Khaled Hosseini on using real people and events

Summary

In this transcript, the speaker reflects on the process of writing, drawing from personal experiences to create authentic stories. The author shares how his memories of growing up in Kabul in the 1970s influenced works like *The Kite Runner* and *A Thousand Splendid Suns*. He reveals that the character of Hassan in *The Kite Runner* was inspired by a real person from his past, a close friend and family servant. The author also discusses the challenges of depicting post-war Kabul, relying on news, media, and vivid anecdotes from other Afghans to shape his narratives.

Takeaways

• 😀 Writers often draw from personal experiences and real-life events to create authentic stories that resonate with readers.
• 😀 Both *The Kite Runner* and *A Thousand Splendid Suns* are grounded in the author's own memories and experiences growing up in 1970s Kabul, Afghanistan.
• 😀 The character of Hassan in *The Kite Runner* is based on a real person the author knew as a child in Afghanistan—a man who worked for the family and shared a close friendship with the author.
• 😀 The author had a personal connection with Hassan, who was an ethnic Hazara and worked as a cook for the family, forming a special bond with the young narrator.
• 😀 The author only realized after completing *The Kite Runner* that the character of Hassan was based on his real-life friend, further deepening the emotional connection to the story.
• 😀 Most characters in the author's work are inspired by a mix of real people the author has encountered or known and the author's imagination.
• 😀 Recreating the pre-Civil War Kabul and its life before the Taliban was not difficult for the author due to vivid memories from his childhood.
• 😀 The author faced greater challenges recreating post-Civil War Kabul, especially the period during the 1992-1996 Civil War when he was studying in the United States.
• 😀 To accurately depict the effects of war on Kabul, the author relied on news, media, and personal accounts from other Afghans who had lived through the conflict.
• 😀 A powerful anecdote shared by an Afghan at a social gathering—about a man selling his artificial leg—became a striking detail in *The Kite Runner*, illustrating the devastation of war.

Q & A

How does the speaker approach the process of writing stories?

The speaker explains that writing from a vacuum is challenging, and that storytelling must be connected to something real or that feels real. This connection is typically achieved through memories, personal experiences, and imagination.

What role did the speaker's childhood memories play in the creation of 'The Kite Runner'?

The speaker drew heavily from memories of growing up in Kabul in the 1970s to recreate the time and place in 'The Kite Runner.' These memories provided a foundation for the first hundred pages of the novel, especially in depicting Kabul before the civil war.

Can you provide an example of a character based on a real person in 'The Kite Runner'?

The character of Hassan in 'The Kite Runner' is based on a man the speaker knew during his childhood in Kabul. This person, who worked for the speaker's family, was an ethnic Hazara, a cook, and had a close, special friendship with the speaker.

What aspects of the character Hassan were inspired by the real-life individual?

Hassan’s personality, kindness, and friendship were inspired by the real-life person. The speaker and this man spent time together flying kites, going to movies, and engaging in activities like teaching him to read and write.

What realization did the speaker have after completing 'The Kite Runner'?

The speaker realized, after rereading the manuscript of 'The Kite Runner,' that the character of Hassan was based on the man he had known in Afghanistan, although he hadn't consciously planned to model the character after him.

How did the speaker recreate the depiction of Kabul before the Civil War in 'The Kite Runner'?

Recreating pre-civil war Kabul wasn’t difficult for the speaker, as he could rely on his vivid childhood memories of the city. These memories helped him capture the essence of life in Kabul before the turmoil.

What challenges did the speaker face when depicting post-civil war Kabul in 'A Thousand Splendid Suns'?

The speaker faced difficulty in recreating Kabul after the civil war and Taliban destruction because he was in the United States during that period. He relied on news, media, and conversations with other Afghans to understand the changes in the city.

How did the speaker gather information about the events during the civil war in Kabul for 'A Thousand Splendid Suns'?

The speaker gathered information through informal conversations with other Afghans who had visited Kabul after the civil war. These conversations, which took place in social settings like weddings and funerals, provided him with vivid anecdotes that helped inform the story.

What is the significance of the anecdote about the man selling his artificial leg?

This anecdote, shared by someone the speaker met, vividly illustrates the severe conditions in Afghanistan during the civil war. The image of a man selling his artificial leg symbolizes the harsh realities and the deep suffering experienced by the people.

How does the speaker describe the process of selecting details to include in a story?

The speaker suggests that certain vivid, memorable details often stick with a writer and become key elements in the story. These details can come from personal experiences or from the stories of others, and they often have a lasting impact on both the writer and the reader.