The Book That Remains



"I know," he said, breaking our embrace. "Inshallah, we'll celebrate later. Right now, I'm going to run that blue kite for you," he said. He dropped the spool and took off running, the hem of his green chapan dragging in the snow behind him. "Hassan!" I called. "Come back with it!" He was already turning the street corner, his rubber boots kicking up snow. He stopped, turned. He cupped his hands around his mouth. "For you a thousand times over!" he said. Then he smiled his Hassan smile and disappeared around the corner. The next time I saw him smile unabashedly like that was twenty-six years later, in a faded Polaroid photograph. This is a section from the book Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, that describes its entirety. This is a scene that depicts the two boys Hassan and Amir that had just won the community kite race (a huge event that had obtainable records set). Hassan, Amir's servant, (and secret friend) "runs" the kite for him. During the said kite races children would fly kites and attempt to cut down the kites of other children around the community. Once the last kite had fallen, children would run and follow it through the air with the intent of catching it when it hit the ground. This tradition was met with a tragedy that would soon forever change these boys and the remainder of their lives as well as the lives of those around them. This book is an amazing (but believable) tale of friendship, betrayal, warfare, and the divine respect that is earned developed, and maintained between two people through the most difficult of times. I would save this book for anyone in the post apocalyptic world because it shows so many true values. I was required to read this novel for my AP English class senior year and it is by far the absolute best book that has ever entered my mind and thoughts. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, but one should be ready to experience the hardships and mature tragedies that these characters endure throughout.