From The Daily Star in Lebanon.A slew of new novels ranging from philosophical treatise to magical realism, and racked throughout with humor, are emerging from Iraq in the form of first-time translations into English. It appears that while politicians are tearing the country apart, its literature is trying desperately to hold it together. (We have not read any of these books, but it looks like we will be looking out for them. If anyone of you have, perhaps you would like to post a brief review?)
Poet and filmmaker Sinan Antoon's novel I'jaam: An Iraqi Rhapsody is said to be about a young student thrown into solitary confinement for ridiculing Saddam Hussein. Then in September, we will see the The Loved Ones by Alia Mamdouh, known for her daring portrayals of female sexuality.
Saqi Books (Silverfish has a range of pretty interesting titles from this independent publisher) and the American University in Cairo Press have reportedly published three very different novels that delve into the complexity of the Iraqi experience. 'From Baghdad to Bedlam by Maged Kadar is described as less a full novel than a memoir, but the twists and turns of Kadar's life are so surreal that his story reads, most of the time, like riveting fiction. In Basrayatha: Portrait of a City, writer Mohammed Khudayyir apparently creates an imaginative twin to match the city of Basra. "None of us can imagine a city without a storyteller or a storyteller without a rostrum," is a line from the book. The Last of the Angels by Fadhil al-Azzawi is described as more experimental and is set in the city of Kirkuk, Saddam Hussein's hometown.
Full story: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=4&article_id=83361
No comments:
Post a Comment