Monday, March 31, 2008

Live Blogging: Chapter 13

A few reminders...

Explain your thinking carefully and thoroughly (you know that I love it when you bring in quotations).

Keep your grammar polished.

Refresh by hitting the F5 key.

Have fun!

56 comments:

amandab said...

I don't really think there was a significance in the song, because it was just a wedding song.

Whitney C said...

to be honest, I have no idea what the significance is between the same song...

Bandido said...

Playing jock rock at your wedding is never a good idea.
But the song is totally a metaphor for male suppression of female expression because that general guy never wanted his wife to sing even though she was becoming an underground sensation.

Keiko A said...

I think that the general really lives his life by Afgan laws and wants his daughter to do the same.

kaseyb said...

I agree with Rachel in that Afghans marry only for the family name and money and not just for love.

Tabitha M said...

I bet the Soraya feels horrible that she can not have children, however I don't think Amir should love her any less. Having children in their culture must be very important.

I believe that the song sang is just a very common song without their region and the Russian just likes wedding songs.

Whitney C said...

I think the general likes the Afghan way of marraige because he is from Afghanistan so that kind of gives him the right to like all the Afghan ways.

jenniferb said...

The General prefers everything to be done the Afghan way. He doesn't want his daughter to marry the American way-for love-he wants her to marry for blood.

hilary l said...

The General wanted to keep the culture of the Afghans. He wanted his wife to marry for blood and not for love. He wanted to keep the tradition of having Afghan blood in his family.

Allison M. said...

I think that the song the russian was singing that day when Baba and Amir were trying to escape from Kabul, was the same song as the one played in his wedding because is symbolizes new beginnings but also reminds Amir of his past and that he cannot move forward into his new life without resolving some of what happened during his childhood.

allie f. said...

I agree with Keiko on the general living his life by the Afghan laws.

Whitney C said...

Baba had never read any of Amir's stories and now since Baba was finally proud of Amir then reading Amir's stories is a sign of approval of his own son.

amandab said...

I think Baba knew that he was going to die so he wanted to hear all of his son's stories so he didn't die without knowing Amir's talents.

Tabitha M said...

Baba most likely wants to connect with Amir and understand what he never understood about him. The closer like Tyler says makes complete sense for his father to finally approve of Amir. Baba is now starting to finally respect Amir.

BrookeG said...

I think that Baba wants Soraya to read Amir's stories for a sort of closure. It shows that he finally approves of Amir, and that he also approves of Soraya. At the end, he finally appreciates Amir.

hilary l said...

I think Baba wanted to feel like he was closer to Amir by reading his stories. Because he read his stories Amir may have felt better about his father because his father became interested in his stories and accepting him.

Keiko A said...

I think that Baba wants to have Soraya to read Amir's stories to him because I think that he feels guilty about ignoring Amir for most of his life, and he is showing his pride in what Amir was doing. Plus I think that he wants closure on his relationship with his son, so that Amir will remember him as a loving father.

kaseyb said...

I agree with Rachel again in that because Baba hasn't given Amir enough approval, he wants to do it know even though he is on his death bed.

TraciAnn said...

Jenna asked why Baba asked saraya to read all of Amir's stories for him. I think that he wants her to read these to him because he wants to hear his stories before he dies. He wants to see what his son is accomplished. I agree with Jaime that Baba regreted not paying attention to his son as much so he wants to make up for that by reading his writing.

amandab said...

I do think that Baba had a small amout of guilt, but he was still happy that he got to see his son get married.

Tabitha M said...

I believe that Baba died once he finally made peace with Amir and they were connecting. All the horrible things between them were gone and his dad knew he could die in peace. Baba must be very happy that his son got married and it is great for their relationship.

TraciAnn said...

This is chelsea chapman...
I think that the song does have significance. I think that it stands for new beginnings because when Baba and Amir left Kabul they began a new life and now Amir is beginning a new chapter with Soraya.

jenniferb said...

I think Baba realized that since he was dying that he should read Amir's stories. I think Baba feels bad for not paying attention to Amir when he was a child and he wants to make it up to him.

hilary l said...

I think that Amir and Soraya are becaming very close to each other when Soraya was taking care of Baba. Amir realised what a great person Soraya is.

Whitney C said...

I don't think Amir was relieved at all when Baba died. In a way, Baba's illness was helping the marraige and bringing Soraya and Amir closer together.

Tabitha M said...

I believe that Baba's illness never affected their relationship in a bad way. I think that Baba's sickness completely helped with Amir's marriage like Chad said. Great bonding.

Allison M. said...

I don't think Amir felt that way at all. I think he appreciated Baba's presence, and his illness wasn't holding back the wedding. Baba was the one who went to the general and helped Amir out in asking their permission to marry Soraya. Baba's death was a big loss for Amir.

TraciAnn said...

I do not think Amir thinks baba's illness is holding his relatinship with soraya back. He was definately not relieved when Baba died. Baba led him.

Keiko A said...

“Listening to them, I realized how much of who I was, what I was, had been defined y Baba and the marks he had left on people’s lives. My hole life, I had been “Baba’s son.” Now he was gone. Baba couldn’t show me the way anymore; I’d have to find it on my own.” (Hosseini 174) I think that Baba’s death makes Amir realize that he is on his own now, there is no one left to tell him how to act, or feel, he has to figure it out on his own.

hilary l said...

Amir becomes very sad when Baba died. After the funeral, while Amir was talking to his wife Soraya, she cared for him because of his pain he was feeling, “Soraya pulled me to her and the tears finally came”. Amir cried for his father when he died and it took a lot for him to hold it in during the funeral.

hilary l said...

