‘What Happened to Zeeko?’ Celebrating Emily Nasrallah, BOTD in 1931
“My mom wrote the novel [in the early eighties], and back then I refused to let her publish it, as I didn’t want to hear about it.”
From ArabLit Quarterly
From ALQ: Muhammad Zafzaf’s ‘Borges in the Hereafter’
“But, Mr. President,” Borges cut in, “we’re already dead.”
Call for Submissions: ALQ’s Fall 2022 Issue
ALQ’s Fall 2022 issue with a focus on WEDDINGS is open for submissions until August 7.
From ALQ: ‘How Moroccans Laugh’
“Jokes are the salt of social life.”
Online Extra: Arabic & English from ‘Solace for the Traveler and Entertainment for the Conversationalist’
“Such compilations were common. At a time when people could not entertain themselves with TV and thumb-wrecking scrolling on myriad social media platforms, compilations kept them company. These works tended to be written in small notebooks easy to carry in one’s pocket or satchel.”
IN ON THE JOKE: The Launch of the Summer 2022 Issue of ArabLit Quarterly
Today we’re launching the Summer 2022 JOKE themed issue of ArabLit Quarterly, guest edited by Anam Zafar.
New Short Fiction: Mariam Qahtani’s ‘Heavensent Huriyya’
“Suspicion’s bite trailed her gaze as the lazy air played across her vision. She straightened her back as she inspected the grim and miserable faces before her. For those who watched, her matted hair, ragged clothes, and very long fingernails foretold no good will.”
From the ‘Mirrors’ Issue: Hilal Badr’s ‘Ash-sha’b Yurid Isqat an-Nizam’
A shout awakens me; someone is yelling, “Ash-sha’b yurid isqat an-nizam [The People want to bring down the regime].” Does anyone believe this? I don’t.
Short Fiction: Maheera Migdadi’s ‘Sad Woman’s Mirrors’
She wipes her hand over the mirror like she’s waving goodbye; her drowsy face looks back at her from the blurry glass, reminding her of all the hours she hasn’t slept. It warns of the long day ahead. She’ll be holding her breath for the next twenty-four hours.