There are many things that can make a book intersting. In my opinion for a book to be interesting it has to be original, catch my attention, and be unlike something I have read in the past. I also like to have some sort of relation to a character, like a similar trait or past struggle. When I find a book to be interesting it is hard to put down and keeps me reading. I also find books interesting if they have some sort of twist.

     One of the books from the summer reading list that met this standard for me was The Kite Runner. This was one of the most intersting books that I have read in a long time, let alone this summer. It kept me guessing and held my attention. I read this book in four days. I was usually wrong on what I predicted to happen. It was also unlike any book I have read. It took place in modern Afghanistan about a boy finding himself and how to live as his father's "perfect son". At the ending there was a twist I did not see coming about a childhood bully.

     I did not have as much time as I wanted to read this summer. I did, however, set a goal to read at least four books. The only other book I read was Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer. I had previously read the other three books of the Twilight Series. I found it interesting because it was unpredictable and jumped straight into conflict. I found it a little boring, however, which made it harder to catch my attention. This was a good book, but I did not think of it as one of the best books that I have read.

Kite Runner is an intriguing book... it taught me so much about Afghanistan too! I agree with you that Breaking Dawn was a bit of a disappointment compared to the earlier books in the series. I find myself just wanting to smack Bella upside the noggin sometimes! However, as young adult lit goes it's okay, I guess.

Consider the novel you read for the theme SELF-DISCOVERY.

What exactly was it that the novel's main character discovered about himself/herself? Explain how this discovery was an integral part of the novel's substance or core.

How was this discovery applicable to you as the reader? In what sense could it be applicable to ALL readers? What did you learn about YOURSELF as you watched the character change within the novel?

Answer this on your personal page by 5pm on Friday, Aug.21st.

     In Khaled Hosseini's novel The Kite Runner, the narrator, Amir, is trying to discover what kind of person he is in the world. Amir views himself as a coward throughout most of the novel. Amir finds out he is a coward when he denies being Hassan's best friend because he was a Hazara while Amir was a Pashtun. His cowardliness continues throughout the novel when Hassan, being the best kite-runner he could be, takes a beating from Assef to save Amir the victory of a returned kite. Amir watches Hassan being physically abused from a distance and acts as if he never saw anything. This haunts Amir's thoughts throughout the rest of the novel. Amir cannot agree to let himself be forgiven. Instead, he frames Hassan with robbery and causes Ali, Hassan's "father", and Hassan to move away.

     This novel is about Amir trying to find ways to forgive himself and change for the better. When Amir returned to Afghanistan, he tried to redeem himself. When he found out that Hassan had died, he thought it would be impossible to ever repay him. However, he found out that Hassan's son, Sohrab, was in an orphanage. He believed that a family was willing to adopt him, so he traveled to save Sohrab. When he arrived at the orphanage, he faced another obstacle, Sohrab had been taken. He nearly died for Sohrab and took him in as his own. He took Sohrab to a kite tournament in America and he became the kite-runner. This made Amir finally realize that he could decide to be the kind of person that he desired to become. It seemed like he was finally able to forgive himself.

     Everyone is in control of being a good person, people can decide to do the right or the wrong thing. However, when people decide to do the wrong thing, they feel guilty and try to cover up their mistakes. Even though it might not be the "easy way out" it is always the best decision to do the right thing. There is always forgiveness for sins and mistakes, everyone has made a wrong decision in their life and needs to be forgiven. I have learned that everyone deals with regret, not just me, and it's very hard to forgive yourself. Also, that once you do forgive yourself you feel a lot better and almost feel like a whole other person striving to be the best that you can be. People learn from their mistakes and use them to help shape a better future.