By Dayla Rogers The Ottoman Empire (1299-1923) was a mind-bogglingly diverse place. For nearly seven centuries all stripes of Muslim, Christian and Jewish people, falling into countless ethnic and linguistic groups, existed in relative harmony compared to Europe, where ghettos, pogroms and discrimination were commonplace. Sephardic Jews, defined as those of Spain and Portugal, were … Continue reading An Enduring Resonance: Turkey’s Jewish Voices
USBBY Outstanding International Book Pick: As Time Went By by José Sanabria
2017 Batchelder Honor Book and ALA Notable Book Once upon a time there was a ship that sailed beside the sun with very important people on board. The spirit of reinvention – and the importance we place on things – is beautifully expressed in José Sanabria’s visually evocative story. A steamship makes a journey across … Continue reading USBBY Outstanding International Book Pick: As Time Went By by José Sanabria
Ottoman/Turkish Women’s Autobiographical Narratives, 19th to Early 20th Century
By Dr. Roberta Micallef European men and women fantasized about, wrote about and painted Middle Eastern, especially Ottoman/Turkish, women for decades. Ottoman and Turkish women were not silent passive participants in this conversation. They wrote back. Some participated in the stereotypes abounding about them and others fought them, but all of those who participated in … Continue reading Ottoman/Turkish Women’s Autobiographical Narratives, 19th to Early 20th Century
‘Ara Guler’s Istanbul: 40 Years of Photographs’ with a foreword by Orhan Pamuk
By Monica Fritz In this exquisite edition, two significant men collaborate: photographer Ara Güler and writer Orhan Pamuk. Both native to the city, and experts in their own right, through the visual and the written word, a natural union. Istanbul seems to be disappearing before our eyes. A glimpse of its magic can still be … Continue reading ‘Ara Guler’s Istanbul: 40 Years of Photographs’ with a foreword by Orhan Pamuk
Excerpt: The Monk with No Past by Paolo Marrone
THE JOURNEY “Travel is a sort of door through which one exits reality into an unexplored world that seems like a dream.” - Guy de Maupassant I had dreamt of visiting New York for years. I have always loved travelling and on earlier trips across the Atlantic I’d visited a number of cities, such as … Continue reading Excerpt: The Monk with No Past by Paolo Marrone
Publisher Spotlight: Kurodahan Press
In mid-2002, a group of language professionals living in Japan began to discuss the need for a new kind of publisher—one that could serve readers in English and Japanese, with titles meant for both general and specialist markets. Reflecting the skills and interests of its founding directors, Kurodahan Press first offered books relating to Japan, … Continue reading Publisher Spotlight: Kurodahan Press
USBBY International Title Pick: A Well-Mannered Young Wolf by Jean Leroy
A hilarious story about why manners matter One morning, a young wolf eagerly sets out on his first hunting trip. But before he can devour his prey, he must honor their final wishes, just as his parents taught him to do. But the wolf's would-be meals aren't quite as honorable as he is! Can common … Continue reading USBBY International Title Pick: A Well-Mannered Young Wolf by Jean Leroy
Review: You’ve Got Grave Issues by Nilufar Sharipova
Nilufar Sharipova's short story collection You've Got Grave Issues depicts hilarious snapshots of the 'Municipal Cemetery Department' and its employees, hence the title's double entendre. You've Got Grave Issues speaks to the sense of control humans believe we wield over our lives. An array of masterfully rendered characters demonstrate the anxieties, concerns, and thrills we … Continue reading Review: You’ve Got Grave Issues by Nilufar Sharipova
USBBY Outstanding International Book Pick: Life According to Dani by Rose Lagercrantz
In Life According to Dani, it’s Dani’s first summer vacation—and the best ever! She is staying on an island with Ella, her best friend in the world. Dad is still in hospital but he calls every day, and Ella and Dani stay busy building huts, fishing, exploring, and swimming. Then Dad turns up, but with … Continue reading USBBY Outstanding International Book Pick: Life According to Dani by Rose Lagercrantz
Publisher Spotlight: Open Letter Books
Open Letter—the University of Rochester's nonprofit, literary translation press—is one of only a handful of publishing houses dedicated to increasing access to world literature for English readers. Publishing ten titles in translation each year and running an online literary website called Three Percent, Open Letter searches for works that are extraordinary and influential, works that … Continue reading Publisher Spotlight: Open Letter Books
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 