Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Fishbowl #1: Chapters 9 and 10

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105 comments:

  1. Why did the author skip 5 years between chapter 9 and 10. What was his purpose.

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    1. Because that time period was really irrelevant to the plot of the story. But it could add a little bit of insight to what is happening in chapter 10.

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    2. @Josh
      I believe the reason that the author skipped those 5 years is maybe not a lot happened in that time frame in his life. Maybe he felt that particular part of his life wasn't very important to try to waste time on. Example: He ends chapter 9 with Amir feeling regretful and trying not to let Hassan know he saw him get raped by Assef.
      -Matt Myers.

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    3. I think it's because the book started in December of 2001 and right away the author starts in a flashback (page 1 of the book). The author went to give back story about Amir's sins that he left behind. When the author jumps forward, it marks another part of the book and Amir's life.

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    4. In the 5 years that the author skipped maybe nothing really happened the world affect what is happening at that point in the book now.

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    5. I think that the author skipped five years in the book because there was not that much stuff going on in there lives

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  2. Why does Amir try to get Hassan in trouble for the watch and money?

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    1. I think it was more Hassan taking the fall for the watch and the money.

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    2. I dont think hes was trying to get him in trouble as much as testing his loyalty to him still.

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    3. @Hendrixb
      I believe that was all part of Amir seeing if Hassan was still faithful to him after being raped. Amir might be trying to get Hassan sent away so they wont find out he was raped.
      -Matt Myers.

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    4. I agree with Alex, I think a better question would be why does Hassan take the fall? Obviously he doesn't do anything or deserve it. "This was Hassan's final sacrifice for me." But why sacrifice for someone that has ruined your life?

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    5. I agree with Alex because Hassan is willing to take the blame to make sure that Amir isn't getting in trouble.

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    6. He wants to get Hassan i a lot of trouble so that Baba would think Hassan is a thief and make him leave.

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    7. He doesn't I don't think. I think that he wanted to show Hassan his gratitude of standing up for him with the blue kite incident. He is just to much of a coward to say so.

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    8. I think Amir is trying to get rid of some of his guilt from just watching the rape and not doing anything about it. He needed to see if Hassan was still loyal and honest.

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    9. I think that amir didnt really want to get Hassan in trouble but more Amir was kinda testing Hassan loyalty for him

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  3. Why do you think Amir is always so cold to Hassan? If Amir felt guilty for not aiding Hassan, why did he push him out instead of apologizing to him?

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    1. i think because he has nothing to say or hes just in shock still. think about if the same thing had happend to one of your best friends. what would you say to that? especially if you had done nothing to stop it.

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    2. Max, I believe he did this because Hassan always would take a bullet for amir. Like when he threw the apples at Hassan he is testing him to see if he is loyal. Like when he throws him under the bus for the watch and money he is testing his loyalty. And Hassan does nothing to show Amir, a good friend would do anything not to get the other in trouble.

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    3. Amir is cold to Hassan because social normality says that Hazara's are not to be friends but they are servants. He doesn't want people to think he is against Pashtuns.

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    4. Because he has no courage no ability to take the blame for his actions. Amir has been selfish through the entire book why would he suddenly decide that Hassan was worthy enough to deserve his apology.

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    5. @ zac p.
      but why does he start being soo cold now. if anything i think he should have done the oppisite and supported hassan in his time of need.

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    6. I believe that Amir was never able to apologize to hassan because he just lacked the words. But he also has thought about trying to say he was sorry on page 109 “If this were one of the Hindi movies Hassan and I used to watch,this was the part where I’d run outside, my bare feet splashing rainwater. I’d chase the car screaming for it to stop. I’d pull Hassan out of the backseat tell him I was sorry, so sorry my tears mixing with rainwater. We’d hug in the downpour. But this was no Hindi movie. I was sorry but I didn’t cry and I didn’t chase the car.” Amir never had the courage to say he was sorry. Saying sorry I think was the only thing that Hassan wanted and the only thing that would fix the relationship.

