Despite my doubts, the novel The Kite Runner turned out to be an amazingly good book. As a matter of fact, Khaled Hosseini’s novel proved to be one of the few books that has touched me. I am happy that I have read this fantastic novel, and I will always remember the friendship between Amir and Hassan.

Concerning the questions, I will try not to tell too much of the plot, if there are people who might want to read the novel later.

When reading the novel, the reader truly gets an insight into how hard it is to adapt to a new culture and country. After the Soviet invasion, the protagonist and his father immigrated to the US. As a consequence of moving to a new country, Amir and his father had to adapt to a new culture. The main character, who was very young when he came to the United States, did not have any problems with adapting to the different life.

In the United States, Amir went to collage and afterwards he became an author. However, his father, who had an important job in Afghanistan, had to work at a gas station in the States, just to stay alive. In a similar manner, it is not only Afghans in the US who has problems like this. For instance, here in Sweden we have the same problem. Surgeons, architects, engineers etc. do not have a chance to work with the things they are educated for.

However, they managed to keep traditions alive in the US. In my opinion, it is

because there were many other refugees from Afghanistan. When being a lot of people who share the same culture and traditions, it is easier to stay with it. After all, traditions characterizes people a lot, and I believe giving up traditions may be very difficult, and that is why many people seek out others with the same culture. That is why I think Amir’s father socialized with Afghans mostly.

The relationship between the protagonist and his father became increasingly better in the States. In my opinion, I think they managed to improve their relationship, because of not living in Afghanistan. In the United States Amir’s father had an opportunity to really focus on the father-and-son-relationship.

According to me, courage is when you do something you really fear. However, it does not have to mean that you are going to fight a lion or run into a burning house. Undoubtedly, it can also be courageous to tell the truth and admit that you have done something wrong. I truly believe that Amir is courageous. The protagonist says: ”I don’t want to forget anymore” (The Kite Runner, page 242). By admitting that he has done something wrong and are prepared to find redemption for his past is very courageous. Amir had a chance to forget the past and live on with his life, but he decided to conquer his biggest fear. Finally, Amir proofs himself to be a man who can stand up for himself, and also for others.

In the end, the book is much about taking responsibility for your actions, and finding redemption.