An Excerpt from Mahmoud Shukair’s ‘Me, My Friend, and the Donkey’
A humorous donkey detective novel for young adults, set in and around Jerusalem.
Fiction
New Fiction in Translation: ‘Naked Robot’
“Yet none of us could object, as that was the way things were; these were the laws of our society, and we were completely satisfied with them. I didn’t know whether we had a choice in this satisfaction, but I didn’t like to tire my mind thinking about it.”
New in Translation: A Story from ‘Bed for the King’s Daughter’
“When it sidled up beside me at the traffic light, I turned and saw a coffin through the side glass panel.”
New Fiction in Translation: Layla Baalbaki’s ‘The Cat’
“Now, it was the beginning of summer.”
Naguib Mahfouz Day: New Reads and More for the Author’s 109th
“More from 2020 in the afterlife of Naguib Mahfouz.”
Bulaq 60: ‘Paranormal’
Ursula Lindsey and M Lynx Qualey talk about the show on Episode 60: “Paranormal.”
Friday Finds: 6 in Translation by Mahmoud Shukair
Shukair also appears today at 11 a.m. Eastern time (US) for a “Coffee & Books” session with Nur Masalha, in which they discuss Shukair’s International Prize for Arabic Fiction-shortlisted novel Praise for the Women of the Family.
Words Without Borders Launches ‘Sudanese Women Writers’ Issue
“As you dive into these poignant excerpts, savor the literature for its creativity, experimentation, and musicality … but just as important, remember what it took for these voices to reach you.”
Translated Stories to Mark the Passing of Said al-Kafrawi, 1942-2020
“When I walked through the door into the dimly lit hospital room, I found him lying on the bed, broken.”