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    7. I think that amir was still in shock about the whole thing and wanted to act like it never happened and he was never there. And also Think that Amir thinks that if his dad found out about it he would be mad at amir for not stepping in and helping Hassan because that is what Baba would've probably done.

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  4. Maybe in those five years nothing significant happen.

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  5. I agree with what Richard said about Amir and Hasaan. I believe Amir feels guilty and wants Hasaan to be mad at him so he feels like his guilt is pushed away.

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  6. Why did Assef Kamal and Wali say that they were chasing Hassan for the blue kite when they did not truly want the blue kite?

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    1. The blue kite meant everything to Hassan and a little to Amir. When Hassan tried to fight back and save the kite, that's when Assef decided to really make Hassan fear him.

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    2. kody, I believe they did this because they do not like him cause he is a Hazarra and not only that but amir's fathers "assistant"

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    3. I think that Assef Kamal and Wali wanted the kite because they wanted Hassan to know that he is not important and that they are better than him and they deserve the kite over him. Then when Hassan did not and was not going to give up the kite Assef and his friends wanted him to remember that they are better then him.

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    4. I think they yet again wanted to show their dominant rein over the two boys. I think they said they wanted the kite because they knew it had great value.

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  7. I liked easten's comment would if baba found out about what had happen.

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  8. When Ali and Hassan are announcing their departure, why is Ali so set on leaving? It seems like his mind has been made and cannot be changed. This makes me wonder whether not only Hassan knows that Amir witnessed the rape, but Ali also knows.

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    1. I don't think Hassan or Ali know that Amir witnessed the rape but i think Hassan told his father, Ali, that he got raped and that's why they were so determined to leave.

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    2. There was a moment in the alley when Hassan "moved his head slightly and I caught a glimpse of his face." (76-77) Do you think that Hassan saw Amir, or did Amir's later actions prove to Hassan and Ali that Amir knew what happened?

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    3. Ali knows that Hasaan is such a brave kid who is developing into a man. He doesn't want his hard work and courage to be wasted on Amir when all Amir does is treat them very poorly.

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  9. If Ali and Hassan weren't already planning on leaving, would Hassan have told the truth and said he didn't steal the watch?

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    1. I believe he would of it would of been a hard time though but ya in due time I bet he would have told him.

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    2. He was still loyal to Amir. He still had to follow the rules of a servant and take a bullet for Amir no matter what.

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    3. @Tanner Sparks
      I believe that Hassan would tell the truth to show that he is still faithful to Amir and would take the fall for it. It would be out of loyalty and friendship maybe.
      -Matt Myers.

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    4. I think the book summed it up the best, Hassan was giving Amir one last sacrifice because if he has said he didn’t take the watch then Amir’s relationship with Baba would never have recovered.

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  10. Hasaan stops sleeping and keeping to his self by asking Amir to go on a walk with him. Does this symbolize that their relationship had potential to be the same as it was before the incident?

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    1. I think it does symbolize that they could have the same relationship and it shows how Hasaan is still loyal to Amir although Amir witnessed the rape. And Hasaan was still trying to tell Amir of what happened

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  11. Does anyone know why Amir opened all the presents and just didn't bother to notice his father was giving him gifts and just tossed them to the side.
    Why does Amir just shove Baba to the side but excepts Rahim Khan's gift.

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  12. Why does Baba keep treating Amir badly, almost as if he didn't love him?
    -Matt Myers.

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    1. I think it is just Amirs way of covering the pain and sorrow he has.

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    2. I think Baba is treating Amir badly because Amir is treating Hassan so poorly.

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    3. I think Baba treats Amir badly is because Baba thinks that Hasaan is more like himself although Amir tries to show his dad what he does and his dad is accepting of Hasaan because of his athletisism

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    4. I think it is because he finds that his son is a failure and is not worth his time or his devotion.

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  13. Austin asked why Baba is always the hero and never lets someone else be brave. I feel h3e does this because he feels that if he is a hero 100% of the time then Amir may be the hero for once in his life. I think every thing Baba does has reason and is to teach his son.

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    1. I don't know Daylon. He seemed to be a hero even before Amir was born.

