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finishinglinepress · 5 months

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NEW FROM FINISHING LINE PRESS: Questions in Jamaican Patois by Yasmin Morais

On SALE now! Pre-order Price Guarantee: https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/questions-in-jamaican-patois-by-yasmin-morais/

Questions in Jamaican Patois presents the perspective of a #Jamaican Canadian American woman as she ponders her past, present and the pasts of the strong #women who preceded her. Her poems provide a window into the everyday human experience as she grapples with the meaning of love, loss, heartbreak, nostalgia, adjustment, and survival. It is through her questions that the answers are ultimately found. #poetry

Yasmin Morais was born in Jamaica and later lived in Canada and now the United States. Her poems have been published in Nursing Science Quarterly, The Potomac, and Pen and Prosper. Yasmin also self-published her first poetry collection, From Cane Field to the Sea. Her short story, Rashida’s Letter, placed third in the Tallahassee Writer’s Association competition and was published in the Seven Hills Review. See link: https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Review-Tallahassee-Writers-Association/dp/1481148818 To showcase the works of Caribbean poets, she created the blog, Poets of the Caribbean: poetsofthecaribbean.blogspot.com She enjoys traveling, badminton and running in her spare time.

PRAISE FOR Questions in Jamaican Patois by Yasmin Morais Questions in Jamaican Patois by Yasmin Morais

Yasmin’s poetry is powerful, purposeful, poised! In her new collection, “Questions in Jamaican Patois”, she connects with audiences through clever word choices, timely topics, and great emotional range. Readers will become fast fans! From page one, until it’s done, this eclectic collection captivates the mind and captures the heart. Yasmin Morais is an immense talent, and “Questions in Jamaican Patois” is a must-read.

–Jennifer Brown Banks, FOUNDER/PRESIDENT OF POETS UNITED TO ADVANCE THE ARTS

In Questions in Jamaican Patois, poet Yasmin Morais calls us to walk with her along many roads. They’re pavers made of her words. On this journey, we walk along with Morais while seeing and feeling what she sees and feels. Each poem acts as a door to a residence. She walks us to the knob to turn it and look inside the building. Her construction of moments and memories creates a foundation of rich and strong imagery. She takes us there. Her poems introduce us to meaningful topics such as racial issues, health, morality, identity and history. Whether it’s a welcomed piece said in patois, we don’t want to leave. Her reflections of breast cancer feeds us well to sit by her and just listen to her journey. We’re there. We feel drawn and motivated to comfort the warrior. Though she provides the real healing power from her words. Poem after poem there’s a desire to read and see more. Her voice of poignant patois resonates directness and wisdom. Her spirit seems ancient with clarity. She brings a sharp focus and understanding of life experiences which translates well. Morais doesn’t let go as we continue the journey to her last poem. In the end, we’re full like eating a delicious meal. At our table, those questions of life are a part of us. We have some answers and more questions but that’s okay. That’s the meaning of life. She let’s us know with this unforgettable depth as long as we walk together we’ll reach an understanding between each other.

–Henry L. Jones, Inaugural Poet Laureate, of Hendersonville, Tennessee

Please share/repost #flpauthor #preorder #AwesomeCoverArt #read #poems #literature #poetry

#poetry #flp authors #preorder #flp #poets on tumblr #chapbook #chapbooks #finishing line press #small press

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blaqsbi · 9 months

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Post: River Mumma is a powerful portrayal of diasporic...

River Mumma is a powerful portrayal of diasporic identities and a vital examination into ancestral ties. It is a homage to Jamaican storytelling by one of the most invigorating voices in Canadian literature. https://www.blaqsbi.com/5izN

#blackfamilygoals #Mummapowerful #portrayaldiasporic

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greatfallsrp · 2 years

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NAME: Fiore De Santis GENDER & PRONOUNS: Cis Woman / She/Her AGE & DATE OF BIRTH: 42 years old / February 28th HOMETOWN: Venice, Italy TIME IN GREAT FALLS: Eight months RESIDENCE: Forest Hills OCCUPATION: Owner of Tutto su di te (All About You) Boutique

BACKSTORY —

trigger warnings: fire mention, illness/cancer, spousal death, depression.

