End of Kite Runner 5/30

I have just finished The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. As horrible and as graceful as the story progresses, the ending makes the reader realize the incredible irony. Amir, who was practically cast away emotionally from his father due to his father's guilt must try gain emotion from Sohrab. He must run down a kite in order to gain something from Hassan's son that only Hassan receieved from his father. The story has many tragic moments yet at every turn the idea of Karma is shown as Sohrab is the one who knocks out Assef's eye. Still, the story is told in a background that represents a common struggle that faces the children of Afghanistan. As stated in the story, "Afghanistan has many children, but no childhood"(339). Another major theme that plays its role is guilt. Guilt provides the motivation for Amir to do what he did and also creates the emotionally distant Baba who Amir grows up with. It then forces Amir to go to Afghanistan where the demons from his childhood remain. Finally, the last major theme is determination. Baba appears to be the most determined character in the story because of his guilt. He becomes a great humanitarian as he builds an orphanage and helps many unfortunate people. Amir, in the beginning, is not determined and this creates the situation that the book is based on. Later on though, he becomes stronger and determined in his actions leading to the inevitable end where he saves Hassan's son and helps to connect with him.

Shibumi 4/9/10

Shibumi is a story about an anything but simple person trying to achieve "effortless perfection". In the beginning, the story centers around a story of CIA supervisors who are running covert operations. However, this segues into a story of young Nikolai Hel. As an intelligent young man, Nikolai discovers mysticism. In order to achieve perfection which he knows as "shibumi" he must control this ability and use it accordingly. Still, the story centers around an old Nikolai who is thrown back into the world of danger and violence. The most interesting thing about the story is about how Nikolai has viewed and continues to view his mystic abilities. When he was young his teacher had asked if his transcend into the mystic world brought pleasure? Nikolai responds articurately with claiming that "'[He] never thought of it that way. It is...necesary'" (84). He feels that he needs this ability or he may go crazy. His teacher warns him that many people who have mystic beliefs when they are young lose it later in life. Nikolai tells him that he would punish whomever or whatever caused him to lose his powers. Nikolai's mental status and his physical traits conflict in that his mind cannot handle his powers. This conflict will lead to an immense clash in violence between him and those who seek to destroy him.