Elias Khoury’s New Book: ‘A Total Re-questioning of the Bab el Shams Approach’
A few days back, I quoted Susannah Tarbush in saying that Elias Khoury was working on a “sequel” to Gate of the Sun. I didn’t realize, until this morning, that […]
July 2010
Summer Reading Challenge Review: Miramar, by Naguib Mahfouz
I just noticed that, over at By the Firelight, Paul Doyle has posted a review of his summer reading challenge selection, Naguib Mahfouz’s Miramar. (Miramar was a selection both by […]
Who Has the Power? Reading Arab Women in English
The international women’s publication Belletrista is, this issue, running two features up about Arab writers. One is: “Who Has the Power? Reading Arab Women in English,” which explores the shifting […]
Qatar, for Culture’s Sake
As I read through the Middle East Online article “Qatar’s culture drive is not just for culture’s sake” (it’s also to diversify the economy) my interest was piqued by the […]
One-Minute Review: Hoda Barakat’s /Tiller of Waters/
Because I resist this idea of “summer reading,” I thought I’d choose a summer reading challenge book that is quiet, thoughtful, and cannot easily be taken to the beach (where one reads with an eye to make sure the youngest doesn’t drown) or on a plane (where one reads with an eye toward the person sneezing beside her).
Dar Merit’s Nominations for Next Year’s ‘Arabic Booker’
I assume this isn’t a secret, since it went out to everyone who’s a member of the Dar Merit Facebook group. And the nominees are…(drumroll)…: Creation, by Ahmad Sabri Abu […]
Youssef Rakha’s Essay in Banipal…
I haven’t yet gotten my summer issue of Banipal (oh, my beloved Egyptian postal service! what good times we have had together!) but Youssef Rakha has posted his travel essay […]
Reminder from Banipal: Emirati Modernist Poetry @ London Lit Fest
Banipal magazine doesn’t want you to forget that they’re dragging three Emirati poets around the U.K. this July, and that, for goodness sake, you should go hear them read.
Arab Writers, Publishers: Don’t Forget That We, Too, Are Africa
The shortlist is out for the inaugural Penguin Prize for African Writing. While the press release says that submissions came from “all over Africa”—and an earlier blog post cites entries from Ghana, Nigeria, Botswana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Malawi and South Africa—the thirteen shortlistees are from three countries: Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.