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    2. Isn't everything parents due is to teach some kind of lesson we just never understand it till were older just like Amir and maybe in the future Amir will look back and turn into a hero.

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    3. I slightly agree, but I think that Baba has that certain personality that makes him NEED to be the hero. He has a very large ego, which shows especially with the large parties he throws. It is obvious that Amir doesn't have that piece of ego and personality, which might have something to do with why Amir is so estranged from his father.

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    4. I agree with daylon, everything that Baba teaches is for a reason/purpose for everything he does has a sole purpose to make him a better purose.

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  14. Does Amir regret making Baba sad or does he think it was a small price to pay as long as Hassan is gone?

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    1. @JackM2015
      I think that Amir is regretful for that because in the midst of trying to please Baba and gain his love and approval, it was like a giant setback to pleaseing him.
      -Matt Myers.

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    2. I think that Amir does not think much of this because now that Hassan is gone Baba can only focus on Amir and there is no one else that can get in the way of Baba being proud of what Amir does

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  15. Would Ali and Hassan have stayed at the mansion if Amir had confessed right then and there?

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    1. I think they still would have left because that would have truly told Ali who knew what had happened to his son, would not have been able to trust him anymore and it is hard to work for a master who lies and cheats you.

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    2. No because Hassan told Ali about the rape and how no one told anyone about it so they had made the decision to leave before they come to talk with Baba.

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    3. I think they would of still left but Amir would have been in a huge amount of trouble. If I found out that my son was raped I would not want to stay with the kid who could have stopped it either.

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    4. I agree with Josh, I believe that even if Amir had confessed right then about planting the money, Ali and Hassan still would have left. Maybe if Amir had confessed to seeing what had happen to Hassan and everything he had done wrong after that, at least Baba would have had a reason to why they had to leave. I don't understand why Amir never told anyone in the first place, because then they could have lived that "happily ever after" that Amir always wanted.

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  16. Do you think that what assef said about the relationship between Amir and Hassan has come true in chapter 9.

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    1. Yes. What assef did to haasan completley ruined there friendship

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    2. @Josh
      I think that because Assef said that then the incident happened it kind of is like "adding lemon juice to the cut", because it stuck in Hassans mind and became a reality. Hassan must have thought about it because it is true, Amir treats him horribly.
      -Matt Myers.

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    3. I think what Assef said made Amir's reaction to the situation different. If Assef hadn't made it as much about class difference and more just about his own power, I think Amir would have recovered much faster and their friendship could have been rekindled.

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  17. Why is it that Baba seems to resent Amir? Why does Baba never seem to like anything that Amir does?

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    1. I think its because Baba wanted Amir to be him and the more time they spend together the more Baba sees his son is not him like he had hoped for.

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    2. I think its because Hassan is in a dark time so Baba is caring more for Hassan than Amir because Baba doesn't want Ali and Hassan to leave. Baba doesn't know that Hassan got raped.

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    3. I believe he does this to try to show tough love.

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    4. Amir is nothing like Baba. Amir likes to write and he is bad at soccer. It is hard for them to find a common ground.

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    5. I agree with Preston because Baba wanted Amir to be just like him and when he sees that they are not the same and have different likes, then Baba does not like or is willing to accept Amir the way he is.

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    6. @Kody
      I think that Baba still loves Amir but he just is disappointed that Amir is not like him and as ambitious as him. Amir lacks the drive to be like Baba.
      -Matt Myers.

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    7. Preston i agree with you because it does seem the more Baba is with Amir the more he finds out that amir is nothing like him. since Baba may have noticed this i think Baba is trying to keep him a little part of his life rather than someone that plays a big role in his life.

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  18. I really like tanners question about "how would it affect amir if his mom was still there?"
    I like it because it would really turn the book around because if his mom was here he would not be trying to make baba happy as much. He would go on with life with his mom and not think much of baba, but i don't think he would compleatly shut him out of his life.

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  19. Even when Baba is more proud of Amir then he ever was his whole life, why must he flaunt his child to so many people at this party instead of showing his pride to just Amir?

