Humans of The Kite Runner

My name is Amir and I grew up in Kabul, Iraq. It was there that I lost my best friend,
Hassan, forever. He always showed strength and courage when I was fearful, and stood up for
me when I was in trouble. It was my cowardice that drove him away. I couldnt find it within
myself to show valor or bravery, even when my best friend was fighting for me. I have lied
because after what I had done, I could not bear to look at Hassan. Many years later, I still regret
what I have done. I long to see Hassan and tell him how sorry I am for everything I have put
him through. That is why I decided to travel to Pakistan to find Rahim Khan. When he told me
about Hassan I felt my heart break inside of me. And later, when he told me about Hassans boy,
Sohrab, I knew I had to find him and that I would do anything to get him back.
I believe that Amir is the most interesting and intriguing character in The Kite Runner.
This is because he evolves as a person throughout the story. As a child, he was selfish, always
wanting his fathers attention and playing games with Hassan to make himself feel superior. He
was also cowardice and was scared to stand up for himself. As a man, however, he was
ambitious and worked to accomplish his dream of becoming a writer and got married to his wife,
Sorayahe was living the American Dream. Though he was a timid child, I admired Amirs
strength and courage to travel to Peshawar, Pakistan to see his friend Rahim Khan. He showed
even more bravery when he granted Rahim Khans dying wish of finding Hassans son, Sohrab.
This journey took him back to Kabul, where he faced many challenges and hardships. Despite
these difficulties, Amir was determined to find Sohrabnot only for his own redemption, but for
Hassan. Amir had remembered something Rahim Khan had told him before he went to Pakistan,
Come. There is a way to be good again (Hosseini 2592). This showed that he would do
anything for this little boy he barely knew, because it was the son of his best friend whom he had
betrayed. By the end of The Kite Runner, Amir transformed into a heroic, self-sacrificing man
who vowed to love and protect Sohrab, a lasting memory of his best friend.

Humans of A Thousand Splendid Suns

My name is Laila and I am fifteen years old. My life has been filled with war, which has
taken the life my two older brothers. My mother lies in bed most days saddened by their death,
while my father works as hard as he can to provide for our family after losing his job as a
professor. The only person that I know will always be there for me is my best friend Tariq. We
have been best friends for as long as I can remember and have always been inseparable.
Recently, our friendship has turned into something more, and people are noticing, talking. Just
yesterday he told me that he was fleeing Kabul, leaving to travel to Pakistan. I was shocked,
angered, and heart-broken when he informed me the news. He told me to come with him, but we
both knew I couldnt leave my parents behind. He left this morning, and I still cant grasp the
idea of being without Tariq. He had told me that he wanted to marry me, and then he left,
promising to find me again.
Laila was my favorite character in A Thousand Splendid Suns because she persevered and
overcame every hardship that came her way. After Tariq left and her parents died when a missile
hit her house, she was left alone with no one in her life. Despite this, she found a way to provide
for not only herself, but also for the child she was carrying, by marrying Rasheed. I admire Laila
for her strength, even though she was young and had faced devastation, she never broke down. I
also admire her relationship with Mariam. Although they argued and disliked each other in the
beginning, they both grew closer and protected each other like sisters. Laila was intrepid. When
Rasheed did not make enough money to support the family, Lailas daughter, Aziza, was put in
an orphanage. Laila could not stand the thought of being without her beloved daughter, And so
Lailas life suddenly revolved around finding ways to see Aziza. Half the time, she never made it
to the orphanage (Hosseini 4942). This is because the Talibs would beat her when she was out
alone, without a man. Laila was loving and caring and would put her life at risk to see her and
Tariqs daughter whenever she could. Her love was self-sacrificing and endless. Though her life
was hard, she remained hopeful that something better was yet to come.

Humans of The Joy Luck Club

My name is Jing-mei Woo, but people call me June. My mother, Suyuan, was born in
Kweilin, China and was forced to flee when the Japanese invaded in World War II. While she
was in China, she founded a group known as The Joy Luck Clubin which four women
gathered for a game of mahjong. When she came to the United States, she brought the concept
of the Joy Luck Club with her. After my mothers passing, I was asked to take her seat at the
mahjong table. At my first Joy Luck Club meeting, the three other women, my mothers closest
friendsAn-mei Hsu, Lindo Jong, and Ying-ying St. Clairgave me strict orders. These orders
were to travel to China and find my mothers twin daughters. She had been trying to find them
for years, and finally got an address shortly before she passed. They told me that it was my duty
to find them and tell them my mothers story. When...if I found them what would I tell them? I
am doubting myself, wondering if I really knew my mother. I want to find my mothers
daughters, my half-sisters, and come to know them, however, I am afraid of what my mother
would think of my representation of her.
I chose to write about Jing-mei Woo because I believe she addresses important issues in
our world today. One of these issues is the generational divide, which occurred between the
mothers and daughters of the Joy Luck Club. Often, I believe we take our mothers for granted.
Just as June thought her mother was critical and harsh, teenagers often believe the same thing.
Jing-mei explained her relationship with her mother by saying, It seemed my mother was
always displeased with all her friends, with me, and even with my father (Tan 322). In the end,
however, our mothers are always trying to do the best for us and their criticism is an expression
of love. Just as Jing-mei Woo wants to make her mother proud, we all have a desire to impress
our parents and gain a sense of pride. Another issue June, along with the other mothers of the
Joy Luck Club, address is their fear that their Chinese heritage is being lost. They begin to
realize that the world has changed and with it so have their daughters. I can relate to Jing-mei
Woo in many ways. She believes that many of the things her mother has told her, do not apply to
her life. They often disagree, however, after Jing-mei travels to China, she realizes everything
Suyuan told her is important. Similarly, I believe that as I grow older, I tend to heed my
mothers advice and trust that what she tells me is useful. I admire Junes openness to learn and
try new things and her realization that family is the most important thing in life.

Works Cited
Hosseini, Khaled. A Thousand Splendid Suns. New York City: Penguin Group, 2007. Print.
Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. New York City: Penguin Group, 2003. Print.
Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club. New York City: Penguin Group, 1989. Print.