Philip S.

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Hello Philip,

Sanity may be madness but the maddest of all is to see life as it is and not as it should be. ~Don Quixote

hey

Hi, Phillip

Very well made points. To me it seems that the novel had 2 purposes. To explore the social and political history of Afganistan. And to understand how those macro issues impact the micro individual's lives, shaping and defining the possibilities. Within that I think that as good authors are able to do, he has a keen eye for observing detail and a capacity to empathize. He can bring to life not only his characters' voice and actions, but also their feelings and motivations. He succeeds very well in both books in providing readers with the chance to understand what it might mean to have lived in Afganistan. Your comment that your Irish characters seem so very realistic to an Irish woman is interesting and perhaps reflects to the underlying fact that while culture shapes worldview and behavior, what we have in common as human beings is perhaps more important. At least its equally important. So if you can accurately portray the setting, the social/political issues and place the people within them, and use your capacity to accurately imagine a person living in that setting, you can create realistic characters. Oh, and have the talent to write well! That's important too! :)

Philip

I did read A Thousand Splendid Suns. I thought it was great. And wondered how he did so well at writing from a womans' perspective.