Venice, Italy. It’s a unique city, with its structure and foundation that has been built on water. It’s a city that exudes confidence, and that’s why it made sense as to why Margaret Powell, a Jamaican Canadian immigrant, would move to the city in order to follow the love of her life. The city made her feel as if she were strolling in a dream. Witnessing the sparkling water, gorgeous palazzos, and picturing herself floating from one area to another. But, before Italy, Margaret’s life began in Kingston, Jamaica until her parents decided to move to Toronto, Ontario in order to open a fully authenticated Jamaican restaurant when she was six years old. Margaret grew up in that restaurant. The location was unpromising – a former McDonald's on the first floor of a shopping center in Egleton West, also known as Little Jamaica – but Margaret’s parents, being the dreamers and visionaries that they were, transformed it into a grand, open love letter and an expression of respect for the richness of Jamaican culture while serving comfort island foods. Complete with delicious Caribbean cooking, eclectic design and soulful hospitality, the restaurant was able to run itself. And then the unfortunate happened. A fire took everything. An electrical shortage. Something that could have been fixed so easily, but someone decided to cut corners. One spark was all it took for the restaurant to go up in flames overnight. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the loss was devastating for the family. It was their only source of income and now it was all gone. Remarkably, the community came together, and after several months of outpouring donations and volunteer work, Margaret’s parents and their restaurant were back up and running. It was a trying time for all of them, but it also taught the family resilience and humility.

Life went on for Margaret as normally as it could. She went to school, did her work and helped her parents at the restaurant when she had the time. Eventually, Margaret went off to university for English literature in the hopes of one day becoming a published author. Shortly after graduating, Margaret met who would be her future husband on the streets of downtown Toronto. It was a meeting that was not supposed to happen. He was a product specialist for Armani who was doing everything that he could in order to claw his way up the fashion hierarchy. Margaret was a freelance writer and trying to break into one of the city's most prestigious news companies. They were two people on different paths, moving through life in their own limited worlds, and yet, after taking each other out on dates and spending a few short months together, Taddeo Visentin understood that his world had been expanded because of the woman he had bumped into and spilt his coffee on. Margaret undoubtably felt the same way. Ecstatic, Taddeo went down on one knee and ask Margaret to marry him, and she certainly didn’t have to think twice about her answer. Taddeo has already done so much of her and her parents out of the pure goodness of his sweet, giving heart.

In no time, the couple moved to Taddeo’s home country: Italy, where they would also marry. They settled in easily. One year later, they had Margaret’s parents flown in, attended the wedding and stayed for three and a half weeks. The newlyweds began their lives together despite being in tune with one another since the first day they had met. Overtime, Taddeo had risen the ranks to becoming the front point marketing director. Margaret gained a job at The English Internation School of Padua where she gave classes in English and Musical Arts. They thrived together. They didn’t think their lives would become any better than it already was. And then Margaret found out she was eight weeks pregnant, and despite being absolutely terrified about how much everything could change, her anxieties and doubts disappeared when she had finally worked up the courage to tell Taddeo about her positive pregnancy test. He was elated, over the moon, filled with joy.

Fiore was born on a cloudy day while Venice was still in the throes of winter during February with the enrichments of success thrusted upon her. She could sense it ever since she was little – the world was a heart cracked open, all for the taking. Fiore’s imagination and sense of wonder allowed her to explore everything she took an interest in with no restrains. Margaret and Taddeo saw this spark within their daughter from an early age and allowed massive amounts of opportunities for Fiore and created an environment that allowed time and space for creativity to be nurtured. They surrounded their daughter with all different genres of books, music, literature, and people, even, due to both of their professions there were certainty a wide range of personalities Fiore had been exposed to since early childhood. Because Fiore has such a wide range of likes and curiosities, school was certainly a space for the young girl to cultivate and expand on her talents. She was also particularly good at being social, as well. Fiore could be withdrawn sometimes, occasionally staring off into the distance with unfocused eyes.

