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From Stephen Elliott
What is it like, in post-Tahrir Cairo, to run a bookstore or a publishing house? What is it like to be a reader or a writer?
For Poets & Writers, Stephen Morison, Jr., writes about the Egyptian revolution from a literary angle.
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It is tempting to read the photos of last week’s renewed conflict in Tahrir Square as yet another isolated round of violence between the Egyptian youth and the Central Security Forces. But this subverts the root of the rage in Tahrir, a rage driven by the premonition that the youth who ignited and died in this revolution are being left behind.
From a place bubbling over with intellectual stimulation and social change comes a lot of good literature.
The Millions is spotlighting six Egyptian authors that you should know about, inspired by an afternoon at Cairo’s Diwan Bookstore. There’s a lack of Egyptian authors on the shelves of American bookstores, so read this and help correct it!
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Approaching the Rafah crossing on the morning of its historic opening, I pass a lone Palestinian woman in her mid 20’s holding a newborn, walking into Egypt.
Twenty yards behind her, sweltering in the late morning desert sun is a cluster of children and teens, pressed beside the black gate of boarder.
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On April 8th, Egyptians came to Tahrir Square, as they have every Friday since Hosni Mubarek’s February 11th resignation. These gatherings have become commonplace since the revolution.
“All books about all revolutions begin with a chapter that describes the decay of tottering authority or the misery and sufferings of the people. They should begin with a psychological chapter, one that shows how a harassed, terrified man suddenly breaks his terror, stops being afraid.” -Ryszard Kapusciski
Despite concerns that upheavals in the Arab world would interfere with Abu Dhabi’s International Book Fair, the fair so far has been successful and relatively problem-free. In fact, more books and more publishers from Egypt are participating in the fair than ever before.
...moreControversial books once banned in Egypt and Tunisia are starting to appear again in stores.
Cairo’s Tahrir Square, now famous as the site of tense political protests, will soon be the site of a large book fair. “Everyone around the globe now associates Tahrir Square with freedom and revolution,” said one bookstore owner.
...moreThe BBC has put together a pretty cool interactive map of Tahrir Square. Click around on it.
Also from the BBC: it isn’t over yet. Don’t get too excited.
Is Algeria next?
Juan Cole sets out some potential scenarios for Egypt in the near term.
...moreIt’s early yet for the discussions to begin on how the Egyptian revolution will turn out for the majority of Egyptians and for the rest of the region. My take on these things is to generally be pessimistic, and then be pleased if it doesn’t turn into an epic failure.
...more“Aswany has participated in the protests with a passion. He will will write a book about the events still unfolding here: ‘It has been a unique experience not to read about history but to live inside history,’ he told The Independent yesterday.”
...morePro-government supporters are fighting back against demonstrators, and are armed, according to Nick Kristof, with machetes, straight-razors and clubs.
Andrew Sullivan looks like he’s turned The Daily Dish over to Egypt roundups all day.
If you can’t get Al Jazeerah from your cable or dish subscription–and most people in the US can’t–they’re also streaming live on their YouTube channel.
...moreHow Not to Say Stupid Stuff about Egypt.
Emily Hauser writes with great feeling and depth about why, as an Israeli, she’s invested in the Egyptian revolution.
Al Jazeera provides a timeline of events so far.
Some details on the March of a Million.
...moreOver at The Awl, Choire Sicha on some ways the Egyptian Revolution could still die.
Israel is allowing Egyptian troops into the Sinai peninsula for the first time since 1979.
Jeff Goldberg: What happens if the Muslim Brotherhood comes out on top?
...moreYesterday there was a blog on HTMLGIANT about apolitical writers. I disagreed with it. First, because The Rumpus has had regular roundups of the news from Egypt. Second, because most serious writers I know are very political, very engaged. I’ve edited three books of political fiction and never had difficulty finding contributors.
...moreThe New York Times is also live-blogging from Egypt, and columnist Nick Kristof is in Cairo as well.
Anonymous provides 20 ways to circumvent the Egyptian government’s internet block. A friend of mine said this about Anonymous, and I have to agree: “I love Anonymous.
...moreI’ve discovered, having done a number of these roundups for The Rumpus now, that The Guardian is one of the best anywhere at covering a story like this.
Nick Baumann at Mother Jones also has good explanations of what’s going on.
...moreThe Twitter hashtag #Jan25 is still hopping. It can be difficult to filter out some of the noise, but it’s a way to get some real time information on what’s happening. The Egyptian government had blocked Twitter, but local activists seem to have managed a workaround for now.
...moreLet me say at the outset here that I don’t really know. This is a developing story and there are some conflicting reports coming out of an area that isn’t exactly known for its love of a free and independent press.
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