Best of Week: Kite Runner page 231

Although I do not remember who shared the upcoming insight with the class, I give them full credit. On page 231, the passage reads," I was afraid the appeal of my life in America would draw me back, that I would wade back into that great, big river and let myself forget, let the things I had learned these last few days sink to the bottom. I was afraid that I'ld llet the waters carry me away from what I had to do. From Hassan. From the past that had come calling. And from this last chance at redemption. " A parallel to this passage was brought up in class and can be found on page 136. "America was different. America was a river, roaring along, unmindful of the past. I could wade into this river, let my sins drown to the bottom, let the waters carry me someplace far. Someplace with no ghosts, no memories, and no sins." I thought this was one of the best insights of the week due to the fact that textual and craft simalarities were constrewed.

These pieces show irony because on page 136, Amir was thankful to be able to wash away his memories of the past. America was a new hope for him. However, in the later passage, Amir realizes that he shouldn't wade into the river or indulge in self pity because that will force him to digress from his mission to save what is left of Hassan. His son Sohrab.

These passages were also the best of the week, due to the way they represent our artful sentences lesson about short sentences. The last three sentences from the first quote listed are all relatively short, and they show ... I noted that all three of those sentences begin with from, therefore, they could've been listed in a single sentence. In class we discussed that, by splitting these pieces into short sentences, the idea is more salient and powerful. The length of the sentences gets progressively longer. Opposingingly, the second passage starts with a short sentence which also brings power. I feel that this shows more of a new beginning, whereas the short sentences of the first passage show plans for the near future/foreshadowing.

This was definitely the bests insight of the week because it showed textual connections, important ideas in the plot, and a type of writing craft we used this week.

One extra piece of connections that I came up with, concerns Assef's idea of cultural cleansing. Amir tries to forget, to erase, to cleanse himself of his past and all of this knowledge of his previous life in Afghanistan. He realizes that it is not possible to get rid of old memories completely; and Amir finds that it is important not to forget. Maybe Assef will also realize that it is not possible to cleanse everyone of the culture of the Hazaras when he looses the fight with Amir and Sorhab.