RANDA JARRAR

I’m rereading the short novel after a dear friend told me that she heard a professor call Camus an Arab. I remember being really saddened by it as a teen, and so I’m tickled by my current reaction to it (intrigue). Are there any books you once loved/hated that you’re now rereading, and what do you think of them?

Here’s a list of books I once loved that I’d be curious to re-read:

Bastard Out of Carolina, Dorothy Allison
The Metamorphosis, Kafka
The Red Badge of Courage & Maggie: Girl of the Streets, Stephen Crane
The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne
Nervous Conditions, Tsitsi Dangarembga
Woman at Point Zero, Nawal el-Saadawi (already know I’d hate this one now)
The Choker and the Bracelet, Yehia Taher Abdallah

From Newsweek:

In an impromptu press conference today at the headquarters of Gallimard, the most prestigious publishing house in 20th Century French literature, housed in a tiny enclave of left bank Paris, the author quoted numerous American contemporaries he esteems—chief among them Philip Roth. “American literature is atypical – unlike French literature it gives rise to all sorts of states, styles and authors who are distinct.”

I’m glad. I thought Engdhal’s comments were impetuous and full of hot air.

Link via Russell

I’m reading at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit at 6 tonight with Michael Kimball and Lynn Crawford. Hope to see you there!

I’ve always loved the smell of Mr. Rockslinga’s body wash, but I never knew why the scent seemed so familiar. Reading the contents a few minutes ago, I laughed out loud when I saw the words “Mallow flower.” Turns out, the body wash uses the main ingredient of my favorite, leafy Egyptian dish.

Fucking hysterical.

Please consider participating in Dzanc Book’s Write-A-Thon, the details of which can be found here. It’s a noble cause! Dzanc Books is a non-profit which publishes awesome books, & works nationally in “set communities to provide writing workshops and year round programs for students and adults alike.”

Some info:

The idea behind the write-a-thon will be similar to bowl-a-thons, or walk-a-thons, or, well you get the picture – other a-thons that you’ve probably supported or participated in during your lifetime, only with writing being the catalyst to the raising of funds. For one day, people will volunteer to write to help raise money, and they will ask people to fill out a donation sheet to support their efforts.

[Saturday, November 15, 2008] will be the date that those helping out Dzanc Books by raising money will be writing. Again I’m asking that you writers out there please consider being one of those that help us raise money that day. If you are interested, please email us at info@dzancbooks.org.

My novel just found a home at Locus, a prestigious Taiwanese publishing house. I’m really excited!

It gets an A-. Check it out here. Very exciting!