I think that Amir wants to live up to his father’s standards because his father was such a great man. It may have helped Amir to be strong and to go and see Khan in Pakistan over so many years.

amandab said...

I think that Amir felt that he needed to use what he learned from Baba and start taking care of himself and finish the path that Baba started for him.

kaseyb said...

I agree with Torin that Baba used to control Amir and now that he is gone, Amir is kind of lost.

Allison M. said...

I liked the quote that tyler used, and I definitely agree. Now that Baba is dead, I think Amir is going to have to grow up a little but and become more independant. He can no longer rely on Baba's image to save him and get him through, he's on his own now.

JordanR said...

there was also a good passage on page 174 that shows how Baba felt after his death..."I realized how much of who i was, what i was, had been defined by Baba and the marks he had left on people's lives"

Whitney C said...

I agree with Tyler's quote that he had from the book. It really does sum up Amir's thoughts and what he has to do now that Baba is dead.

Bandido said...

This doesn't really have much to do with Baba's death, but The Great Mouse Detective is the coolest Disney movie.

And this doesn't have anthing to do with Baba's death either, but I'd say a bunch of the people at his funeral knew of him. And he was kind of like a mini celebrity back in Kabul so people had to check it out.

hilary l said...

I think that everyone really respected Baba. He was a very strong man and he was very well known in the Afghan society. He impacted many different people because of his attitude towards different characters.

TraciAnn said...

I think that Baba was known and admired by lots of people. He had accomplished many great things in his life. I agree with tyler when he said that Baba had a great impact on peoples lives. He was a wise man that left is wisdom upon the people that he encountered.

jenniferb said...

I think Baba's death affected Amir because even though Baba did not pay attention to Amir when he was young, he taught him the things he needs to know to live on his own. Baba helped Amir with everything and now that he is gone Amir has to become the man he was meant to be, without his father there.

Whitney C said...

I don't think that Amir and Soraya would not have adopted a child becuase they are Afghanistan and it is not the Afghan way of life.

kaseyb said...

I think that is very possible that they would adopt a child if they weren't under the Afghan influence but I am not sure.

Allison M. said...

No I don't think that Soraya and Amir would adopt a chile, because Soraya said so herself that she wants it to be her own. I also think that Amir is a little bit against adoption because the Afghanistan tradition is all about having "good" blood.

Keiko A said...

I think that there could have been a small chance but it seems like Soraya was really against adoption and so I don't think that Afghan tradition has much to do with it, I just think that Amir and Soraya don't really feel that it would be best for them

amandab said...

I don't think that they would have, it's their culture and they want to have their own kid and the influence made them not want to adopt a kid because it's not their own blood.

Whitney C said...

by adopting a kid, you are basically murdering your reputation ad respect from others in the Afghan culture.

Bandido said...

The General talked about this adoption thing but I mainly think that they don't adopt because they don't want to shame their parents.

kaseyb said...

I agree with Tyler that they want their family's blood line to be strong so that they can have a better name for their family.

Tabitha M said...

I think Tyler's quote was fantastic and it really showed how Amir views his father's death. Also it can be looked at as a stepping stone or a growing step. I believe they are anti-adoption, because as Rachel said, is that the blood in the family is a main factor and staying in the genes is their way. I believe it is a good thing that they are unable to have kids. It could possiblely be because he wouldn't be a good father. It was ment to be that way.

Erin said...

I think that they would not have adopted a kid because it's not their "own blood" and I do think it's kind of symbolic that they cant have kids because it is really making them think about what they want in life.

BrookeG said...

I agree with Tyler, when he said that Amir would finally have to become himself. He couldn't follow Baba's lead anymore.

kaseyb said...

I think that Amir not being able to have a child because of what he did to Hassan. Maybe he is being punished, however I am not sure.

TraciAnn said...

Is it maybe sybolic that they can't have friends? Yes i think that it is symbolic because it is teaching them to love and be happy without children. What Amir did as a child reflects what will happen to him. Its Karma.

TraciAnn said...

Is it maybe sybolic that they can't have friends? Yes i think that it is symbolic because it is teaching them to love and be happy without children. What Amir did as a child reflects what will happen to him. Its Karma.

Allison M. said...

I like the quote that Rachel pointed out, and I definitely think that it has a lot to do with the fact that Soraya isn't able to have a child. "Maybe it wasn't meant to be... or maybe it was meant NOT to be." I think it has a lot to do with Karma, or the fact that Amir has other obligations to attend to later on in the story.

KaylaL said...

I agree with Allison about the song meaning new beginnings but also reminds Amir of his past. It shows he will not be able to get rid of his past but he can change his future.
I agree with Brooke about Baba wanting Soraya to read the stories. It does show that Baba approves of Amir and Soraya. It seems that he wants a better relationship with his son and he wants to understand Amir's abilities.
I agree with Tabitha about Baba dying when he finally made peace with Amir. They had a rocky past but they got over it and made a new future. Once Baba finally approved of Amir, he knew he could die in peace. He also saw his only son get married so that was one last joy he could celebrate.
I agree with Allison again about Baba's illness not effecting Amir and Soraya's relationship. It brought Amir and Soraya together and made them stronger. It showed how much Soraya cared about Amir and his father. "'I thought you might want us to have our own place,' I said. 'With Kaka jan as sick as he is?' she replied. Her eyes told me that was no wat to start a marriage.(page 172)" That little sentence shows that she really cares.

Baba's death really effected Amir because Amir finally got Baba's approval, after everything they had been through. I think Amir was devastated when Baba died because he was his only true family in America, yes he had Soraya but he wanted his father. Amir also realized, like everyone said, how much of an influence Baba had over him and everyone's interpretation of him. Baba's name was the reason the General agreed to let Amir and Soraya get married.