As much as her imagination and creativity gave her the ability of open-mindedness that drew people in, there were also negative ways Fiore’s imagination got her into trouble. Because as she goes through school, moving up the grades one after the other in what she thought was slow torture, she found her imagination seemed less relevant to teachers than certain things that they wanted her to learn, like the alphabet and math skills. That isn’t to say Fiore didn’t find those things unimportant, however, schools tend to test students solely on their ability to regurgitate knowledge. Back then, schools mostly cater to people who can learn easily from lectures and reading. Fiore barley made it out of high school because she was so bored. Her social life was active, but not out of control. She had a great relationship with her parents, but there were respected boundaries. Even Fiore’s extracurricular activities had her on the go, creating and confident and bubbly personality. So, what happened during lower secondary school?

While nobody was watching, Fiore would sneak out of the lectures she didn’t enjoy and hide out in the classroom with the red sewing machines. Fiore has been operating one since she was five years old because of her father. She knows that, in her deepest of hearts, that one day work in the same industry as her father. They have never spoken about it, her interest in the fashion industry, but they will in time and a celebration would soon follow. So, Fiore was of course punished for not going to any of her classes and instead of learning, she was honing the skills she was gifted. Fiore is in fact her father’s daughter. The young girl was grounded for a month and a half, and she was only to leave the house for interactions out of recreational. No parties. No sleepovers. Honestly? Fiore didn’t mind. She breezed through the lockdown because she was still able to do what she does best: create. Seeing his daughter's talent’s grow, Taddeo started bringing her to his office and instead of having her run around from room to room before sitting herself down in the kitchen where people would fawn over how adorable she is, Fiore was learning how to work alongside them.

The young girl started from the bottom with the primary level of textile production, where she learned mills and yarn makers. Fiore learned about a plethora of designers and the history of manufacturers, vendors, and retail levels. What really got her attention was the fourth level – the auxiliary level. This level gave Fiore the chance to connect all her talents together. This is where it all made sense for her. Because on this level, she was able to connect the dots between her imagination and being able to forecast fashion. Not only trends, but agencies, consultants – Fiore was going to be one of the hardest working people to become the person who is able to play a part in the merchandise’s progression and growth. By this point, Fiore had made it into upper secondary school. She couldn’t wait to make it out. She loved spending time with her friends, but the days were so long for her. It was hard to be stuck in classes for someone who already know what they’re going to do with the rest of their lives. Beneath her desk, Fiore’s leg would be shaking constantly on rhythm, ticking down the minutes when she would rush home to expel the pent-up energy that had accumulated over the day into something beautiful. Fiore would always start a sketch in the morning and before the next school night, could have a prototype of a dress ready for fitting.

One hundred days before their exams, the graduating class of 1998 organized their ‘Scuola secondaria di secondo grado’. Fiore made a lot of money by making more than half of the girl's dresses and tailor a handful of her male classmates. She was happy to do it, and in fact, Fiore would have rather done this for free and out of the goodness of her heart if it were not for the fact that she was paying her own way through university, and she needed to start somewhere. Fiore understood her parents reasonings for not supporting her through school. They had already given her so much and although a parent is always supposed to support their child, which they do, at some point, they also need to set up boundaries and Fiore needed to learn how to fend for herself. And she did. Arriving at the Istituto Marangoni Fashion School was no easy feat, but she did it. She made it and now she was excited to get started. From day one Fiore learned rigorous perfection and finding balance between design functionality and aesthetics. Though, moving through the various progressive stages of design from pattern making, to cutting, prototyping, and seeing the design right through to the finished product is where Fiore was able to shine. She also was able to see patterns or trends that were in the rise and the ones that were about to plummet before anything even hit the newsstands. Some would say Fiore was a fashion profit, some would say that she was simply marching to the beat of her own drum, never following trends in the first place.

Whatever it was, it was working for Fiore. She gained her master's at Instituto Marangoni Fashion School, which opened the door to the biggest goal she had been aiming for: being accepted into the Milano Fashion Institute. This was the first time Fiore was unsure about something. She was unsure if she was going to be get in. This was a highly competitive industry, and it wasn’t lost on Fiore that there was a lot of talent being read. What made her so special? Other than the fact that her father was already a socialite in the same industry Fiore was trying to break into. She was terrified of people believing she would get in because of nepotism, and there were rooms. It broke her heart that there were people out there who didn’t know her who thought that she didn’t have to lift a finger when she did get into her course when in fact Fiore worked extremely and incredibly hard. Because of these rumours, her celebration party for getting into the prestigious school was a little damped because of her despondent mood. Though, as she started her learning, the people who doubted her didn’t matter in the end. All that mattered was that Fiore was going to make a name for herself, and she was going to make her family proud.

