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Hassan gets surgery for his lip.
When Amir is with Rahim Khan, he thinks about "that day in 1974, in the hospital rom, just after Hassan's harelip surgery."(219) Baba paid for the surgery so the quote shows that Baba cares about Hassan. This also foreshadows to the fact that Hassan is Baba's dad. -
Daoud Khan overthrows the King.
On this day, "Daoud Khan had ended the king's forty-year reign." (36) This coup causes a lot of changes in Afghanistan. This also enables Assef to make fun of Amir and Hassan because Assef's family knows Daoud Khan. -
Hassan is violated.
Right before Hassan was violated,"Assef was standing there,the heel of his snow boots crushing the back of Hassan's neck." (75) After this incident, Amir felt heavy guilt because he did not do anything. The incident changed the relationship between Hassan and Amir forever. -
Amir has his birthday party.
This day, Amir, "turned thirteen."( 93) He had a very large birthday party. But, at the party he saw Hassan being harrased, and got a biography of Hitler from Assef, which made him unhappy. -
Hassan and Ali Leave
This day, Ali says, "We are leaving, Agha sahib." (106) They leave because Ali finds out that Amir watches Hassan being raped and does not do anything. Baba is heartbroken over Ali leaving, but they go anyways. -
Soviet Invasion
On this day, "the first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul to assist Babrak Karmal." (NYT) -
Amir marries Soraya
Amir tells Soraya, "I want us to marry. (165) Soon after they do. This changes many things in Amir's life. For example, he and Soraya adopt Sohrab. -
Rahim Khan goes to Hazarajat to find Hassan
In 1996, Rahim Khan, "went to Hazarajat to find Hassan." (203) Rahim Khan obviously still cares about Hassan and wants to help him. Also, Rahim states that it was because he was lonely, this shows that Rahim missed companionship and needed to be with someone. -
Amir finishes his first novel
Amir "finished [his] first novel, a father-son story set in Kabul." (182) Amir gets his book done and sends it to an agency. This was right before the Soviets withdrew and this made Amir into a minor celebrity. This causes Amir and Soraya to try to have a child , which later leads to more problems. The subect of the story shows that Amir still thinks of himself and his father. -
Soviet Union Leaves Afganistan
On this day, "The last Soviet troops left Afganistan." (NYT) -
Sanaubar arrives at the house of Rahim Khan, Hassan, and Farzana
A woman goes to their house and, "knocks on the front gates one morning." (209) They later find out that she is Sanaubar, the mother of Hassan. She came back because she still loves Hassan. Hassan leaves for a whle but later comforted her and were happy together. -
Soraya tells her parents that she cannot have a child.
While Soraya, her parents, and Amir are having a picnic, "Soraya broke the news to her parents." (186) Soraya also says that she can adopt, but General Taheri disaproves of it. Soraya also feels uneasy about adoption. This shows that Afghan culture does not approve of adoption. -
Power Divided
At this time, "power was anarchically divided among competing warlords and individual fiefdoms." (NYT) -
Mullah Omar has almost 12,000 followers
At this time, "Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers." (NYT) -
Taliban Takes Control
According to the NYT, "the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afganistan." (NYT) -
Mr. Bin Laden arrives at Jalalabad
This month, "Mr. bin Laden, arrived by chartered jet." (NYT) -
Rahim Khan calls Amir
Amir gets a call saying that, "Rahim Khan is very sick." (191) Amir is sad because he thought of Rahim Khan as a friend. Amir also decides to go see Rahim Khan without Soraya. Amir still feels connected to Rahim Khan and wants to help him. -
Farid and Amir see two people getting stoned.
At a soccer stadium, a member of the Taliban, "hurled the stone at the blindfolded man in the hole." (271) This demonstrates the brutality of the Taliban. This also forshadows Amir being attacked by Assef. -
Sohrab attempts suicide.
Sohrab "cuts himself" (348) in an attempt to commit suicide. He survives, but does not talk or smile for the rest of the book. This shows that Sohrab is very vulnerable after enduring abuse from Assef.. It also shows that the orphanages in Afghanistan are very bad, as Sohrab would rather die than return to them. -
Amir and Sohrab return home from Afghanistan
Amir and Sohrab return, "on a warm day in August 2001." (357) Soraya is very excited to see Sohrab. But, Sohrab stays silent and destroys her hopes for him. -
9/11
Today was the "attack on the World Trade Center" (NYT) -
Hamid Karzai Made Chairman
This month, Hamid Karzai, "was named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban, making him the leader of the country." -
Amir and Sohrab win a kitefighting comepetion
Today, Amir looks and sees, "one corner of his mouth had curled up just so." (370) This is evidence that Sohrab is slowly healing from his suicide event. It also shows that the relationship between Sohrab and Amir are normalizing. -
General Petraeus Takes Charge
Today, "General Petraeus took charge of the USCC" (NYT) -
Obama Makes Speech
Today, "Mr.Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops." (NYT)