Words Without Borders recently published a special section co-edited by Sawad Hussain and Nariman Youssef, "Beyond Representation: Life Writing by Women in Arabic."
10 Books: Influential Arabic Nonfiction by Women, 15th C-Present
Although Arab women's novels are (sometimes) celebrated in English translation, their nonfiction contributions are largely overlooked.
Launch of Suad Amiry’s Latest: ‘Golda Slept Here’
Yesterday in Jerusalem, Palestinian author Suad Amiry launched her latest book, "Golda Slept Here," just released by Bloomsbury.
Translating ‘Sharia’ for a Contemporary American Audience
Recently, I interviewed Joseph Lowry, formerly a practicing attorney and now translator of al-Shāfi‘ī's The Epistle on Legal Theory (the Risālah), part of the growing Library of Arabic Literature. Lowry talked about translating "sharia" for a contemporary audience.
Shortlist Announced for 2013 MEMO Palestine Book Awards
The Middle East Monitor has announced the shortlist for the organization's 2013 MEMO Palestine Book Awards, which seeks to honour and promote the best books written in English on the subject of Palestine.
Raja Shehadeh’s ‘Occupation Diaries’ Makes 2013 Orwell Prize Shortlist
Two hundred ten books submitted for the 2013 Orwell Prize -- Britain's top prize for political writing -- have now been narrowed to seven. Among the seven shortlisted titles is Palestinian writer Raja Shehadeh's "Occupation Diaries."
Who Are You, Blogger?
It doesn't much matter who I am.
Remembering Khaled Said: An Essay from a Year Ago by Alaa al-Aswany
On the anniversary of Khaled Said's murder, from Al-Aswany's June 2010 essay, "An Attempt to Understand the Causes of Cruelty:"
‘A Hundred Steps from the Revolution’ and the State of Arabic Nonfiction
Non-fiction is also something writers of [Arabic] fiction and poetry seem to think they can do with their eyes shut.
Darwish’s /Journal of an Ordinary Grief/ Set for an October English Release
This October (2010), Archipelago Books will release one of Mahmoud Darwish's prose collections, a volume of rich autobiographical essays, Journal of an Ordinary Grief. The Journal was originally published in 1973, and these essays or extended prose poems explore the relationships between Israelis and Palestinians, and Darwish's own complex identity. I have not yet read … Continue reading Darwish’s /Journal of an Ordinary Grief/ Set for an October English Release
Get Your Free Sample of Newly Released /The Essential Nawal El Saadawi/
I seem to have come across a number of "essential" books summarizing works by great Egyptian thinkers and writers: I recently read The Essential Tawfiq al Hakim (2008) and The Essential Yusuf Idris (2009), both out from AUC Press, and I see they also will be putting out an Essential Naguib Mahfouz later this year. … Continue reading Get Your Free Sample of Newly Released /The Essential Nawal El Saadawi/
Update on Barghouti’s /I Was Born There, I Was Born Here/
Bibliophiles take note: Palestinian poet Mourid Bargouti's new memoir is set to come out in in English next fall from American University in Cairo Press. The translation of Bargouti's second memoir, I Was Born There, I Was Born Here (ولدت هناك، ولدت هنا), is being done by Humphrey Davies. Davies also translated Elias Khoury's Gate … Continue reading Update on Barghouti’s /I Was Born There, I Was Born Here/
