Writing is Facing Up to Reality, say Grossman, Vargas Llosa | Publishing Perspectives

Rather than mere escapism, writing is identifying issues and confronting them, says Israeli author David Grossman, while for Peruvian Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa, words can provoke change.David Grossman and Mario Vargas Llosa engaged in a spirited discussion during the first day of FIL Guadalajara, where Israel is the Guest of Honor.

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO: The world and the media bombard us with irrelevant information, and writing is finding the relevant issues and confronting them, said Israeli author David Grossman in conversation with Mario Vargas Llosa during the opening session of the Literary Salon at the Guadalajara International Book Fair on Sunday.
Rather than escapism, Grossman described writing as a way of facing up to things placing oneself in each situation. "To write is to be in each situation. There are so many temptations in life to not face the harsh reality or the tragedy, but life is so short that the way to be is to write about the reality," he said, underscoring that all his books deal with the contemporary reality in Israel and reflect his stance as a left-wing pacifist fiercely critical of the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians.