The first time I heard about this book was when my brother had to make a paper on it. I was curious but not so much interested because I wasn't very much familiar with the setting and the genre. Honestly, I didn't know much about the Middle East except that it was Muslim-dominated and had lots of oil. I began to realize that there's more to this region than my very narrow-minded perceptions.
I admit I am now an internet junkie. It's very bad.. very bad. Up until my senior year in high school, I read a lot of books. Now, I barely look at my shelves. Books waiting to be read piled up and were soon forgotten. But the opportunity presented itself when its movie version came out. I felt like I was cheating the book.
Again, it was my brother who told me the movie was good. And he rarely gives good feedback to me. He and his girlfriend watched it one Saturday evening and it was just perfect timing that my best friend wanted to meet up the following day. I begged them to watch the movie and they just stared at me: "What's that?" Unfortunately, this movie wasn't very much publicized. I was very glad we watched it and I think I got teary-eyed around 4 times.
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It was a story of childhood in Afghanistan. Two friends who lived in different worlds who had one thing in common: kites. The point of view came from Amir, the son of a wealthy Afghan and his relationship to his servant's son, Hassan. They were the best of friends but were still along the lines of master-servant relationship.
Hassan was the epitome of a friend. He was loyal, kind, trustworthy and will always be there for you. In my mind, Hassan was the good that everyone took advantaged of. He was the innocent lamb ready to be slaughtered. And yet, he would not think so bad of the people around him.
Amir was not quite like that. He would ridicule and make fun of Hassan's illiteracy; mock their relationship as master-servant. He was not all that bad. He was a lost and confused child in a world of overwhelming influences and pressures.
Despite all these, the two enjoyed each other's company and would find comfort in each other's presence. They would fly kites, cut all the other children's kites and Hassan would run for that fallen trophy for Amir 'a thousand times over'. Amir and Hassan, the Sultans of Kabul.
It was one tragic accident that changed all these. Amir did what he thought was best: he ran away. He turned his back on his best friend just when Hassan needed him the most.
Amir was plagued and haunted with his fallen relationship with Hassan even as he lived and grew up in America. But like all stories, there is a chance for redemption.. there is a way to be good again.
Amir's last challenge was to save Hassan's son, Sohrab (named after a character from Hassan's favorite story, which Amir often reads to him) from Taliban. Amir knew that if he wanted to save face and redeem himself, he had to do this one impossible task. After all, it was for Hassan. It was for the friend he turned his back on.
Of course, the story not only revolved around the boys' seemingly different personalities. The other characters around them were also trapped in their own hubris. It was a story of human imperfection and how they cope with the changing world and cultures. In the end, it was all about the fundamental inclination of man towards the good.. and his struggle to do what is good for others or do what is good only for himself.
Amir taught me a very hard lesson of doing what is good and the importance of friendship. He learned so much from Hassan. Friendships can withstand pain and trials and difficulties. Hassan had done that selflessly and without a trace of hesitation. For a friend, he would run kites and more, a thousand times over!
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