118 quotes by afghani authors for you to enjoy

The strange dilemma of the 'ethnic-fiction' writer is that you are supposed to carry a banner for your homeland, be a voice for it, and educate the rest of the world about it, but I think that's far too onerous a burden for any writer to bear. Khaled Hosseini

I find myself drawn to that period where children are about to leave childhood behind. When you're 12 years old, you still have one foot in childhood; the other is poised to enter a completely new stage of life. Khaled Hosseini

There isn't, even now, a great tradition of novel-writing in Afghanistan. Most of the literature is in the form of poetry. Khaled Hosseini

Great Poetry Most Tradition Afghanistan Form Literature Even Even Now Now

I've been told, and I think I recognize it, that there's a cinematic quality to my writing, with a sense of image and place and scene - and, some would say, my tendency to finish my books the way Hollywood finishes its films. Khaled Hosseini

For a novelist, it's kind of an onerous burden to represent an entire culture. Khaled Hosseini

Culture Burden Kind Entire Represent Novelist

American high school culture was impenetrable to me, and very cliquey: you had the Hispanics, the African Americans, the surfer guys and the goths and the immigrants. The jocks and the surfers got the girls. By the time I'd got to grips with it, I'd graduated. Khaled Hosseini

The only two places where I can read for long stretches are in airplanes and in bed at nighttime. Khaled Hosseini

Long Nighttime Airplane Only Read Bed Where Places Two

A Western-style democracy in Afghanistan is a dream. I don't see that as a reality anytime soon. But I think some form of representative political process is not that far-fetched. Khaled Hosseini

Democracy Reality Political Think Dream See Some Soon Political Process Afghanistan Representative Form Process Anytime Far-Fetched

For me as a writer, the story has always taken precedence over everything else. I have never sat down to write with broad, sweeping ideas in mind, and certainly never with a specific agenda. Khaled Hosseini

I am always revolted when Islamic leaders, from Afghanistan or elsewhere, deny the very existence of female oppression, avoid the issue by pointing to examples of what they view as Western mistreatment of women, or even worse, justify the oppression of women on the basis of notions derived from Sharia law. Khaled Hosseini

Women Oppression Law Elsewhere Worse Examples Pointing Leaders Islamic Female Always Am Issue Existence Western Very Deny Afghanistan Justify View Notions Avoid Derived Even Even Worse Basis

The bewildering success of my books continues to surprise me. Khaled Hosseini

Success Me Books Bewildering Surprise

I have met so many people who say they've got a book in them, but they've never written a word. To be a writer - this may seem trite, I realize - you have to actually write. Khaled Hosseini

I have this almost pathological fear of boring the reader. Khaled Hosseini

Fear Boring Almost Reader Pathological

To me, families are puzzles that take a lifetime to work out - or not, as often is the case - and I like to explore how people within them try to connect, be it through love, duty, or circumstance. Khaled Hosseini

I'm glad I wrote them when I did because I think if I were to write my first novel now, it would be a different book, and it may not be the book that everybody wants to read. But if I were given a red pen now, and I went back... I'd take that thing apart. Khaled Hosseini

Book First Think Everybody Back Pen Would Would-Be Given Glad Write Take Red Wrote Read Because Were Did May Different Wants Apart Them Novel Now Thing

I'm so fascinated by how people destroy each other and love each other. Khaled Hosseini

Love People Other Destroy How Fascinated Each

I landed in Kabul the day before Shock and Awe in Iraq, and you could all but hear the collective groan. Khaled Hosseini

Day You Collective Before Could Hear Iraq Shock Landed Awe

The jury is out as to whether the Afghans are up to the task of protecting their people. Khaled Hosseini

People Out Protecting Up Task Jury Afghans Whether

Quotes by afghani authors