The Kite Runner: The Book’S Superior Plot

Have you heard about chasing kites? It is a traditional competition in Kabul. Both the book The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini was published in 2003 and the movie of the same name directed by Marc Forster released in 2007 introduce the competition well. However, the book ends up being better than the movie of developing the plot as demonstrated by Amir’s relationship with Hassan, Amir and Baba’s life in America and the relationship between Amir and his nephew, Sohrab.

Amir’s relationship with Hassan in the book is more fully developed than it in the movie based on Amir’s jealousy for Hassan and Amir’s insult to Hassan. For example, in the movie, the reason for Amir to get rid of Hassan and Ali is simply a capricious act. Conversely, the book conveys that this action is Amir’s way to escape the problem between Hassan and him and to push him away from his guilty to Hassan. The scene that destroys Amir is the image of Hassan in misery and all he wants is to unsee that event because it causes him so painful, according to “I feel like sticking a knife in my eye” (Hosseini, 86). Also, the movie does not include the scene where Amir reads to Hassan and insults him about the meaning of words. “I’d tease him, expose his ignorance” (Hosseini, 30). However, this is a significant part of the story because it appears the only feeling of true power Amir feels he has over Hassan. It also emphasizes his insecurities. Therefore, the description of two boy’s relationship is clearly one factor proving that the book is better than the movie.

Amir and Baba’s life in America is depicted with much greater detail in the book than in the movie. In the book, Baba can not fit in the society but he stays for Amir. However, Baba seems happier in the movie. For instance, in the book, when Amir has completely fitted in the America society, Baba is still struggling and misses the life he has in Afghanistan, based on “For me, America was a place to bury my memories. For Baba, a place to mourn his” (Hosseini, 129). The fact that Baba stays in America shows how much he loves Amir. On the other hand, in the film, the plot is very different. Though Baba may still struggle, he seems happier and even thinks of contact with Americans. Thus, the father and son’s experience in America is another example which the book surpasses the movie.

The relationship between Amir and Sohrab is not complete in the movie by comparing it to the book as demonstrated by Amir taking Sohrab to America and the hardship for Amir to adopt Sohrab. As an illustration, in the book, Amir starts to laugh during the fight with Assef because it is so painful that he stays in the hospital for two weeks, according to “My body was broken—just how badly I wouldn’t find out until later—but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed” (Hosseini, 289). In contrast, he is able to walk, climb over a wall and never get any therapy in the movie. This reduces the gravity of the fight greatly. In addition, that laugh shows Amir finally thinks he has received his punishment for what he had done to Hassan. As well, for Sohrab’s adoption, Amir faces lots of difficulties in the book to adopt his nephew and be able to bring him to America. On the contrary, they just get on a plane and no questions asked, no paper to sign in the movie. The movie makes it seem like it is easy to go to Kabul and save Sohrab, where in reality it requires much more effort, time and love to do so, according to “He sucked in his breath and let it out in a long, wheezy cry. ‘I'm so dirty and full of sin’” (Hosseini, 88). Thus, these differences in terms of Amir and Sohrab’s relationship prove that the book does a better job than the movie.

There are many factors that must work together properly to create a strong and satisfying plotline. The plot between the kite runner Hassan, the narrator Amir and the Amir’s father Baba makes the book better than the move. As a result, when it comes to the plot, The Kite Runner the book is markedly better than “The Kite Runner” the movie. Will you tell the truth if you are Amir?