Stories about Literature from May, 2008
Cambodia: Freedom of Flying
Educated in France to be an engineer, Santel Phin spent two years in Paris, one of the most romantic cities in the world. In Cambodia, the 31 year-old Santel presently works at Phnom Penh International Airport for he likes terminal and pace of busy people. Born in Kratie, the first...
Jamaica, U.S.A.: Everglades Litany
“In anticipation of Caribbean American Heritage Month“, Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp is running video series, which begins with one of his own, entitled Everglades Litany.
Haitian Literary Fair in Washington, D.C.
La Dous Ki Vyen Pwezi writes about a Haitian literary fair [Fr] held at Howard University in Washington, D.C. earlier this week.
Guatemala: Animal Del Monte Festival in Xela
Quetzaltenango or "Xela" was the site of an international poetry festival called Animal del Monte, which brought 40 poets from around Latin America. A big part of the festival was reaching out to surrounding communities by holding readings to local residents. The festival also highlighted the work of Guatemalan poets, who demonstrated that many fine works come from that country.
Nicaragua: Chacón Wins National Poetry Prize
Sergio Simpson congratulates Nicaraguan poet Ninozka Chacón for being awarded the 2008 National Poetry Prize, “Mariana Sansón.” [es]
Saudi Arabia: Thoughts on The Prisoner
From Saudi Arabia, Hayfa [Ar] read The Prisoner by Moroccan writer Malika Oufkir and shares her thoughts about it here.
Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: Calabash Podcast
Caribbean Free Radio produces a podcast from Jamaica's Calabash International Literary Festival which includes perspectives on “Derek Walcott's unforgettable premiere reading of ‘The Mongoose'” and an interview with Jamaican writer Thomas Glave, who was quite vocal about the Prime Minister's recent comments about there being no place for homosexuals in...
Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: Maslow & Art
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp sees a connection between Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and the Caribbean artist.
Guyana: Copyright Laws
Signifyin’ Guyana comes across an article on copyright laws in Guyana that “made (her) jaw drop.”
Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: Caribbean Nostalgia
Haitian blogger kiskeácity links to an interview with Nicholas Laughlin, who is at the Calabash International Literary Festival in Jamaica talking about “Caribbean literature, imaginary roads, creoleness…”it all makes you a bit nostalgic…
Jamaica: American Standard
Litblogger Geoffrey Philp is not in Jamaica for the Calabash International Literary Festival, but he's keeping track of what's going on, including Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott's criticism of the American standard.
Iran:No Permission for 100 books to get published
Khabgard,an Iranian blogger, says[Fa] that according to a publisher there are more than 100 books waiting for long time to get Iranian government's permission to get published.The blogger calls it a new record for Iranian State!
Venezuela: The Poet Who Enjoyed the Simple Things in Life
Poet Aquiles Nazoa had always led a simple life. His poetry illustrated the beauties of daily life and the humorous soul of all Venezuelans. He was also one of the most furious advocates of Human Rights during the 1960s in Venezuela. Venezuelan bloggers pay tribute to this poet, who had a certain love of the simple things in life.
Uganda: Book Club arrives
Book Club arrives in Kampala, Uganda: “The long awaited book club arrives. The onus is on me to pick the location, I guess, and I was thinking Iguana, but that's so not central. So I have to fall back on the default Mateo's.”
Jamaica: Literary Feud
Blogging from Jamaica's Calabash Literary Festival, Annie Paul talks about Derek Walcott's poem The Mongoose, “written specifically with V.S. Naipaul in mind”: “Down here at Treasure Beach we give thanks for sunny skies and prickly poets. Willing conscripts in the enactment of a first-class literary feud we await the unfolding...
Algerian writer Salim Bachi launches blog
Kangni Alem announces a new blog by Algerian writer Salim Bachi [Fr].
Saramago's reaction at the lauch of Blindness, the film
Bárbara Axt [pt] publishes a spot on video showing Jose Saramago‘s reaction just after watching Blindness, an adaptation of his book by Brazilian Fernando Meirelles, which was launched the Cannes film festival on Wednesday. “I am so happy to watch this film… as I was when I finished writing the...
Jamaica, Guyana: “Creole Gang”
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp features a poem by Guyanese writer Rooplall Monar.
Iran: Seven Valleys of Love
Kamangir reports that Sheema Kalbasi has published a book about the works of Iranian female poets from Middle age to present day Iran. The book is called: Seven Valleys of Love.
Guyana: Looking for Poetry
Signifyin’ Guyana posts a piece by John Agard to illustrate the things to look for in a poem.
Kyrgyzstan: Manas Epos
Elena from neweurasia presents a short podcast with the extracts from the national Kyrgyz epos “Manas”.