A Universe of Enterprising Divas: Raphael Cormack‘s Midnight in Cairo
In Midnight in Cairo, the lives of the enterprising divas are interlinked.
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Posts Tagged: Egypt
The Past Is All We Have: André Aciman’s Homo Irrealis
Is it not in the warm chambers of the past, after all, that we are immortal, invincible, and alive?
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The Rumpus Book Club Chat with Morowa Yejidé
Morowa Yejidé discusses her new novel, CREATURES OF PASSAGE.
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The Fine Line Between Nihilism and Hope: Talking with Ahmed Naji
Ahmed Naji discusses his new memoir, ROTTEN EVIDENCE.
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Translating Desire: The Erotic-Macabre Poetry of Joyce Mansour
…women’s writing has often been deemed too dark, too sultry, too frigid, too hysterical.
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That’s My Story, Too: Talking with Malaka Gharib
Malaka Gharib discusses her graphic memoir, I WAS THEIR AMERICAN DREAM.
...moreThis Week in Indie Bookstores
Indie bookstore news from across the country and around the world!
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Nothing Foreign about It: Talking with Omar El Akkad
Omar El Akkad discusses his debut novel American War, suicide terrorism, fossil fuels, and blankets.
...moreThis Week in Indie Bookstores
A weekly roundup of indie bookstore news from across the country and around the world!
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Home Is Here
There is no singular Muslim story, no definitive identity for the entire religion. […] Here, four women discuss what it’s like to be a minority in America in 2017, post-9/11 and post-Trump.
...moreThis Week In Indie Bookstores
A New Paltz, New York bookstore with an anti-Trump sign is fighting a ban against it. An Egyptian bookstore has a “scream room” where customers can scream as loudly as they like. With the Gilmore Girls revival only a month a way, there’s a hypothesis that Jess might own a Stars Hollow Bookstore. Christian bookstore chain […]
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The Rumpus Interview with Saleem Haddad
Saleem Haddad discusses his debut novel Guapa, the Orlando shootings, the importance of queer spaces, and Arab literature.
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The Rumpus Interview with Raphael Cormack
Raphael Cormack discusses The Book of Khartoum: A City in Short Fiction, a collection of short stories he co-edited and translated, the editorial process, and the responsibilities that accompany translating writing.
...moreFire in a Blackout
In Egypt, as elsewhere, journalists are under fire.: Those who do not adhere to self-censorship are likely to face pressure from the state. Al-Masdar website features political news and is loosely affiliated to the recently banned secular activist group April 6 Movement. “We can’t do most of the work we want to do,” says Ali Asem, director […]
...moreSinful Bookmarks and Western Prejudice
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. “A critic last Monday said he wanted to kill himself [after reading my latest […]
...moreAn Egypt/Arab Spring Roundup
Start with Juan Cole, who specializes in this area. He has a good list of links to Arab news sources and gives a well-rounded look at what’s happening right now in Egypt. Short version–the revolution is ongoing and the military doesn’t want to give up power. The Guardian continues its stellar live coverage. Turkey’s Prime […]
...moreThe Revolution Is Incomplete
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 […]
...moreGet These Authors on Your Shelves!
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 […]
...moreRafah Crossing
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. Beside them, standing […]
...moreOn Friday, April 8th
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.
...moreCairo: Scenes from a 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
...moreEgyptian Books Thrive at Abu Dhabi Book Fair
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. This is a big contrast from the Cairo Book Fair, which was […]
...moreBanned Books Welcomed Home
Controversial 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. “We really […]
...moreEgypt Today
The 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. The Swiss have frozen Mubarak’s bank accounts. US talking heads […]
...moreWhy the Egyptian Revolution is Good for the Middle East
It’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. But that’s mainly because I’ve […]
...moreAlaa al Aswany and the Egyptian Uprising
“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.” Egyptian author Alaa al Aswany talks about the uprising in Egypt and about […]
...moreThe Latest from Egypt
Pro-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 […]
...moreEgyptian Morning
How 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. Google and Twitter have provided a workaround for people to be […]
...moreWhat’s Happening in Egypt
The 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. And I am frightened of it.” Via Mother Jones, The […]
...moreWhat’s Happening in Egypt
I’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. Choire Sicha at The Awl is also doing good coverage. Egypt has attempted to […]
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