Graduating as a master in Brand and Product Management, Fiore hit the ground running. And not just in her work life. In 2003, around the same time Fiore had started her internship for brand management at LVMH, the young woman had met Amedeo De Santis. They had crossed paths in the lobby of her work by coincidence. She had been coming back from a coffee run when she spotted a television crew setting up, and she couldn’t help but to ask what was happening, and the person she had asked was Amedeo. He looked at the intern, informing her that this was his final project for school. A documentary series about being black in in Italy, and in different industries. This episode was focusing in on being black in the Italian fashion industry. It was a big project and Fiore couldn’t help but be impressed by how well Amedeo was handling all the moving parts. Amedeo and Fiore met up every time he was doing in interview at her work and over a short month, they fell into a routine. It wasn’t until Amedeo’s last day of filming that he asked her to be in his documentary. When she said that she’d love to give an interview, he followed up with asking to go on an official date with him. To no surprise to either of them, Fiore agreed.

The rest is history, as they say. Fiore and Amedeo spent almost every waking moment together for the next fifteen years. Despite their busy schedules, they always were able to make time for each other. They got married in 2005, moving through life together. The talk of conceiving or adopting children had popped up every now and then. In the end, they don’t end up having children and instead, continue loving their lives, with just the two of them. Twenty-one after they meet, Amedeo began showing unusual signs of illness. Fatigue, trouble breathing, and unintended weight loss. And after numerous blood tests and CT scans, Amedeo was diagnosed with cancer. His doctors tell him he has three months to live. He lives for another year and a half before he succumbs to the disease, drifting off into an endless slumber with Fiore at his side to the end.

It’s been three years since Amedeo has passed away and sadly, Fiore hasn’t done much since other than retire from the fashion industry.

For three years, Fiore would sit on the porch in the backyard and imagine Amedeo wandering through the garden. Taking in the beauty of the new flowers they placed in five springs ago, he would comment on how big they’ve grown, how proud he is of these seedlings, and Fiore cannot help but picture what an amazing father he could have been. He sounded so proud, and with that, a smile grace gentle lips while he moves toward the tree, Fiore’s heart swells. The tree, but a sapling. An oak, to be specific. Also, a memorial for their beloved Scottish Terrier who had sadly passed away five months earlier. His favourite spot was lounging in the gazebo, under the shade with a chilled glass of dry wine. Fiore wanted to remember everything so that she wouldn’t have to forget.

In her grief and anger, for months, that was only way Fiore knew how to communicate. Margaret and Taddeo hated seeing their child this way. In so much pain, feeling so completely lost. During a breakthrough and a rather explosive argument between Fiore and her parents – Margaret and Taddeo explain that they wanted Fiore to live with them for the foreseeable future so that she didn’t have to stay in her own home alone, driving herself mad. But, always wanting to maintain a streak of independence, Fiore decided to meet in the middle, and suggest she pick a place that is far away from Italy, but also where she would have family so that she was able to call on for help if it were ever needed to ease her parents worry. That is how Fiore ended up in Great Falls, Montana eight months ago. Fiore’s great-grandmother’s house was up for sale. An old Dutch Colonial styled home in Forest Hills that was covered in over-grown vines, paired with an unruly garden and many floorboards to be replaced, it was clear that nobody in the family wanted it, mostly because it had been neglected for so long. Fiore, though, saw the potential - and the risk - and decided to go for it. For herself. It was that or tear down, and Fiore had always been an incredibly sentimental being. The big move did come with its up and downs, for course, but after a long flight and unpacking an embarrassing number of boxes, nailing down a routine that she can be happy with, Fiore has finally settled into her new home. The fact that she has also opened an upscale boutique within the same months very well adds to the fact that she has only just started to relax and take in her new place of residence - just in time for summer.

Portrayed by MEGHAN MARKLE, written by JAS.

