Chapters 21-25: The Controversial Ending

As you may have noticed, my last two blog posts were considerably far apart, yet this one is appearing the day after my most recent. These last few chapters had me trembling on the edge of my seat. The author has an incredible talent of crafting words that leaves the reader desperate to find out what happens next. After finishing the novel, I have one aspect that I cannot make up my mind about: the way it ends. The ending is not a happily ever after. The book concludes with Amir seeing Sohrab smile for the first time since arriving in America. Although this may sound like a happy ending, Sohrab only had a half hearted smile while flying the kite with Amir. He then goes back to his emotionless self. The reason I found the ending difficult to swallow was that Amir and Sohrab had such an amazing connection before arriving in America. Sohrab finally began to trust Amir and they did everything together; Amir risked his life for him multiple times. Then Amir broke the trust and it was never the same again. This happened after Amir met with an adoption agency and told him the best way to get him to America was to put him in an orphanage, which he promised he would never do. Sohrab broke down in tears, begging Amir to not put him back in the orphanage. Amir eventually fell asleep and received a call from his wife. She found a way to get them both back to America safely. Filled with joy, Amir ran to tell Sohrab when he realized that he was in the bathroom, taking his nightly rinse. Amir couldn't wait and barges in, where he finds Sohrab with blood flowing from his slit wrists. This was the moment their relationship was split, more than Sohrab's wrists. The difference between Sobrab's wrists and their relationship is that their connection could never be repaired. They may be able to slow the bleeding from Amir and Sohrab's relationship, but the trust will never be the same. That could be why I had a difficult time with the ending of this book, because I expected a happily ever after. I expected that they would have a perfect relationship and live together as a family. Maybe Khaled Hosseini feels that happily ever after is overrated.

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