Stories about Literature from March, 2009
Jamaica: Inspirational Books
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp shares 15 books that have influenced him.
Ukraine: Memorial Flat of Mikhail Bulgakov
The Uncataloged Museum writes about the Memorial Flat of Mikhail Bulgakov in Kyiv.
Arab World: Culture, Culture Everywhere
Across the Gulf various cultural festivals and literary events have been taking place in recent weeks, and in this post we hear from some of the region's bloggers who have attended them. However culture is not a politics-free zone; even a book fair or a cultural festival can be a source of tension...
Kenya: The Big Language Dilemma For Kenyan Poet Bloggers
Kenyan poets, unlike artists, find it easier to write and perform in English as opposed to any other language. This would be closely attributed to what language enables them express themselves better, and most definitely their command of that language. After a few interactions with a cross section of poets and by visiting their blogs, I realized that virtually none write in their mother tongue as much and very few have written in Kiswahili or Sheng.
Jamaica, Grenada: Writer Shortlisted
Blogging from Jamaica, Life, Unscripted, on the Rock reveals that “Jacob Ross from Grenada has been shortlisted…for the 2009 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize.”
Azerbaijan: Controversial Book Banned
Unzipped: Gay Armenia reports that the controversial book, Artush and Zaur, which details a love story between two men — one Armenian and one Azerbaijani — has been banned in Baku. The blog also says that bookshops selling the novel have been closed down.
Burkina Faso: A Special Day In Burkina Faso
March 8, 2009 was a special day in Burkina Faso in West Africa. Blogger Stephen Davies of Voice in the Desert explains.
Dominica: Rhys’ House to be Preserved
Repeating Islands’ Blog reports that “Vena’s Guesthouse in Roseau [Dominica], which had occupied Jean Rhys’ childhood home…has closed its doors after several decades of operation”, adding: “The building…has a new owner interested in preserving…its history as the home of the island’s best known writer.”
Jamaica, Barbados: Mentorship
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp pays tribute to one of his mentors, writer Kamau Brathwaite.
Uganda: The Devil's Bonfire: The Season Finale
“The girl rolled her eyes provocatively at Simon and beckoned him with one finger,” begins the season finale of Ugandan blog series, The Devil's Bonfire, by Ugandan blogger Carsozy.
Jamaica, U.S.A.: Artist vs. Art
“What should a black reader do if he finds out that one of his favourite authors was racist?”: Jamaican Marlon James considers the options.
Palestine: Book Based on Gazan Blog
Posts from the group blog Moments of Gaza are part of a new book: “Maximilien Le Roy [Fr] from France, showed his kind support to Gaza and its victims through art. He recently made a book [Fr] that includes quotes from this blog and drawings inspired by the events on...
Jamaica: Young Writers
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp features writer Pamela Mordecai's wish list for young writers.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Artush and Zaur
After the publication of a controversial new novel in Azerbaijan, Blogian posts an interview with its author while Unzipped: Gay Armenia says that a book discussion will be held in Baku on 11 March. Artush and Zaur, the story of the homosexual love affair between an Armenian and Azerbaijani in...
Morocco: Moroccan-American Author Releases First Novel
Over the past few years since her first book, a collection of intertwined short stories entitled Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits, was released, Laila Lalami has emerged as one of Morocco's best known authors. As few Moroccan writers' work is translated into English, and even fewer female writers', Lalami's books - penned in English - fill a gap in the connection between Moroccan literature and the west.
Jamaica: Self-Esteem
Jamaican blogger/writer Geoffrey Philp gives kids a valuable lesson in self-esteem.
Zimbabwe: Marechera's Love Sonnets
Eshuneutics continues with her discussion of Dambudzo Marechera's Love Sonnets. Part 7 of her posts discusses the introduction to Amelia Sonnets, which begins with the statement, “Every act of love is a recapitulation of the whole history of human emotion.” Marechera was Zimbabwean author.
Journal of Lao Studies
Bryan writes that the Fall 2009 issue of the Journal of Lao Studies has chosen four articles which will cover the fields of Anthropology, Economics, Literature, and Diaspora Studies.
Lao folktales
Nye Noona recommends a website and a book which both offer a good collection of Lao folktales.
Israel: Novelist Writes From Palestinian Perspective
Matt Beynon Rees is a Jerusalem-based crime novelist whose third book, The Samaritan's Secret, has just been published to positive reviews. His protagonist is the Palestinian school teacher and amateur sleuth, Omar Yussef. Rees explains: “I think of my novels as humanist, filtering out the politics that makes people see...
Uganda: The Literary Blogren
Uganda's bloggers are increasingly using their blogs as forums for literary expression, and online poems, short stories and multi-part novellas are becoming increasingly popular.
