Stories about Literature from September, 2008
Ethiopia: Let's talk about theatre
Ethiopian blogger, Arefe, writes “An Ethiopian actor who paid for Iago’s sin”: “The late Laureate Tsegaye Gebre-Medhin was the leading Amharic Shakespeare translator and his translation of Othello has been a popular item in the Addis Ababa theatrical repertoire.In the article, “Shakespeare in Ethiopia”, Prof.Richard Pankhurst relates the public’s reaction...
Japan: Kiki's Atashi Kanojo
Blogger Akihito Kobayashi at the Shirokuma Blog reports on his experience [ja] reading the winning work in this year's keitai shosetsu awards: “Atashi Kanojo” (あたし彼女) by 23-year-old writer Kiki. Although the short story has all the elements of the genre — sex, pregnancy, abortion, and many one-word sentences — Akihito...
Iran: Iranian American Writers
Parsarts says that the Association of Iranian American Writers (AIAW) has just launched their website, iranianamericanwriters.org, which features member profiles, excerpts of member work, and a blog.
Lusosphere: Saramago, 85 years, Nobel Laureate, Blogger
A week ago, the 1998 Nobel Prize winner for literature - the first and only Portuguese language writer - started his own blog: Saramago's Notebook, which he describes as his "infinite page on the Internet", has been welcomed by bloggers from many Portuguese speaking countries. But what does it take to become a blogger?
Jamaica, Guyana: New Book
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp focuses on a new book by Guyanese author Sasenarine Persaud.
Cuba: The Power of Books
Both Uncommon Sense and Generation Y blog about three Cuban political prisoners who have started hunger strikes after they were prevented from receiving books and magazines: “They suspect that when Adolfo, Pedro and Antonio are engrossed in an essay or a story the bars disappear, the jail fades away, and...
Iraq: Look at the World – Where is peace?
Today a mixed bag of posts. A meeting of old friends, a little politics, a coin of excellence, a dose of female geekery and, if you read to the end, find out what fasting really does to you.
Bahamas: The Writer
Bahamian Nicolette Bethel examines the role of the writer in society.
Deaf Awareness Week: A different type of book signing.
Did you know that most deaf people who sign, consider sign language their first language and the written language as their second? I didn't, but thanks to the dozens of videos uploaded by members of the deaf community from all over the world, I've learned about this and many other things. International Deaf Awareness Week takes place during the last week of September, so I'll be showcasing different videos from or about the deaf communities around the world.
Jamaica: Hopkinson Wins Award
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp congratulates author Nalo Hopkinson on her second Sunburst Award.
Madagascar: Saluting Rado, a Poet Legend
Bloggers in Madagascar mourn the passing of a renowned poet.
Jamaica: Short Story
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp recommends “a good short story grounded in Caribbean reality, history and mythology.”
Bahamas, Guyana: Fringe Benefits
Bahamian blogger The Gaulin Wife reflects on her experience at the recently-concluded Carifesta: “Perhaps being left out of officially sanctioned spaces is sometimes the critical jolt that remembers us to ourselves – reminds us that no government, and no festival can create art or artists, we create and define ourselves.”
Russia: Blog Roundup
Siberian Light posts this month's Russia Blog Roundup: “Unsurprisingly, most of the Russia blogs have been extensively covering the war in Georgia, but I’ve decided to showcase mostly non-war related stuff this month, for those hankering after more peaceful times.”
Blogger of the Week: Daniel Duende Carvalho
This week's Blogger of the Week series takes us to Brasilia, Brazil, where Daniel Duende Carvalho, our Portuguese Translation Manager, opens his heart and talks about his blogging experience, his work online and what he thinks of the Portuguese speaking Brazilian blogopshere. Is living in Brazil all about lazing in the sun and attending loud parties? Juan Arellano finds out.
Jamaica, U.S.A.: In Memoriam
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp is saddened over the passing of American poet Reginald Shepherd and also posts a poem in memory of the 9-11 firefighters, who lost their lives seven years ago today.
Jamaica: Soon Come
“For me, this was like staring into a mirror and recognizing myself for the first time”: Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp reviews Hugh Hodges’ Soon Come, which he says “provides a useful context for understanding Jamaican religions such as Myal, Kumina, Revivalism, and Rastafari and their connection with the work of...
Jamaica, Guyana: New Publishing House?
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp reports that “as publishing opportunities for Caribbean writers continue to shrink…Derek Walcott, David Dabydeen, and Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo have agreed to pursue the development of a Caribbean publishing house located in Guyana.”
Japan: Bloggers debate Uesugi's Collapse of Journalism
In his new book “The Collapse of Journalism”, released in July, freelance journalist Takashi Uesugi strips down the murky Japanese media system and offers a glimpse inside. A former New York Times journalist and currently a contributor to numerous Japanese magazines and TV programs, Uesugi points out anomalies in Japanese journalism when compared with other democratic countries. Read responses from Japanese journalists and bloggers, translated in this post.
Bulgaria, Macedonia: Rapprochement Through Literature
Yavor Mihaylov reports on how Bulgarian and Macedonian bloggers, through literature, have contributed more to the improvement of the Bulgarian-Macedonian relations than the Bulgarian and Macedonian governments from the recent years.
Jamaica, Guyana: Poet as Maker
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp features Guyanese poet Cyril Dabydeen in his own words.
