Stories about Literature from November, 2008
Czech Republic: Milan Kundera Controversy
Belatedly, a link to the post on Milan Kundera controversy – at Balkans via Bohemia.
Trinidad & Tobago: The Art of Stuart Hahn
From Trinidad and Tobago, the bookmann features an interview with artist Stuart Hahn, while Antilles focuses on “three Caribbean-related titles” that have made The New York Times annual list of notable books.
Venezuela: Jose Ignacio Cabrujas and His Mark on Society
One of the great Venezuelan critics provided thoughts on daily life. However, since his passing, many are left wondering what he would have said about the events of today. Jose Ignacio Cabrujas, was a well-known playwright, director, and even transformed Venezuelan soap operas into social commentary that used many well-known literary works.
Jamaica: The Real Story
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp weighs in on the discussion about literary authenticity and the Caribbean writer: “Storytellers come and go, but the story of the Caribbean continues to evolve–waiting for storytellers to respond to the relationship between a people and a place through time.”
Harry Potter translated into Khmer language
GV author Tharum writes about the Khmer translation of J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter book. Tharum also reflects on how to improve readership in Cambodia today.
Guyana: On Being Authentic
“I spent the first 19 years of my life in Guyana. I have now lived away from Guyana for a longer time than I lived there. Does that make me an inauthentic Guyanese?”: Signifying Guyana responds to an argument that writers “who eventually opt to live and work abroad, cannot…lay...
Tunisia: Yes, they can. No, we can't!
The week of the US election coincided with the 21st anniversary of 'change' in Tunisia. But while Americans went to the polls to elect their 44th president, in its 50 years of independence, Tunisia has had just two presidents. Tunisian bloggers mark Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's 21st year as president with a call for change.
Jamaica, U.S.A.: Poetic Obama
Jamaicans Geoffrey Philp's Blogspot and Poet in Wisconsin both post poems in honour of Barack Obama.
Jamaica, U.S.A.: Miami Book Fair
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp blogs about his experience at the Miami Book Fair.
Japan: Japanese Language in the Age of English
The Fall of the Japanese Language in the Age of English, the latest book by Japanese novelist and essayist Minae Mizumura, roused debate among many Japanese bloggers recently over the fate of their national language. Some wondered whether their country would one day adopt English as the mother tongue, and what that would mean for their national identity.
Mexico: The Death of Paco Ignacio Taibo I
El Nahual of México Para Los Mexicanos [es] mourns the death of Paco Ignacio Taibo I, who was a Mexican writer and historian. He also founded the Culture section of the El Universal newspaper.
Syria: Love is in Stuttgart
Forget politics, Obama or the economic crisis. The new buzz in the Syrian blogosphere is about love. Mariyah, a Syrian blogger from Damascus, has been playing with the hearts of her readers with the most delicate series of posts about the story of Ghassan and Alexandra. It all starts on...
India: Book of Ram
Jabberwock reviews ‘The Book of Ram’ by mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik, who shows: “how the Ram story has been adapted and retold over the centuries to suit the needs and perspectives of the people who have done the retelling and the times they lived in.”
Cuba: Castro's New Book
Fidel Castro's new book has not escaped the notice of El Cafe Cubano or Guyanese blogger Propaganda Press.
Egypt: What life has taught Galal Amin
“Born in January of 1935, his father had wanted his mother to have an abortion because they already had 7 children, she refused and that is how he came to be,” writes blogger Jessyz, who takes us through the pages of the autobiography “What life has taught me” by Dr....
Arabs Read a Quarter of a Page a Year
Space and Time (Ar) links to UN statistics which show that Arabs read a quarter of a page a year on average, while Americans read 11 books.
Iraq: Lessons from a Kurdish Poet
Kurdish author Ardalan Hardi from Kurdishaspect writes a poignant letter in honor of his father entitled Lessons from a Kurdish Poet.
Guyana: Thoughts on Death
“I do not obsess too much…with what lies after death; my concern is with the quality of life one leads here”: From Guyana, Ruel Johnson writes “a brief note” on death.
Bhutan: Crowning of a new King
Cigay at Kuzu-Bhutan weblog writes a poem as a tribute to the coronation celebrations of the King Fifth Druk Gyalpo to be held tomorrow in Thimphu, Bhutan.
Brazilian myths and haunts in the Lusosphere – Part 3
To bring this series about Brazilian myths, legends and haunts as seen on the Lusosphere to a great close, we couldn't choose a better entity to speak about than Saci Pererê. After being introduced to mythic beings like Cuca, Boitatá and Curupira in the first article, and reading the intriguing narratives about Cabeça de Cuia and Caboclo D'Água, among others, in the second article of the series, now it's time to delve into the mysteries of the most famous being from Brazilian mythology.
