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 ]
Two associations of American and Canadian agents are the latest organisations to hit out at the London Book Fair over its refund policy following this year's cancelled event. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-30 21:17:31 UTC ]
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I know that fingers can’t “plod,” but that is what they are doing now, delivering upsetting news that encapsulates this shitty year. As Hong Kong teeters on the edge of a serious coronavirus outbreak and democratic institutions continue losing a war of attrition with the Chinese government, the... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-07-29 18:53:00 UTC ]
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Michael Joseph is publishing the first novel from Dawn French in five years, called Because of You, this October. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-29 17:04:51 UTC ]
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Full disclosure: I may not be the right person to answer the question posed in this headline. After all, I wrote my first novel almost entirely from bed. In fact, I am writing this essay from bed now. Like Edith Wharton, Colette, and Proust, I am more creative when reclined, and when... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-07-28 10:44:03 UTC ]
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As a child, Asha Grant didn't know where to find books about people who looked like her. Next year she'll open that place, the Salt Eaters, in Inglewood. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2020-07-23 14:00:39 UTC ]
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Puffin has revealed it has chosen Adam Larkum to be the illustrator of Captain Tom’s forthcoming picture book for young readers. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-21 13:03:42 UTC ]
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Tsukiyama’s first novel in nearly a decade takes readers to the 1930s Hawai’i of her Japanese father, where sugar was king and labor was hard. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2020-07-20 12:07:23 UTC ]
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Headline Review has won Radhika Sanghani's first novel for adults, 30 Things I Love About Myself, in a "heated" auction. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-17 00:46:50 UTC ]
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The owners of Greenlight Bookstore, which has two Brooklyn locations, came forward this week to take responsibility for “negative experiences of Black customers and employees in our stores” with a commitment to improving. In an open letter published Wednesday, co-owners Rebecca Fitting and... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-07-10 16:24:01 UTC ]
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Simon & Schuster Children's is to publish two picture books from author and illustrator Jan Fearnley. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-08 05:37:49 UTC ]
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Feiffer talks about his new picture book and more, and Steve Inskeep discusses “Imperfect Union.” Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2020-07-03 15:06:58 UTC ]
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Aspiring illustrator Ellan Rankin has been announced by Hachette as this year's winner of the Carmelite Picture Book Prize. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-03 00:33:10 UTC ]
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Children's independent Fisherton Press will publish We Love the NHS on July 5th 2020, the 72nd birthday of the NHS. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-02 06:40:02 UTC ]
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There’s no doubt COVID-19 has forever changed the world as we know it. A small slice of life that had to shift trajectory is the publishing industry. Debut authors are especially struggling as the books they have worked on for countless years are released into a world without in-person book... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2020-06-30 11:00:00 UTC ]
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Egmont has snapped up a picture book of "The Great Realisation", Tomos Roberts' poem in response to Covid-19 that has been viewed more than 60 million times since it was posted online in April. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-29 12:53:30 UTC ]
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Emma Layfield, picture book development director, North, has laid the foundations for Hachette to open five offices in the North of England later this year, aiming to tap into local talent Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-26 11:21:11 UTC ]
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It was my best case scenario. Not only did Edward Vaughn pick up the phone, but he was willing and eager to speak. At 85 years old, he had way more energy than me, 60 years his junior, when I called him earlier this week. (An unfortunate cocktail of technological failure and fanboyish... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-06-25 14:02:32 UTC ]
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We take a look at the latest picture book collaboration from award-winning duo Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson, which features a personal story about the stigma of incarceration. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-06-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Nosy Crow has acquired Granny Came to England on the Empire Windrush by Patrice Lawrence. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-21 14:26:59 UTC ]
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As the lockdown restrictions to contain the spread of Covid-19 begin to be relaxed across the UK, we’re bringing you the final instalment of our Literature on Lockdown series.Following the worldwide demonstrations, protests and public events in support of the Black Lives Matter movement,... Continue reading at British Council global
[ British Council global | 2020-06-16 16:00:51 UTC ]
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