Arab Writers at PEN: It’s Not Just About Politics
M. LYNX-QUALEY: At major international writer events there seems to be an overwhelming focus on the politics of the region. Understandable but we’re neglecting a fuller picture
“If You Only Ever Read Five Arabic Books, Read These”
M. LYNX-QUALEY: So you’ve decided that there’s only enough time in your life to read five Arabic books (translated). Here’s a little help deciding which five.
Emirati Sci-Fi Author ‘In No Hurry’ To Translate
M. LYNX-QUALEY: Noura Noman is delighted that her sci-fi novel in Arabic is appealing to primarily teenage audience starved of popular literature in their language
‘Revolution Against Classical Arabic Is Now Required’
M. LYNX-QUALEY: There is a strong and growing sentiment against the constraints put upon writers in the region who write in a collloquial style
Popular and Acclaimed: The Voice of Arab Women?
M. LYNX-QUALEY: Her latest novel has sold more than 100,000 copies within the first two months of release. She is, though, a sharply divisive figure
A ‘Compelling’ Vision of Cairo ‘In All Its Multiplicities’
ELISABETH JAQUETTE, ARABLIT: Samia Mehrez has brought together a variety of writers’ views of Cairo over the past century.
Banned Egyptian Graphic Novel ‘Is Back on Shelves’
ELISABETH JAQUETTE, ARABLIT: The re-publication of an infamous work could portend the arrival of a ‘golden age’ in Arabic graphic novels
Taha Hussein: Arab World’s (Nearly) Nobel Choice
M. LYNX-QUALEY: He was nominated twice but never matched the Arab World’s only Nobel literature prize recipient, Naguib Mahfouz.
Was ‘Girls of Riyadh’ Raja’s ‘Rooster’s Egg’?
AHMED AL OMRAN: Her book caused an inevitable furore when it first appeared. So why haven’t we heard more from Raja Al Sanea?
The Pros and Cons of Arab World Literary Prizes
M. LYNX-QUALEY: There’s always bound to be heated debate about the merits of judging literature but the Arab world’s literary prizes attract particularly warm discussion.
Writing About Torture: Mechanism of Resistance
MOHGA HASSIB, ARABLIT: There is a debate among writers about how to treat the subject of torture. The acclaimed Lebanese writer Elias Khoury has firm views
‘This Is Not A Time for Fiction’: Arab Novelists’ Crisis
M. LYNX-QUALEY: Ahdaf Soueif said it first but many of her peers agree that the tumultuous events wracking the Arab world leave fiction irrelevant.
The Arab World’s ‘Olympic Poets’: Who’d You Choose?
M. LYNX-QUALEY: Thanks goodness we no longer have the embarrassment of the Olympics ‘Art Competitions’ but the UK’s Guardian newspaper did some nice work.
“Means of Suppressing Demonstrations”: Worth the Fuss?
MICHAEL FELSEN, CGNEWS: “Means of Suppressing Demonstrations” is a short story by 25-year old Israeli author Shani Boianjiu…
The Politics Behind the Award of Literary Prizes
M. LYNX-QUALEY: Whether it’s the Nobel Prize or those closer to home there’s always a bit – or more – of politics when literary prizes are awarded.
The Long and Tortured History of Islamophobia
ALEX KANE, MONDOWEISS: Deepa Kumar has written a detailed study of Islamophobia which links it inextricably to the cause of Empire
So Then, Farewell Cairo: Let My Exile Begin
M. LYNX-QUALEY: It’s time to bid a sad adieu to my adopted home town. I hope to be back, though, soon.
Beaten But Unbowed: Syrian Author Writes On
M. LYNX-QUALEY: His hand was broken by thugs last week but celebrated novelist Khaled Khalifa continues his work
Do Books Matter in Contemporary Cairo?
M. LYNX-QUALEY: It may be Cairo’s oldest book market but heritage is no protector from increasing development
Hamlet: Is He The Arab World’s True Hero?
HUSSEIN OMAR, ARABLIT: Nasser had a ‘Caesar Complex’ but for Egyptians and many other Arabs there’s only one Shakespearean hero.
