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 ]
Snow was falling as Genie turned right on C Street and headed downtown to the bookstore with Wins. The city was quiet. Most people had already left work for the start of the holiday weekend. The Salvation Army had just concluded its Good Friday worship. Volunteers at the Third Avenue Elks Club... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-03-24 08:48:38 UTC ]
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Parents keen to encourage children into good hygiene practices during the coronavirus outbreak turn to Tony Ross’s anarchic creation for helpParents desperate to persuade their children to keep washing their hands have been turning to Tony Ross’s anarchic creation the Little Princess for help,... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2020-03-23 12:31:25 UTC ]
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The Strand bookstore confirmed Sunday that 188 employees, the majority of the bookstore’s staff, have been let go in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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You might have found works in this Rights Roundup at London Book Fair—had COVID-19 not intervened: From Finland, USA, Spain, France, Sweden, and Italy. The post Rights Roundup: Books That Were To Be Presented at London Book Fair 2020 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-03-20 15:15:08 UTC ]
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On the afternoon of Wednesday, March 18, 2020 I stood in an empty bookstore and cried. A friend had just sent a congratulatory text with a picture from the April issue of Alta Magazine. My wife and I were interviewed a few months ago for a profile of Point Reyes Books, the bookstore we’ve owned […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-03-20 08:49:38 UTC ]
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The sought-after first novel by former blogger Clare Pooley exposes the need for connection in the age of social media Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-20 07:25:26 UTC ]
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Bookshop.org, an alternative to Amazon that shares proceeds from book sales with independent bookstores, will give more money to those stores in response to the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on small businesses. Bookshop announced today that it would increase bookstore partners’ affiliate... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-03-18 15:09:12 UTC ]
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Indigo Books and Music, Canada's dominant bookstore chain, is closing all of its 199 retail locations from the end of business today until March 27. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Denver's Tattered Cover is the latest bookstore to report job losses, putting 100 employees on unpaid temporary leave. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
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London Book Fair director Jacks Thomas submitted her resignation in September, and planned to announce her departure at the 2020 fair, which was canceled because of coronavirus. The post Jacks Thomas Leaves Reed and London Book Fair appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-03-17 15:13:03 UTC ]
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“The Mountains Sing,” the first novel in English by the Vietnamese poet Nguyen Phan Que Mai, imagines her country’s traumatic 20th century through the stories of three generations of women. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2020-03-17 09:00:13 UTC ]
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London Book Fair director Jacks Thomas is stepping down after seven years with Reed Exhibitions. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-16 23:02:11 UTC ]
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The tale of the Moravian Book Shop isn’t straight-forward. Founded in 1745, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, it’s said to be the oldest continuously-running bookstore in America, yet it’s largely under the radar. It’s not a grande dame to whom homage must be paid; it’s never been the epicenter for... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-03-16 08:49:30 UTC ]
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As a result of the coronavirus crisis, sales at digital audiobook store Libro.fm and online bookstore Bookshop.org have soared. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The London Book Fair was due to recognise the work of translators yet again, and before its postponement had anointed Katy Derbyshire its second Translator of the Fair. She reveals the highs and lows of the job Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-13 12:01:15 UTC ]
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Macmillan Children’s Books has signed illustrator David Tazzyman to its list for his debut middle-grade fiction series and a new picture book. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-11 16:24:51 UTC ]
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Awards this year go to winners in India, New Zealand, Kenya, Germany, Egypt, Spain, Indonesia, Finland, Italy, the UK, and USA. The post London Book Fair Announces Its 2020 International Excellence Award Winners appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-03-11 10:32:51 UTC ]
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The winners of the London Book Fair Awards 2020 have been revealed with the LBF International Excellence Awards, CAMEOs and UK Book Blog Awards all taking place online after the event was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-11 02:01:11 UTC ]
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Puffin has snapped up Zadie Smith and Nick Laird's "endearing" debut picture book, Weirdo, featuring a judo suit-wearing guinea pig. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-10 07:57:19 UTC ]
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This time last week, when I asked someone at one of the bigger publishers whether they had called off their London Book Fair party yet, I could feel the baffled response down the telephone line—“as if”. A week is a long time during pandemics (we are learning), but for Reed Exhibitions, the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-06 04:53:02 UTC ]
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