Odyssey: Athena
For the character of Athena, I chose the song "Day Tripper" by The Beatles. Now, barring all drug refrences, the lyrics point to someone going on quick trips somewhere. Our character of Athena goes on many short voyages to places, and has plans to travel to many more.
"While I myself go down to Ithica, rouse his son to a braver pitch, inspire his heart with courage to summon the flowing-haired Acheaens to fully assemble, speak his mind to all those suitors, slaughtering on and on his droves of sheep and shambling longhorn cattle. Next I will send him to Sparta and sandy Pylos, there to learn of his father's journey home" (Book 1 102-110). Obviously, Athena has many plans as to where to go and how to get there. She's a trooper who's not afraid to go new places and is calm in the face of danger. "[...] he weighed in his mind the course Athena charter" (Book 3 444). She has plans for how to get somewhere, and a reason why, which is something we don't see much in our world, and I really respect. Athena truly is a day tripper.
In the classic song by The Beatles, they say "[...] She took me half the way there" just like how Athena takes Telemachus places, but won't do everything for him. I think the Beatles had a really good, and overlooked song in this one, and I really like the voice in this piece. As shown, Telemachus and Athena go on many adventures, but they're splitting the work evenly. She's a team player, which I think is great, and she's a strong figure. Really a day tripper.
"While I myself go down to Ithica, rouse his son to a braver pitch, inspire his heart with courage to summon the flowing-haired Acheaens to fully assemble, speak his mind to all those suitors, slaughtering on and on his droves of sheep and shambling longhorn cattle. Next I will send him to Sparta and sandy Pylos, there to learn of his father's journey home" (Book 1 102-110). Obviously, Athena has many plans as to where to go and how to get there. She's a trooper who's not afraid to go new places and is calm in the face of danger. "[...] he weighed in his mind the course Athena charter" (Book 3 444). She has plans for how to get somewhere, and a reason why, which is something we don't see much in our world, and I really respect. Athena truly is a day tripper.
In the classic song by The Beatles, they say "[...] She took me half the way there" just like how Athena takes Telemachus places, but won't do everything for him. I think the Beatles had a really good, and overlooked song in this one, and I really like the voice in this piece. As shown, Telemachus and Athena go on many adventures, but they're splitting the work evenly. She's a team player, which I think is great, and she's a strong figure. Really a day tripper.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
