You can learn a lot about a nation’s history, culture and aspirations by reading its literature. A number of Qatari authors have made their work available in the English language, making it easy for a global audience to read the country’s historical fiction, magical fantasy and folk tales. Qatari author Abdulaziz Al-Mahmoud’s writing depicts the … Continue reading #QATARILITMONTH: Contemporary Qatari Literature: Fiction from an Urban Desert
#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Temple Alley Summer
Written by award-winning Japanese author Sachiko Kashiwaba, Temple Alley Summer* features not one but two ghost stories. The first is the outer shell in this engrossing middle-grade novel and a fully-fleshed narrative; the other is an embedded fairy-tale fantasy with intriguing connections and parallels to the first. In the “outer” ghost story, Kazu, who is … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Temple Alley Summer
The Booktrekker: Kenya
READ Dust, by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, opens with the shooting death of a young man on the streets of Nairobi. He is killed by the police after stealing back the car that was stolen from him. The young man’s name is Moses Ebewesit Odidi Oganda (Odidi), and his death shatters his family: his estranged father Nyipir, … Continue reading The Booktrekker: Kenya
The Booktrekker: Eritrea
READ Eritrea is an East African country situated just above Ethiopia. At one point in the country’s history, it was annexed by Ethiopia, which led to numerous armed conflicts between the Ethiopian army and Eritreans fighting for their country’s independence. Many civilians were forced to flee Eritrea, and they ended up living in refugee camps. … Continue reading The Booktrekker: Eritrea
South African Womxn Writing – Day 19: 245 South African Womxn’s novels you should read now (2015 – 2019)
In early 2020 I started making a list of all the fiction novels written South African women writers published between 1994 and 2019. I wrote more about this project, here. When I began I thought it would be labour intensive, but not overly complicated. I was right in one respect. Making a list of the … Continue reading South African Womxn Writing – Day 19: 245 South African Womxn’s novels you should read now (2015 – 2019)
South African Womxn Writers – Day 16: Coloured literature and the chance to be remembered – Terry-Ann Adams
I remember the day I read a poem written by a Coloured woman in Kaaps. That day was the start of my process of becoming. I felt like I had just been reborn into a world where it is okay for me to be seen. Before that day, I didn’t think that my culture or … Continue reading South African Womxn Writers – Day 16: Coloured literature and the chance to be remembered – Terry-Ann Adams
South African Womxn Writers – Day 13: South African feminist collections and books
As a feminist writer and editor it would be remiss of me not to include a sample of some incredible South African feminist texts for you all to enjoy. I'll start with the three I edited, because I'm very proud of them. My First Time: Stories of Sex and Sexuality from Women Like You (Modjaji, … Continue reading South African Womxn Writers – Day 13: South African feminist collections and books
South African Womxn Writers – Day 12: A Reflection on Publishing by Karina Szczurek of Karavan Press
Karavan Press came into being in 2019 to offer authors a literary home for their books – home in the sense of shelter, safety and care. As editor and publisher, I want to nurture authors and their creativity and establish strong bonds between writers and readers who are passionate about our words and stories. The … Continue reading South African Womxn Writers – Day 12: A Reflection on Publishing by Karina Szczurek of Karavan Press
A month of South African womxn writers – Day 1: Meet Jen Thorpe, this month’s editor
Hello! I'm Jen Thorpe, a South African novelist and feminist non-fiction writer. My First Time: Stories of Sex and Sexuality from Women Like You: GoodReads.The Peculiars: GoodReads.Feminism Is ISBN: 9780795708275. GoodReads.Living While Feminist ISBN: 9780795709418. GoodReads.The Fall ISBN: 9780795709579. GoodReads.The Peculiars and My First Time are currently out of print, but The Peculiars can be … Continue reading A month of South African womxn writers – Day 1: Meet Jen Thorpe, this month’s editor
Day 6: Kintu
Across the first month of 2020, Sophie Baggott is sharing her thirty favourite books by women from across the world. Find out more about her project to read women writers from every country worldwide here. The very first book I read for this project was Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi – a Ugandan novelist and … Continue reading Day 6: Kintu
