Cultural Cross Sections Shohreh Laici Photo of Tehran by Xiquinho Silva / Flickr A writer in Tehran incapable of entering the US under the Muslim travel ban encounters Michelle Obama’s Becoming in a beauty salon. Reading the Farsi translation, she finds encouragement in its pages. Every Fourth of July, I question my American friends’ patriotism. I email them Independence Day congratulations, attached with pictures of the American flag. Many of my American friends don’t show much interest in my Fourth of July congratulations. Like my friend Sam. He thinks differently about the idea of the flag, national anthem, and patriotism. Sam believes that the flag is not sacred; it’s just a symbol. He says he doesn’t need to wrap himself in the US flag to demonstrate that he is a patriot. To him, patriotism is more than just following a flag and cheering for the politicians who wave it. Although Sam was born and raised in a military family with right-wing political views, he is very leftist. Since November 2016, Sam has lived in a number of European countries and recently settled down in northeastern Africa to serve as a health consultant. He doesn’t like living in the States anymore and thinks of himself as a citizen of the world. Once I asked Sam how he feels when some people of other countries—including Iran—burn the US flag. He smiled and said, “I understand that it’s a statement. We—the Americans—burn our flag to make a statement,... Continue reading at 'World Literature Today'
[ World Literature Today | 2019-11-26 14:55:39 UTC ]
The MIT Press will sponsor the American Literature and Culture program at the 2019 Oxford Literary Festival, marking the first time a university press sponsor has partnered with the festival in this way. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-03-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Little, Brown has acquired a “no-nonsense guide for women” by Barack Obama’s former right-hand woman Alyssa Mastromonaco. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Retailer insists Authors Guild report that criticised the online giant for contributing to tumbling writers’ incomes used flawed figures, but Guild stands by findingsAmazon has called the conclusions of a recent report into US author earnings flawed, after the Authors Guild suggested that the... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2019-01-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The educational charity Book Aid International cites 25 countries as destinations of its books donated by publishers last year. The post Book Aid International 2018 Reports Biggest Year Yet, in Africa and Middle East appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-01-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors Guild survey finds writers’ incomes have fallen dramatically in five years – with literary novelists worst-hitA major survey of American authors has uncovered a crash in author earnings described as “a crisis of epic proportions” – particularly for full-time literary writers, who are “on... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2019-01-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barack Obama has revealed his favourite books of 2018—and his wife Michelle's memoir Becoming (Viking) has topped his list. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-01-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Of course, Michelle Obama’s Becoming was No. 1. Barack Obama may be out of the White House, but he is continuing a few traditions. The former president–and current most admired man in the U.S.– took to social media on Friday to share a few of his favorite things, including Black... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2018-12-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Alice Duijser has been appointed as VitalSource's managing director for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, replacing John Donovan. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-12-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Stan Lee's impact on popular culture spurred a billion dollar superhero industry, but the comic supremo's contribution to American literature during a period of intense social change was just as rich. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2018-11-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A new literature award, the JCB Prize goes to the work of a Kerala author who writes about issues and personalities in the Middle East. His newest book is from Juggernaut. The post Author Benyamin’s ‘Jasmine Days’ Wins Inaugural JCB Prize for Literature in India appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barack Obama, in an August 19 Facebook post, shared the books he’s been reading lately. Of those, 'An American Marriage' by Tayari Jones returns to our lists after an absence of a few months, as does Hans Rosling’s 'Factfulness.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[caption id="attachment_134577" align="alignright" width="150"] Alex Hardiman[/caption] The Atlantic continued its ongoing expansion this week with the hire of Facebook’s head of news products, Alex Hardiman, as its new chief business and product officer. Starting this fall, Hardiman will be... Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2018-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Louisville Magazine and its website Louisville.com have been purchased by former U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom, Matthew Barzun, for an undisclosed amount. The monthly publication, which is known in its community for shedding light on often-ignored neighborhoods and stories, will be under... Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2018-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barack Obama has revealed that Tara Westover’s Educated, Michael Ondaatje's Warlight and An American Marriage by Tayari Jones are among his favourite summer reads of 2018. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Former President Obama has shared his summer reading list, and it shows a drive toward understanding and empathy. Obama posted some of his book recommendations on Facebook on Sunday. The former president praised five books he's enjoyed in the last months, including a novel by a Canadian literary... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-08-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In the UK, literary festivals report that invited authors from the Middle East and Africa are increasingly seeing their visa applications denied. The post Visa Challenges for Authors and Artists Roil the UK Festival Community appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nelson Mandela and Ben Rhodes are among the authors featured on Barack Obama's summer reading list ahead of his trip to Africa. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East are represented in this year's 13 longlisted books for the Man Booker International Prize, which divides its £50,000 award between translator and author. This year: 108 titles were considered. The post Man Booker International Prize Longlist:... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hodder & Stoughton has acquired a book about women and leadership from a former Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton aide, Jennifer Palmieri. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Donald Trump has this much in common with Barack Obama: Both presidents’ first years spawned books that chronicled crises. Obama’s crisis, however, was inherited. Trump’s has been largely self-made. Trump even provided the alliterative title — “Fire and Fury” — for the book that has roiled... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-01-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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