CORNELL NOTES for sources

TITLE: Kite Runner Breezes Along With Little Flair
AUTHOR: Geoff Pevere
YEAR PUBLISHED: 2008

Main Idea #1: The movie version of The Kite Runner was nothing compared to the book itself

Summary: Geoff Pevere received the Kite Runner as a gift in the book version after he had watched the movie. From word of mouth he was sure that the book would be better but he made this assumption before actually reading it himself. He called the movie “uneventful” but said he could just imagine the suspense in the book being stronger. He said a picture is worth a thousand words, so obviously the words must have been strong and worth it to write a movie out of it.


Quote: “Sometimes it pays to be reminded just how many pictures a well-chosen word is actually worth.”


Question: How can you say that the movie is worse then the book considering you have yet to read the book?



How will this source help you write your paper? Throughout the year, we have read book while watching movies and from watching the movies while reading, it gives us a completely different perspective of the book.



TITLE: Pulled by the past
AUTHOR: David Kipen
YEAR PUBLISHED: 2003

Main Idea #1: The novel has a great source of literature; even the title in itself is a metaphor.

Summary: David Kipen goes into detail about Khaled Hosseini’s use of literature in his novel. The entire story in itself is one metaphor. This metaphor is a kite fight because in these fights, fighters are doing all they can to take over the sky and to do this, they eliminate all their opponents. Kipen agrees with many others that The Kite Runner, without seeing the movie, provides images in your head that compare the situations in the book to live situations that we all might encounter. He says that It benefits the reader if they did not grow up in Afghanistan to read it because it shows us exactly what it was like.


Quote: “Behind the title of first novelist Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner" lurks a metaphor so apt and evocative…”


Question: Could it possibly be to TOO challenging with all of the metaphors. Would the average student have a difficult time understanding all of the hidden meaning?



How will this source help you write your paper? In our school, the board is always looking to enhance our literature with difficult terms that are hard to comprehend. This book would provide a great source of literature for all students. Even though it would be challenging, it would benefit the students.



TITLE: An Afghan’s battle with the past
AUTHOR: Kenneth Champeon
YEAR PUBLISHED: 2007

Main Idea #1: The Kite Runner teaches history of Afghanistan

Summary: This article talks all about how the history of the novel makes it more enjoyable. Considering nine eleven is somewhat recent, we all have our strong views on Afghanistan. This article shows how Afghanistan is a struggling country and by giving us the feel of the environment, we not only learn more about the main characters, but also how they survive with their surroundings.

Quote: “Although the book can sometimes be melodramatic and garrulous, it provides an extraordinary perspective on the struggles of a country that, until that doleful September day, had been for too long ignored or misunderstood. And despite its grimmer episodes, the novel ends with a note of optimism about Afghanistan's future, an optimism that the whole world would prefer to see unspoiled.”

Question: From reading the first several chapters, it is difficult to understand exactly how their lives work. Can knowing more about Afghanistan customs make the book more challenging that its almost too challenging.


How will this source help you write your paper? It is important for books to teach us not only with their themes and enhance our reading comprehension, but to teach us about the history of our world. The Kite Runner does this efficiently because it shows a young boys battle against his country, Afghanistan.