We talk about a few new books — ones that provide a welcome escape, and ones that seem particularly daunting — and about how hard it is to write, read, think and imagine the future right now.

 

Show Notes:

Noor Naga's novel-in-verse Washes, Prays was published this spring. You can read more about it on Mada Masr and ArabLit.

Aziz Binebine's Tazmamart, Cellule 10 recently appeared in English as Tazmamart, translated by Lulu Norman. His brother Mahi Binebine's The King's Fool is forthcoming in Ben Faccini's translation in August.

Impostures is al-Hariri's classic Maqamat, many-Englished by Michael Cooperson and available now.

Mazen Kerbaj's coronavirus diaries are online at kerbajdiaries.com.

Alessandro Manzoni’s I Promessi Sposi is a classic of Italian literature and recounts a 17th century plague in Milan. 

There has also been a fair amount of quarantine writing, such as the NYRB’s Pandemic Journal. The Point is publishing a series of articles on what we watch and read during quarantine. 

Repression in Egypt continues even with covid-19. Alaa Abdel-Fattah went on a month-long hunger strike, Mada Masr editor Lina Attallah was detained and released on bail, and the latest to be targeted were a couple young (and apolitical) TikTok stars. 

New Arabic Translation Challenges are published each Tuesday with roundups on Saturday. Details here or by following #ArabicTranslationChallenge on Twitter.

We talk about a few new books &mdash; ones that provide a welcome escape, and ones that seem particularly daunting &mdash; and about how hard it is to write, read, think and imagine the future right now.
&nbsp;
Show Notes:
Noor Naga's novel-in-verse <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622551/washes-prays-by-noor-naga/">Washes, Prays</a> was published this spring. You can read more about it on <a href="https://madamasr.com/en/2020/05/16/feature/culture/a-crisis-of-desire-noor-naga-on-her-debut-poetry-collection-washes-prays/">Mada&nbsp;Masr</a> and <a href="https://arablit.org/2020/05/05/on-the-zoom-launch-of-noor-nagas-washes-prays-with-all-the-weirdness-left-in/">ArabLit</a>.
Aziz Binebine's&nbsp;Tazmamart, Cellule 10 recently appeared in English as <a href="https://www.hauspublishing.com/non-fiction/tazmamart-by-aziz-binebine/">Tazmamart, translated by Lulu Norman</a>. His brother<a href="https://www.maclehosepress.com/titles/mahi-binebine/the-kings-fool/9780857058232/"> Mahi Binebine's&nbsp;The King's Fool</a> is forthcoming in Ben Faccini's&nbsp;translation in August.
<a href="https://www.libraryofarabicliterature.org/books/9781479800841/impostures/">Impostures</a> is al-Hariri's classic Maqamat, many-Englished by Michael Cooperson and available now.
Mazen Kerbaj's&nbsp;coronavirus diaries are online at <a href="http://kerbajdiaries.com/">kerbajdiaries.com</a>.
Alessandro Manzoni&rsquo;s I Promessi Sposi is a classic of Italian literature and recounts a 17th century plague in Milan.&nbsp;
There has also been a fair amount of quarantine writing, such as the NYRB&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2020/05/15/pandemic-journal-april-13-20/">Pandemic Journal</a>. The Point is publishing <a href="https://thepointmag.com/category/criticism/">a series of articles </a>on what we watch and read during quarantine.&nbsp;
Repression in Egypt continues even with covid-19. Alaa Abdel-Fattah went on a month-long <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/jailed-egyptian-activist-alaa-abdel-fattah-ends-hunger-strike">hunger strike</a>, Mada Masr editor Lina Attallah was <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/lina-attalah-egypt-news-outlet-chief-editor-released-bail-200518064954477.html">detained and released on bail</a>, and the latest to be targeted were a couple young (and apolitical) <a href="https://egyptianstreets.com/2020/05/16/from-tiktok-to-jail-popular-egyptian-influencer-arrested-for-violating-family-values/">TikTok stars</a>.&nbsp;
New <a href="https://arablit.org/?s=%22Arabic+Translation+Challenge%22">Arabic Translation Challenges</a> are published each Tuesday with roundups on Saturday. Details <a href="https://arablit.org/?s=%22Arabic+Translation+Challenge%22">here</a> or by following&nbsp;#ArabicTranslationChallenge on Twitter.

BULAQ is a book-centric podcast co-hosted by Ursula Lindsey (in Amman, Jordan) and M Lynx Qualey (in Rabat, Morocco). It focuses on Arabic literature in translation and is named after the first printing press established in Egypt in 1820. Produced by Sowt.

BULAQ is a book-centric podcast co-hosted by Ursula Lindsey (in Amman, Jordan) and M Lynx Qualey (in Rabat, Morocco). It focuses on Arabic literature in translation and is named after the first printing press established in Egypt in 1820. Produced by Sowt.

BULAQ | بولاق

BULAQ is a podcast about contemporary writing from and about the Middle East and North Africa. We talk about books written in Aleppo, Cairo, Marrakech and beyond. We look at the Arab region through the lens of literature, and we look at literature -- what it does, why it matters, how it relates to society and history and politics -- from the point of view of this part of the world.  BULAQ is co-produced by ArabLit and The Arabist and is hosted by Ursula Lindsey and M Lynx Qualey.

Advertisement