#t.#na.#f.#fiore de santis #meghan markle #jas

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queencamden · 3 years

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True bruh moment is when you accidentally refer to a character in a book as “Jamaican-AMERICAN” when it is a book that we are reading for English class. Canadian English class. In Canada. Where we are looking into Canadian literature. About Canadian characters. In Canada.

#granted it’s like 9:30 PM #But also like #damn America #you really are everywhere all the time huh #this is what happens when your country is both geographically and in reputation #America Lite #canada memes #we were talking about what actual Canadian authors say about Canada’s national identity #and like five different authors said that we have no national identity because we always try to be either American or English #and like #they’re not wrong

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elegantturkeypalacestudent · 3 years

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LITERATURE

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Southeast Asia or Southeastern Asia is the southeastern subregion of Asia, Southeast Asia is composed of eleven countries of impressive diversity in religion, culture and history: Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The earliest Homo sapiens presence in Mainland Southeast Asia can be traced back to fifty thousand years ago and to at least fourty thousand years ago in Maritime Southeast Asia. As early as ten thousand years ago, Hoabinhian settlers had developed a tradition and culture of distinct artefact and tool production. During the Neolithic period, Austroasiatic peoples populated Indochina via land routes and sea-borne Austronesian immigrants preferably settled in Maritime Southeast Asia. The earliest agricultural societies that cultivated millet and wet-rice emerged around 1700 BCE in the lowlands and river floodplains of Indochina

"ASEAN members' flags in Jakarta. Modern Southeast Asia has been characterised by high economic growth by most countries and closer regional integration. Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand have traditionally experienced high growth and are commonly recognised as the more developed countries of the region. As of late, Vietnam too had been experiencing an economic boom. However, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and the newly independent East Timor are still lagging economically."

According to my research, it says that "On 8 August 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was founded by Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. Since Cambodian admission into the union in 1999, East Timor is the only Southeast Asian country that is not part of ASEAN, although plans are under way for eventual membership. The association aims to enhance co-operation among Southeast Asian community. ASEAN Free Trade Area has been established to encourage greater trade among ASEAN members. ASEAN has also been a front runner in greater integration of Asia-Pacific region through East Asia Summits." This is according to wikipedia.

The notable literary genres in southeast asia are;

Traditional Oral Literature- Folktales, Proverbs, Riddles, legends.

Religious Narratives and Literature- Buddhist Codes and verses, Jataka Tales.

Narrative Poetry - Epic Stories.

One of the example is The legend of Princess Kinnaree Manorah by Anthony Phanvilay is an example of south east asian myths. This story of Manorah has inspired a dance form known as the Manorah Buchayan.

EAST ASIA

East Asia is the eastern region of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms

East Asia is politically divided into eight countries and regions: China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau.

East Asia, one of the five regions of Asia, is located east of Central Asia, with its eastern border running along the East China Sea. East Asia is politically divided into eight countries and regions: China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau. This region covers a total area of 4,571,092 square miles and has a population size of more than 1.641 billion, which represents 22% of the global population and 38% of Asia's total population. Many residents of East Asia are concentrated in major metropolitan areas such as Beijing and Tokyo.

The geography of East Asia is varied depending on the zone. The inner continental area experiences a temperate climate, while Mongolia is covered by the arid Gobi desert. China, the largest country in the region, is home to both mountains and plateaus, while Japan is characterized by thousands of islands and coastlines. Today, East Asia is believed to have some of the most advanced technologies in the world, which fosters economic development.

East Asian literature includes:

Chinese literature

Japanese literature

Korean literature

Mongolian literature

Taiwanese literature

EXAMPLE OF THEIR ART

Chinese art is visual art that, whether ancient or modern, originated in or is practiced in China or by Chinese artists. The Chinese art in the Republic of China (Taiwan) and that of overseas Chinese can also be considered part of Chinese art where it is based in or draws on Chinese heritage and Chinese culture. Early "stone age art" dates back to 10,000 BC, mostly consisting of simple pottery and sculptures. After this early period Chinese art, like Chinese history, is typically classified by the succession of ruling dynasties of Chinese emperors, most of which lasted several hundred years.

SOUTH AND WEST ASIA

South and West Asia is also identified by its economic potential and growth. The region is valued for its supply of low cost goods, services and skilled labour to the global economy but at the same time, it is notorious for the payment of low wages, appalling working conditions and trafficking of labour. This changing economic landscape has had a corresponding impact on the social and geographic fabric of the region.

