A friend writes from Yangon:
Dear Amitav,
How are you?… Today at American Centre here in Ygn has a book club event and the book is The Glass Palace. People of book club are very diverse, from teens to 72 yrs old. They all agree taht the book is marvelous. They talked how much they appreciate your writing style and effort of research for this book…. Then all book club members wonder when you could come and join the club. They told us if they know in advance of your visit, they would like to read one of your other books at book club and you can join the discussion… Here things get a bit better and I’d like to expand our freedom bit by bit by some new (unusual) literary activities.
….
Your books truly are amazing, I’m actually reading the finals pages of the Glass Palace right now and can’t tell you how much I appreciated the book. You are by far the greatest author of today. I feel that you bind together my own travel experiences from the region and university studies (hindi/indian history/central asian studies, human geografphy) in a marvellous way with you books. Thank you! // Wilda, student and journalist from Sweden
Thanks very much Wilda. It’s really nice that you took the time to write in. best. Amitav
Dear Amitav,
This is my second contribution to your ‘comment’ section of your blog. The first one succeeded just after i finished readin ‘The Hungry Tide’.
I have just finished my journey with ‘Sea of Poppies’. I am enthralled by the gravity of your penmanship that keeps me rooted to my imaginings of the writing process. I romanticize myself as a ‘struggling writer’! For the first time, i have been writing regularly at a supposed novel in making.
I would like to express my gratitude to you for inspiring me to explore the frailties of my art.
Regards,
Sri Iyer
Thanks very much for this Srinivas. I think the best words of advice for writers were Balzac’s: ‘Ceaseless work is the law of art’. Good luck with your book!
I picked up the glass palace after reading a review of your upcoming book…… this book obviously is your lifes work, your defining work.. I say that without having reading any of your other works, a travesty of sorts.
Glass palace is absolutely revetting. What set the tone was your interview where you say ‘During wars, personal and political events intersect’. I realized that such an observation would come only from an artist and an observer.
Enjoyed the Burmese history and knowing about the last king. This bit of history evaded me all this while.
Theres a food and cars subtext to the plot that I enjoyed.
Having read your ‘lifes work’, I’m not sure what my reaction to the rest of your works will be like. I’d be happy to explore and report back!