Chapter 1

Chapter 1 opens with 'I became what I am today [...]' which tells us immediately that something has happened to change the narrator's (Amir's) life dramatically and, as it says made him the person he now is. It describes the day this happened as being a 'frigid overcast day' which creates a negative atmosphere and gives the day almost a sense of doom, telling the reader that what happened to change Amir was probably something bad. Amir then goes on to describe how he was 'crouching behind a crumbling mud wall'. The word 'crouching' suggests that he was hiding from something or someone, and the fact that it was a 'crumbling mud wall' tells us that this probably took place in an under-developed country. He also describes how he was 'peeking' from behind that wall, which suggests to the reader that Amir was afraid of what he saw. Amir goes on to say how 'the past claws it's way back out' which is quite a desperate and violent image by use of the word 'claw' and also gives the past an animal-like description (anamorphism). 
Amir then goes on to describe how Rahim Khan had called from Pakistan. He follows this with 'I knew it wasn't just Rahim Khan on the line. It was my past of unatoned sins.' This tells the reader that there has been a complication in his life and the narrator has dark secrets that will probably unfold and reveal themselves throughout the course of the story. It also tells us that the thing that changed him and made him what he is today, was most likely something to do with the 'unatoned sins' that he refers to. 
He then describes his walk along the Golden Gate Park, which tells us where the present day is set and shows the reader a contrast of culture and paints an image of Amir running away from whatever happened in Kabul. 
The fact that Amir focused and described the kites in detail shows us that they are somehow relevant to the story that is being told, though we don't yet know why. He uses the word 'soaring' which is quite majestic, and an optimistic description which tells the reader that this has triggered a positive memory for Amir. He says 'They danced high above the trees [...] like a pair of eyes looking down on San Fransisco.' The description 'danced' is again a very joyful image and the use of personification makes it seem as if he feels he is being watched through the memory of the kites. It could be that it reminds him of his more innocent days in Kabul  with him and Hassan, which leads to 'suddenly Hassan's voice whispered in my head: For you, a thousand times over.' The reader now knows that there's a strong bond of some sort between Hassan and Amir, and that Hassan has a loyalty to Amir and a compassion towards him. However, there is no clue yet as to whether these feelings are mutual or not. 
He then goes on to say how Rahim Khan's last words before he hung up were, 'There is a way to be good again.' This supports the theory that whatever happened to change him was an evil action, and somehow pushes the blame onto Amir, suggesting that he has done something to make Rahim Khan think he is a bad person. 
After reflecting on this, Amir states 'I looked up at those twin kites. I thought about Hassan. [...] I thought of the life I had lived until the winter of 1975 came along and changed everything. And made me what I am today.' These few lines gives the reader a summary of the first chapter and some of the knowledge we have gained from this. It also tells us the time that the complication happened and informs us that it was a life defining moment and has stuck with him for 26 years. The line, 'And made me what I am today.' foreshadows the fact that the reader is going to learn what event happened that has stuck in his memory and haunted him so much and sent his life into a tangent, making him a different person to whom he would be had this event not happened. 
As a character, Amir is viewed as a respectable person even though it is obvious he has a secretive past. We can tell this through the fact that he obviously has a guilty conscience and after the phone call from Rahim Khan, he is quite shaken up and very reflective of his actions. There is a sense of guilt and loss when he says 'Hassan the harelipped kite runner.' because of the short sentence and how it sums up how Amir sees him there is also a feeling of admiration and pride.