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    1. Like I said before, I think it was also on one of your comments Daylon, I believe it has to do with Baba's ego. That may be one of the crucial flaws that Baba has, and maybe why Amir has to try and prove himself to Baba.

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    2. Because Baba wanted to show his pride for his son, but he also wanted to brag his ego of even more because he fathered this boy who won the kite tournament.

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  20. If Hassan was Baba's favorite why didn't he keep Ali and Hassan from leaving?

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    1. Because I think he knew something weird was going on and he thought it would be best.

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    2. Baba tried but Ali said that they had to go and that there was nothing that could amend what had happened

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  21. I think if Amir would have just told the truth about Hassan when it first happened then he could enjoy his birthday and everything else.

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  22. Do you think that Haasan will ever come back into the story? And if so how will Amir react?

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    1. I think he will eventually and Amir will be surprised and then Amir will start remembering why he left and maybe confess to all that happened.

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    2. Graham, I asked the same thing as they were leaving. I think he will reappear and it will change Amir as a person again like the incident with Assef.

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    3. Of course he will. He will come back and will hopefully be better than ever to show Amir that he really isn't the only thing that matters to Hassan.

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    4. I think Hassan will come back because after he was assaulted by Assef, Amir said that smile that Hassan used to have would never come back till 20 years in the future.

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    5. Graham, good question. Seeing how the book has played out so far I feel like we will see Hassan again and it will be something else.

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    6. I think Amir might quickly run into Hassan but they not stick together for long. Also Amir is no longer Hassans master so Hassan will no longer respect Amir.

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    7. I think it might be a good reaction because Amir said he saw him smiling in the future at the begening of the book.

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  23. I still don't understand how Amir can stand to live on this planet let alone escape death which is what he deserves. Only 3 people have really cared for him, and those people are Rahim Khan, Ali, and Hassan. He let 2 of those 3 people down and still tries to impress Baba who will only love him if he does something that glorifies him.

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    1. I agree the fact that he let Hasaan get raped and didn't help all Amir was worried about was the blue flag and how proud his father would be if he got the flag home.

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  24. On page 116 half way down the page "Baba slapped my hand away. "haven't I taught you anything?" This shows he truly is trying make Amir a better person.

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    1. He was trying to make Amir more like him, not necessarily a better person. In this case, it was for the better but that could have turned out badly.

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  25. Now that the book has flashed forward a couple of years, is there any noticeable difference to Amir? Does he act any different?

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    1. He is a man now so Baba can finally treat him like one without him complaining. But other than that, he is still a coward who is most likely sad and lonely without Hassan or Ali.

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  26. Should Amir ever apologize to Baba for all of the pain he has caused.

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  27. on page 116 half way down why does Amir say"Somtimes, I too woundered if I was really Baba's son"

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  28. Why doesn't Amir ever repay or do something for Hassan after all the falls Hassan has taken for him?

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  29. I was surprised when Baba helped Amir up after the explosion or whatever was creating all of the fumes. When he said, "Think of something good, something happy." It seems like when something bad happens, Baba stops worrying about Amir's weakness and starts thinking about taking care of his son.

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  30. Rob,

    How accurate is this book's description of how Afghanistan was in the 1980's, and how has life in Afghanistan changed since then?

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    1. Tanner,

      The book is very accurate of the 1980's. Afghanistan has not recovered to that period, the Taliban destroyed most of the Western influence.

      Rob

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  31. The major things that happened in these chapters was Amir framed Hassan for stealing. Then Baba and Amir were escaping Afghanistan. On the truck they were escaping with, Russians stopped them and asked for 30 minutes with a man's wife. Baba stands to the Russian. The major question I had was why Amir such a coward when Baba is willing to risk his life for some one he barely knows.

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  32. In these chapters what really stood out to me and had me thinking is when Baba stands up to the Russian solider. It made me think that when he did that Amir was watching the whole thing and he is still a coward and doesn't stand up for himself. It makes me wonder why Amir is like that, because Baba stands up for his family, friends and himself so where does Amir get it from?

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