Alexander McCall Smith Quotes

Alexander McCall Smith
Alexander McCall Smith
Scottish Writer
Born: Aug 24, 1948
Life Me People Sense World You
Related authors: Armando Iannucci Frances Wright Grant Morrison Henry Drummond Jane Welsh Carlyle John Burnside Robert Louis Stevenson Steven Moffat
Manners are the basic building blocks of civil society. Alexander McCall Smith
Building Manners Society Civil Civil Society Building Blocks Blocks Basic
As a writer, you have to realize that people want to like the characters, so you have to be careful to keep them involved. Alexander McCall Smith
You People Characters Be Careful Writer Like Involved Want Them Realize Keep Careful
The Okavango Delta is an astonishing sight: the great Okavango River, rather than flow towards the sea, flows inland, into the sands of the Kalahari. Alexander McCall Smith
Great Astonishing Sight Rather River Delta Towards Than Sands Sea Inland Flow Flows
Baboons take a bit of getting to know but, apparently, once you break the ice, so to speak, they are complex and interesting creatures with elaborate societies. Alexander McCall Smith
You Speak Once Bit Complex Take Know Getting Break Ice Elaborate Interesting Apparently Creatures Societies
I am capable of being idle. Alexander McCall Smith
Idle Am Being Capable
Oh I love gadgets and I pride myself on keeping at the cutting edge of technology. Alexander McCall Smith
Love Myself Technology Gadgets Pride Edge Oh Cutting Cutting Edge Keeping
The wider your readership, the greater the chances of offending your readers. Alexander McCall Smith
Readers Readership Greater Offending Your Wider Chances
Well, I'd say all of us are a combination of moods and emotions. In my day to day life I don't go around skipping, but at times one can feel sheer exhilarating joy at the world. Alexander McCall Smith
Life Day Emotions Joy World Say Moods Day-To-Day Feel Combination Well Sheer Around Go Exhilarating Times Us Skipping
That my philosophy of life is, as far as possible, one of enjoyment. I'm not nihilistic. Alexander McCall Smith
Life Philosophy Possible As Far As Far Enjoyment
Any author of fiction will tell you that characters don't need to be told what to do. Alexander McCall Smith
You Will Tell Characters Author Any Fiction Need
Serial novels have an unexpected effect; they hook the writer as well as the reader. Alexander McCall Smith
Hook Writer Well Reader Effect Unexpected Serial Novels
But you cannot expect every writer to dwell on human suffering. I think my books do deal with grave issues. People who say they are too positive probably haven't read them. Alexander McCall Smith
Positive You Suffering People Every Think Too Books Say Writer Read Deal Issues Expect Human Dwell Cannot Them Who Human Suffering Grave
Every novel presents a slice of life. A noir policier for example presents one slice, one that perhaps addresses social dysfunction or some sort of pathology, while mine present a slice that is more upbeat and affirmative. Alexander McCall Smith
Life Example Every Slice Address Mine Some More Noir For Example Perhaps Sort Affirmative Upbeat Pathology While Dysfunction Social Novel Present Presents
I think people in Botswana are pleased that my books paint a positive picture of their lives and portray the country as being very special. They've made a great success of their country, and the people are fed up with the constant reporting of only the problems and poverty of the continent. They welcome something which puts the positive side. Alexander McCall Smith
Positive Success Great Welcome People Problems Made Poverty Picture Country Think Side Books Pleased Constant Something Only Fed Fed Up Puts Great Success Continent Up Very Reporting Being Which Special Paint Lives Portray
I'm interested in character and dialogue and exchange of ideas. Alexander McCall Smith
Character Exchange Ideas Dialogue Interested
Many of my books are written from a female perspective. I rather enjoy the take that women have on the world, and certainly I enjoy the conversations that women have. Alexander McCall Smith
Women World Perspective Enjoy Books Rather Take Written Female Conversations Certainly Many
I've also long since realized that the way to really engage children is to give out prizes; it's amazing how it concentrates their minds. Alexander McCall Smith
Amazing Long Minds Way Out Give Since Also How Prizes Children Realized Really Engage
Writing fiction, I really just sit there and it just comes. Alexander McCall Smith
Writing Sit Just Fiction Really
Writers obviously have to bear witness to the harsh face of the age. Alexander McCall Smith
Age Witness Face Harsh Bear Writers Obviously
Fiction is able to encompass books that are bleak and which dwell on the manifold and terrible problems of our times. But I don't think that all books need to have that particular focus. Alexander McCall Smith
Problems Focus Think Our Books Able Bleak Particular Terrible Encompass Times Dwell Fiction Which Manifold Need
My Botswana books are positive, and I've never really sought to deny that. They are positive. They present a very positive picture of the country. And I think that that is perfectly defensible given that there is so much written about Africa which is entirely negative. Alexander McCall Smith
Positive Negative Picture Country Think Books About Entirely Given Never Written Perfectly Sought Very Deny Africa Which Much Really Present
Botswana is actually very peaceful. It's democratic. It never was in debt. They've been fortunate, they've had diamonds. Alexander McCall Smith
Never Had Democratic Diamonds Been Debt Very Fortunate Peaceful Actually
As a writer, I have readers who will have a range of political views. I don't think they look to me for political guidance. Alexander McCall Smith
Me Guidance Political Will Think Range Writer Look Readers Political Views Views Who
If you lose sight of the smaller accomplishments, you end up with an imbalance in your life. Alexander McCall Smith
Life You Lose Imbalance Sight Smaller Accomplishments End Up Your

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