Stories about Literature from August, 2008
Dominican Republic: Visit by Junot Díaz to Santo Domingo
Junot Díaz is a Dominican-American writer, who recently won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Joan Guerrero writes about the recent visit to Santo Domingo by the author [es].
Eritrea: African Reading Challenge 2008
As part of African Reading Challenge 2008, Scarlet read a book about Eritrea by Michaela Wrong, “I didn't do it for you: How the West betrayed a small African nation.” She says: “Not that much has been written by Western journalists about Eritrea. Michaela Wrong decided to write all of...
Guyana, Bahamas: The good and bad of Carifesta X
With the tenth Caribbean Festival of Arts -- Carifesta X -- under way in Guyana, bloggers comment on the massive event, its problems and highlights, the politics of art and also the art of politics.
China: Chinese Lies
C. W. Hayford from Chinese History group blog goes into various literature sources for discussing the “Chinese character” in relation to “face” and “lie”. It gives some background about the various Olympic “lies” happened.
Tunisia: Eleven Minutes
“Another Paulo Coelho book that I've read recently and that I've been meaning to write about is ‘Eleven Minutes’. The book is pretty different from the other books I've read by Paulo Coelho, even though it is equally as great and enjoyable as a book, and inspiring in its own...
Bahamas, Guyana: Walcott's Warning
At the opening of the Carifesta Symposia in Guyana, Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott warned that regional governments are killing their artists – making Bahamian blogger Nicolette Bethel even more convinced that her decision to resign her post as Director of Culture for the Bahamas Government is the right one.
Brazil: Micro stories contest via Twitter
“140letras is the first micro stories contest in Brazil, held through Twitter. Entry is now closed and we can track the competitors’ stories. The winner will be announced on September 30″, Luciana Mielniczuk [pt] reports.
Morocco: Mourning Darwish
Laila Lalami laments the passing of Mahmoud Darwish, and a missed opportunity to hear him read.
Guyana: Poems of a Fat Black Woman
Signifyin’ Guyana posts excerpts from Guyanese poet Grace Nichols’ “sexy little collection”, which “tell of a fat black woman's trials and tribulations, as well as her moments of triumph in a foreign land.”
Bolivia: International Book Fair in La Paz
Cristina Quisbert blogs from the 13th International Book Fair being held in La Paz, Bolivia [es]. She notes that the Vice-President Alvaro Garcia Linera hopes that the ability to buy books is not the privilege of just a few.
Bahamas, Guyana: Carifesta Buzz
In the midst of criticisms about the host country not being prepared for Carifesta, Bahamian blogger Nicolette Bethel says: “Guyana stepped in when we in The Bahamas relinquished our commitment to host, and, despite having had only one year to plan the festival in, took the plunge anyway.” She adds:...
Paraguay: Book and Paraguayan Author Fair
El Yacare [es] posts the activities of the Book and Paraguayan Author Fair to be held from August 13-15 in Asuncion.
Jamaica: Week in Review
From the Olympics opening ceremony: “It showcased the sheer might and power that can be harnessed from the human potential, working together as one” to “Russia’s blitzkieg-style attack on Georgia”, Jamaica's Abeng News Magazine thinks it's been one heck of a week.
Jordan: Arabic Harry Potter Banned in Israel
The Arabic version of the Harry Potter series is banned in Israel, reports The Black Iris, from Jordan. According to news sources, the ban is based on a decree from 1939 – when the area was under British mandate – prohibiting the importation of books from countries that are at...
Jordanian Bloggers Mourn Palestinian Poet Mahmoud Darwish
The Jordanian blogosphere has been mourning the great Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish, who passed away from complications due to open-heart surgery at the age of 67 this week. For Jordanians, Darwish was more than just a master of words. He is perceived as an ambassador and champion of the Palestinian...
Arabeyes: Mourning for Mahmoud Darwish
Bloggers around the Arab world mourned the death of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish yesterday. Scores of posts appeared online in Arabic and English even before news of his death was officially confirmed.
Estonia: WWII Book Review
Itching for Eestima posts a review of Eesti Legion – a photobook by ex Prime Minister Mart Laar on the Estonian Legion during the Second World War – and reflects on historical perceptions. Gedanken über Estland reports (GER) that the very same book was recently confiscated by German police as...
Russia: Solzhenitsyn – Hero or Traitor?
LJ user webgolos surveys (RUS) whether Russian bloggers perceive recently deceased writer Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn as a hero or traitor – or perhaps simply as an author. So far, results are 46% hero, 16% traitor, and 38% simply an author.
Russia: Review of the New Cold War
The 8th Circle reviews Edward Lucas’ book The New Cold War.
Western Sahara: A Tribute to a Hero
Occidental - Sada Assahra al -Gharbiya [ar] has posted a poem entitled “Another Poem from the Occupied Territory: My Hero!”
Croatia: Interview with Dubravka Ugrešić
Balkanikum [French] posted an interview with Croatian writer Dubravka Ugrešić, published by H-Alter on the occasion of the publication of her latest novel in French, Baba Yaga a pondu de oeufs (not yet published in English).
