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 ]
I always loved giving my son a picture book rich in detail and watching him get lost in it, thereby gaining a few moments of peace and grown-up solitude—but now science is telling me I may have made him dumber.* According to a very cruel study at Carnegie Mellon University, in which researchers... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-09-28 13:51:06 UTC ]
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Interviews Adib Khorram is an author, graphic designer, and tea enthusiast. Iranian American, he was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. A theater kid in high school, he went on to study design and technical theater at Southern Illinois... Continue reading at World Literature Today
[ World Literature Today | 2020-09-25 11:55:24 UTC ]
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Back in March, I was watching Twitter like it was a countdown, waiting like so many others for the inevitable to happen and for the London Book Fair to be cancelled. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-23 20:10:46 UTC ]
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Well, beautiful might not exactly be the word—perhaps disquietingly arresting? Chinese architecture firm x+living seems to be channeling the synaptic afterimages of Borges’s brain in their dizzying design for a bookstore in the city of Dujiangyan, in the southwest of China. The almost manic use... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-09-23 13:51:18 UTC ]
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Take a tour of an independent bookstore and community hub, Book Revue, the largest independent bookstore on Long Island. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2020-09-23 10:38:00 UTC ]
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Irish children's author Sam McBratney, most widely known for the classic, bestselling picture book 'Guess How Much I Love You,' died on September 18; he was 77. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-09-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The Northern Irish author was best known for his story of Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare, which sold more than 50m copiesSam McBratney, the author of the bestselling picture book Guess How Much I Love You, has died at the age of 77.The Northern Irish author died on 18 September, his... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2020-09-21 14:12:28 UTC ]
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Australia has spoken, and J.K. Rowling is out. Rabble Books & Games in Maylands, Australia, said earlier this week that the store would stop stocking her books due to this, this, or this, all of which, it’s not so wild to presume, have already impacted her book sales. “We are always trying... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-09-17 19:06:37 UTC ]
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David Walliams has announced his “monstrously funny” next picture book for HarperCollins Children's Books, Little Monsters, with new illustrator Adam Stower. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-17 05:46:06 UTC ]
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Nunez’s first novel since winning the National Book Award follows a woman and her terminally ill friend. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2020-09-16 16:32:08 UTC ]
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Bloomsbury is to publish Patricia Lockwood's first novel No One Is Talking About This, after winning a 10-way auction. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-16 02:57:52 UTC ]
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Eva Eland has won the Klaus Flugge Prize for most exciting and promising newcomer to children's picture book illustration. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-15 23:50:00 UTC ]
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Interviews Cynthia Weill is director of the Center for Children’s Literature at the Bank Street College of Education. She is trained as an art historian and has worked as an educator and in humanitarian assistance. She holds a doctorate from Teachers... Continue reading at World Literature Today
[ World Literature Today | 2020-09-15 19:14:18 UTC ]
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Beloved L.A. bookstores like Diesel are turning to fundraising platforms to survive the financial blows dealt by COVID-19. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2020-09-14 20:54:38 UTC ]
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Ahead of a Chevalier's bookstore talk with Bradley Whitford, the "Handmaid's Tale" author talks about Ann Dowd, Zoom-worthy tops, dystopia and elections. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2020-09-14 14:00:45 UTC ]
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Bonnier Books UK's Templar imprint has acquired cartoonist Tom Gauld's first picture book, The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-11 04:10:24 UTC ]
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No single event has wiped out more bookselling jobs in the modern era than the Covid-19 pandemic. Few booksellers have any job protections—that is, unless they have a union. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-09-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The new book from the author of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell takes place in one house, but in it, she finds infinite space. Continue reading at Slate
[ Slate | 2020-09-10 18:15:39 UTC ]
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What was the first novel? Why was it written? What need did it fill? Who wrote it? And most importantly, can you still read it today? Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2020-09-02 10:32:00 UTC ]
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In her first novel in five years, the author of “My Brilliant Friend” revisits old themes. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2020-09-01 09:00:11 UTC ]
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