Beyond Jokha al-Harthi: Women Writers from the Gulf

When Jokha al-Harthi and Marilyn Booth won the Man Booker International Prize last year, for Booth’s translation of Sayyidat al-Qamr (Celestial Bodies), many hurried to note that al-Harthi was the “first Omani woman writer” to have a book in English translation.While true, this may give the mistaken impression that there is something new about women's writing from the Gulf. But women on the peninsula have been composing sophisticated literature for centuries. Al-Khansa (575-645 AD), who was born and died on the Arabian Peninsula, is said to have been told by an admiring male writer that she was “the greatest poet among those with breasts.” Al-Khansa is said to have replied, archly: “I am the greatest poet among those with testicles, too.” Her work can be read, in vibrant translation, in James Montgomery’s Loss Sings.Prominent poet-filmmaker Nujoom Ghanem, in a 2016 interview that focused on her literary ancestors, had a similar barb: “The majority of poets in our world are male, but quantity does not make quality.” Yet among the younger generation of writers, women often dominate. In Yemen, the UAE, Kuwait, and elsewhere, emerging women writers have been flooding into writing workshops and literary seminars. Each Gulf country could have its own list of 10 women writers. Here are just a few to seek out:Raja Alem (Saudi) – Alem was the first woman to co-win the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF), for her classic Mecca novel The Doves’ Necklace (translated by Adam... Continue reading at 'British Council global'

[ British Council global | 2020-02-19 10:26:57 UTC ]

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“I Trust Nothing But Music.” Valzhyna Mort on the Patient Listening of Writing Poetry

My first encounter with Valzhyna Mort’s work was Collected Body, her second book of poems released in America, which I picked off a shelf in a bookstore in Upstate New York. As its title suggests, the collection explores the body as a conflicted site of desire and repulsion, mythology and... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-04-13 08:51:54 UTC ]
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Rights Roundup: After London Book Fair Closes

Our featured rights deals at the end of the 2022 London Book Fair week include titles from Finland, Italy, Sweden, and more. The post Rights Roundup: After London Book Fair Closes appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-04-08 17:20:46 UTC ]
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What’s it Like to Volunteer at an Anarchistic Bookstore?

I decided to become a volunteer at my local anarchistic bookstore during the pandemic. This is what it's like. Continue reading at Book Riot

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Licensing Hotline: April 2022

Read on for news about DK's 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' encyclopedia, Random House's picture book with Ellen DeGeneres, new Harry Potter publishing from Insight Editions, lucha libre books from Future House and Masked Republic, a Spawn trade publishing program, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-07 04:00:00 UTC ]
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London Book Fair Opens With 500+ International Exhibitors

With 75 first-time exhibitors and 400 speakers in the show's programming, London Book Fair is up and running. The post London Book Fair Opens With 500+ International Exhibitors appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-04-05 17:39:59 UTC ]
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17 Stunning Picture Books by Debut Illustrators

Illustrations are what brings a picture book to life. Check out these titles, which all were their illustrator's debut! Continue reading at Book Riot

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London Book Fair Exhibitor Publishing Scotland: ‘Facilitating Rights Sales’

'Channels for voices in Scottish literature,' says Alan Bett, are enhanced by Publishing Scotland's international fellowship. The post London Book Fair Exhibitor Publishing Scotland: ‘Facilitating Rights Sales’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

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London Book Fair: IPA Focuses on Sustainability

The International Publishers Association's programming for London Book Fair centers on the SDG Publishers Compact. The post London Book Fair: IPA Focuses on Sustainability appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-04-04 11:47:04 UTC ]
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London Book Fair Lifetime Achievement: Hiroshi Hayakawa

A champion of exuberant genre work as well as international literature, Japan's Hiroshi Hayakawa wins LBF's top honor. The post London Book Fair Lifetime Achievement: Hiroshi Hayakawa appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-04-01 14:29:26 UTC ]
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Remembrance of Bookstores Past

New Yorkers still tell stories of browsing at Harlem’s Liberation Bookstore or spending the afternoon at Scribner’s. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-04-01 09:03:09 UTC ]
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London Book Fair: Ukraine’s Presence at the Trade Show

Two programming events at London Book Fair will have particular bearing on Russia's aggression in Ukraine. The post London Book Fair: Ukraine’s Presence at the Trade Show appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-03-30 18:35:17 UTC ]
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This Week's Bestsellers: March 28, 2022

'Lessons from the Edge' by Marie Yovanovitch, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, debuts and #6 on our hardcover nonfiction list. Plus a pair of science fiction titles land on our hardcover fiction list, and comedian Seth Meyers makes his picture book debut. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-03-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Ted Cruz Had Some Important Questions About Racist Babies for Ketanji Brown Jackson

Behind Cruz were propped blown-up images of the picture book Antiracist Baby, replete with cartoon drawings of children in diapers. Continue reading at Slate

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Sweden's Lindström Wins 2022 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award

Swedish picture book author and illustrator Eva Lindström has won this year's Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, which carries with it a $525,000 USD purse. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

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The Story Behind Jonathan Franzen’s New Backlist Book Cover Redesigns

Last year not only marked the twentieth publication anniversary of Jonathan Franzen’s The Corrections, it also saw the release of his first novel in seven years, Crossroads. So it was only fitting that Picador would embark on a redesign of the author’s backlist. We spoke with Alex Merto, the art... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-03-17 08:54:52 UTC ]
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PW Bookstore, Rep Finalists Announced

The five bookstore finalists and five sales rep finalists have been announced in PW's annual award program. Winners will be announced at PW's U.S. Book Show set for May 23-26. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-03-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Lee Cole’s ‘Groundskeeping’ is an empathetic portrait of people across the political spectrum

Lee Cole’s first novel is not only the story of a young man finding his vocation as a writer but also a wrenching examination of class differences Continue reading at The Washington Post

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Dolly Parton partners with James Patterson for first novel

Dolly Parton has written her first novel with the help of best-selling author James Patterson. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2022-03-10 00:01:14 UTC ]
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Awards: London Book Fair Names International Excellence Shortlists

Seventeen nations are represented in eight categories, with Greece making its debut in International Excellence Awards competition. The post Awards: London Book Fair Names International Excellence Shortlists appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-03-04 12:29:22 UTC ]
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Obituary: Paula Cohen

Rising children's author-illustrator Paula Cohen, whose debut solo picture book 'Big Dreams, Small Fish' was published on March 1, died suddenly on February 24; she was 57. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-03-03 05:00:00 UTC ]
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