Stories about Literature from April, 2010
St. Lucia: Getting Kids to Read
“All over the world there is mounting concern among educators and parents that kids are not showing enough interest in reading for pleasure, both in and out of school”: St. Lucia's Caribbean Book Blog thinks that “writers must stand up for the children.”
Russia: The 2009 Killing of Umar Israilov
Robert Amsterdam writes about Ramzan Kadyrov's alleged involvement in the 2009 murder of Umar Israilov in Vienna, and links to C.J. Chivers’ New York Times investigative piece, whose opening paragraph has reminded him of Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried, a collection of Vietnam War short stories.
China: The 42th anniversary of Lin Zhao's death
Lin Zhao (林昭）, a Peking University student, was arrested in 1960 during the Anti-Rightist Campaign launched by Mao Zedong in 1957 and sentenced to death on 29 of April (today) in 1968, 42 years ago at the age of 35. She could have exchanged for her freedom and life by...
Algeria: Since 1989
“James D. Le Sueur’s Algeria since 1989: Between Terror and Democracy (Zed: 2010) provides for the most up-to-date reading on the Algerian Civil War since Algeria: Anger of the Dispossessed by John Philips and Martin Evans,” writes Algerian blogger The Moor Next Door, who reviews the book.
Jamaica: 10 Years of Calabash
Litblogger Geoffrey Philp blogs about the 10th annual Calabash International Literary Festival in Jamaica, saying: “This year’s event will bring together an extraordinary mix of new and established writers from around the world for the most anticipated annual literary event in the Caribbean region.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Roffey Speaks
Pleasure blog posts an interview with Trinidad-born writer Monique Roffey.
Kuwait: Vote Buying in Poetry Contest
Brian Whitaker reports on a vote buying scandal surrounding a poetry contest in Kuwait here.
Guyana: Write Good
What is “good” writing? Signifyin’ Guyana has a few thoughts on the subject.
Panama: Writers Association at Buenos Aires Book Fair
The blog Panamanian Writers [es] details the participation of the Panama Writers Association in the International Book Fair in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Pakistan: Karachi Literary Festival
Raza Rumi at Jahane Rumi comments on the Karachi Literary Festival: “It is heartening to see how events such as this can take place, and the hope they can instill, in the land of suicide bombers, adventurers and charlatans.”
Palestine: Ideas for Catchy Titles
Palestinian blogger Laila El-Haddad sends out a tweet saying: “Officially started writing new book; in need of catchy titles; suggestions?”
China: Writer's call to eliminate the Internet
ESWN translated Chinese writer, Ma Jia's comment on Internet Literature. The writer claimed in a literary forum that had he the power, he would eliminate the Internet.
Bangladesh: Bangla Blogs At The BOBS – Meet Ali Mahmed
Bangla (Bengali) language blogs have been included for the first time in the Deutsche Welle's 2010 BOBS awards. We have interviewed Ali Mahmed (Shuvo), a leading nominee for the best of the Bangla blogs category, to learn about his blogging and the blogging scene in Bangladesh.
China: Most influential most-read blogger
Being the world's most widely-read blogger seems to have made Han Han a candidate for the 2010 Time 100 list, though a certain amount of selection bias probably isn't hurting given the other contenders from China this year. Han's blog service provider Sina.com ran his nomination as a top feature...
Russia: “March Elegy”
Anna Akhmatova's poem and some memories of the Moscow subway and the Park Kultury station where the second of the two March 29 blasts occurred – at Poemless: “In the Metro, you could buy a puppy and take the puppy to the vet, have its prescriptions filled, buy some lingerie...
