This year’s fest certainly had a moment that crystallized around its contradictions: when Salman Rushdie, giving a speech about courage and artistic risk, told a dissenter to shut the fuck up.
literary events 
Applications for Prestigious Iowa International Writing Program Due April 7
For Arab authors: IWP is scheduled to take place at the University of Iowa this year from August 24 – Nov 12 and is for established and emerging creative writers who have published at least one book or whose work has appeared in significant publications over the past two years. They also must possess sufficient proficiency in English to benefit from the experience.
Hassan Blasim: I’m Not Interested in Preserving ‘The Beauty of the Arabic Language’
” I want to talk about what the Iraqi was like before he went to Abu Ghraib, not Abu Ghraib itself. I don’t want to talk about the big events that lots of writers and journalists talk about; I’m more interested in the marginal events that don’t get talked about.”
Arabic Literary Events in Austria, Singapore
In Graz, Austria next week, Algerian-German novelist Boualem Sansal, Egyptian novelist Ibrahim Farghali, and Lebanese novelist Alawiyya Sobh (among others) will appear at the “Baklava Reading Festival” (yes, that sort of baklava)–
If You’re in NYC: ‘Translating the Maghreb after the Arab Spring’
If you’re in New York City, or more particularly in Brooklyn, say around 5 p.m. on Sunday, the 23rd of September — and can find your way to 209 Joralemon Street:
Iman Mersal Tuesday in Alberta; Sinan Antoon Friday in New York
If you’re in Edmonton, Alberta, don’t miss a reading tonight by Egyptian poet Iman Mersal, part of the Olive Reading Series:
Khaled al-Berry Goes to Iowa
This year, participants include Egyptian Khaled al-Berry, Kuwaiti author Taleb al-Refai, and Saudi Beirut39 laureate Abdullah Thabit, among others:
Summer of Arab Lit: Global Events for 2012
A global events calendar for June, July, & August 2012.
How Are Arab Countries Celebrating World Book and Copyright Day?
For those of us in Cairo, it seems that Shorouk Bookstores is offering the best WB & CD discount, at 20%, but other stores (BookSpot), chains (Alef), and government entities (GEBO) are also offering money-off deals. For those in Sharjah or… Read More ›
If You’re in NYC, If You’re in Cairo, If You’re in London…
If You’re in NYC Well, then you should be planning to go to the Gazan Writers Salon on April 25 (give your Facebook RSVP here). Participants include Fatena al Ghorra, (The Sea is Still Behind Us , A Very Disturbing… Read More ›
World Literature Festivals Featuring Arab Lit
I’m still quite doubtful about this alleged flood of awards to Arab authors, but the flood of literary events—at least outside northern North America—continues. The Internationales Literaturfestival Berlin (September 7-17) is focusing on Asian-Pacific authors this year, but still promises… Read More ›
If You’re in Cairo: LAF to Present an In-depth Look at Arabic-English Translation
It’s really true this time. Truly. Initially scheduled for February 1, the Literature Across Frontiers’ (LAF) presentation in the “Making Literature Travel” series, on translation from Arabic into English, will finally be held on September 20. At the event, set… Read More ›
