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 ]
The International Literature Showcase is a partnership between the National Centre for Writing and British Council. It aims to showcase amazing writers based in the UK to programmers, publishers and teachers of literature in English around the world. To do so, we have invited six leading writers... Continue reading at British Council global
[ British Council global | 2019-10-05 10:05:02 UTC ]
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Growing up, Jeff Kinney discovered Tolkien, comics and computers at his local bookshop. When it closed he was bereft – would opening his own as an adult help to right that wrong?Author Jacqueline Woodson recently spoke about books being either mirrors or windows. Mirrors for seeing ourselves,... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2019-10-05 09:00:40 UTC ]
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When I spoke with Linnea Hartsuyker back in 2017, her epic saga was just beginning. The first novel opens with her hero, Ragnvald, seeing a vision of a golden wolf who will unite the feuding kingdoms of Norway under one rule. The vision sets the course of Ragnvald’s life, bringing him into the... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2019-10-04 08:47:45 UTC ]
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Many parents want their kids to be bilingual but don’t have the tools to teach them. Enter Habbi Habbi, a platform that makes learning new languages fun. My 3-year-old has been playing in her room by herself for an hour. I’m beginning to worry she is up to no good: Is she “decorating” her walls... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2019-10-03 10:00:03 UTC ]
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Lit Lists T. Patrick Ortez Fantasy is often overlooked when it comes to literature in translation, but from Gilgamesh to the Edda to The Epic of Darkness, fantasy lies at the heart of human storytelling. The genre has changed a lot since then, but fantasy... Continue reading at World Literature Today
[ World Literature Today | 2019-10-01 14:00:27 UTC ]
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Man Booker-winning author Anne Enright’s next novel, Actress, about sexual power and celebrity, will be published by Jonathan Cape in February 2020. Jonathan Cape publisher Robin Robertson acquired UK and Commonwealth rights excluding Canada from Peter Straus of Rogers, Coleridge & White... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-27 08:38:57 UTC ]
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Nick Hornby’s first novel in five years, Just Like You, will be published by Viking. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-27 01:29:37 UTC ]
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The Center for Fiction named its 2019 First Novel Prize shortlist this morning. The post Center for Fiction Names 2019 First Novel Prize Shortlist appeared first on The Millions. Continue reading at The Millions
[ The Millions | 2019-09-26 17:53:27 UTC ]
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Lit Hub is excited to announce the shortlist for the 2019 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. This year’s judging panel included Tommy Orange, Emma Straub, Monique Truong, Maaza Mengiste, and Claire Messud. They are: De’Shawn Charles Winslow, In West Mills Chia-Chia Lin, The Unpassing Julia... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2019-09-26 13:59:29 UTC ]
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Today, Cloud Atlas author David Mitchell announced his next project: Utopia Avenue, which will be first full-length novel since 2014’s The Bone Clocks. (I suppose he has some time now that he’s done writing The Matrix 4.) Mitchell said in his announcement that the idea for the book came in part... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2019-09-26 12:40:53 UTC ]
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Due out next summer, the novel will explore the power of music, following the career of the eponymous psychedelic bandCloud Atlas author David Mitchell is to tackle the story of “the strangest British band you’ve never heard of” in his first novel for five years, Utopia Avenue.Announcing the... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2019-09-26 10:42:58 UTC ]
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Adding an adult section to a children’s bookstore has been a profitable investment. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-09-25 12:00:09 UTC ]
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The owner of the Strand Bookstore plans to sue the city to fight a landmark designation applied to the property over the owner's opposition. An attorney for store owner Nancy Bass Wyden told... To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York
[ Crains New York | 2019-09-24 13:47:21 UTC ]
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New Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt gets to work on rejuvenating America’s largest bookstore retailer. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-09-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Pan Macmillan has landed the first novel in a historical crime fiction series from D V Bishop. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-20 00:24:27 UTC ]
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Visiting an author’s book launch at a colleague’s bookstore is a delightful adventure. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-09-18 12:00:48 UTC ]
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This fall, U.K. publisher Can of Worms is publishing a memoir by an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor that it acquired this past spring at the London Book Fair from hybrid publisher White River Press. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-09-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
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‘Dr. Seuss’s Horse Museum’ is the #9 book in country, and one of three new titles at the top of our picture book list. Plus ‘This Tender Land’ sells well in the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes, and debut novel ‘The Secrets We Kept’ gets the nod from Reese’s Book Club. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-09-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Walker Books Group imprint Candlewick Press has acquired rights to a new children’s picture book by Caldecott medallist Jon Klassen. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-12 11:17:10 UTC ]
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Trigger Publishing children’s imprint Upside Down has snapped up a “heartwarming” picture book debut which aims to help children to deal with emotions and boost self-confidence. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-11 08:35:17 UTC ]
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