South Asia has a peninsula-like shape that is bordered by three bodies of water: the Indian Ocean to the south, the Bay of Bengal to the east, and the Arabian Sea to the west. The region includes Indian subcontinent and surrounding countries. South Asia is politically divided into eight autonomous countries: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives. The region covers a total area of roughly two million square miles and has a population size of more than 1.74 billion, which is nearly a quarter of the global population. Additionally, South Asia has the distinction of being the most densely populated area in the world.

West Asia is located in the area between Central Asia and Africa, south of Eastern Europe. The majority of the region is often referred to as the Middle East, although it geographically excludes the mainland of Egypt (which is culturally considered a Middle Eastern country). West Asia is politically divided into 19 states: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen. It also includes the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. The region covers a total area of around 2.415 million square miles and has a population size of 313.428 million.

A large area of the region is covered by an arid desert environment. However, West Asia does have several points of access to large bodies of water, including the Black Sea, Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, Caspian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and the Aegean Sea.

Anglo-Americans

are people who are English-speaking inhabitants of Anglo-America. It typically refers to the nations and ethnic groups in the Americas that speak English as a native language who comprise the majority of people who speak English as a first language.

Languages

English (American, Canadian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, Guyanese, Belizean, Bajan, Bahamian, Vincentian, Grenadian, Anguillian, Montserrat, Antiguan and Barbudan, Saint Kittian and Nevisian, and Falkland Islands)

Europe

second smallest of the world’s continents, composed of the westward-projecting peninsulas of Eurasia (the great landmass that it shares with Asia) and occupying nearly one-fifteenth of the world’s total land area.

AFRICA

Africa is the world's hottest continent with deserts and drylands covering 60% of land surface area (e.g. Kalahari, Sahara and Namib). Africa is the world's second driest continent (after Australia). Africa has approximately 30% of the earth's remaining mineral resources. Africa is also the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases.

All in all, there are 54 sovereign African countries and two disputed areas, namely Somaliland and Western Sahara (see the list of African countries below).

African literature

the body of traditional oral and written literatures in Afro-Asiatic and African languages together with works written by Africans in European languages. Traditional written literature, which is limited to a smaller geographic area than is oral literature, is most characteristic of those sub-Saharan cultures that have participated in the cultures of the Mediterranean. In particular, there are written literatures in both Hausa and Arabic, created by the scholars of what is now northern Nigeria, and the Somali people have produced a traditional written literature.

LATIN AMERICA

Latin America is a group of countries and dependencies in the Western Hemisphere where Romance languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, and French are predominantly spoken.

The region consists of people who speak Spanish, Portuguese and French. These languages (together with Italian and Romanian) developed from Latin during the days of the Roman Empire and the Europeans who speak them are sometimes called 'Latin' people. Hence the term Latin America.

LATIN AMERICA LITERATURE

Latin American literature refers to written and oral works created by authors in parts of North America, South America, and the Caribbean. Latin American authors usually write in Spanish, Portuguese, English, or a language native to their specific country.

Credits to google and wikipedia for the images and some infos!

by; ELLAINE HIPOLITO

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chipsandscones · 5 years

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Day 4: Oxtail and Strange Fruit

I intended to stretch my legs and walk all over London today, but after a brief 1.6 mile trek to Dalston for Jamaican food, I called it a day--it didn’t help that getting turned around added another half mile to my journey. Anyway...I always order oxtail in order to feel a Jamaican restaurant out; either they’ve got the magic touch or they don’t. This place unfortunately didn’t, or at least not the kind of magic touch I’m used to. The people were as sweet as could be and the portion size was actually pretty decent, but something in the seasoning was off. There’s no need to go back because the city has a wealth of other options, but I would if I lived here, and that means something.

After a glorious nap, I headed out to Shepherd’s Bush to feel out the area before the show. The Shepherd’s Bush Market reminded me of little kitsch touristy areas in New York City (purses, knickknacks, outfits, luggage, fresh food, prepared food, etc.), and that made me think of the trip Cole and I took up there a couple years ago. But instead of sinking into myself and thinking about how much I miss my boys, I found a pub, got some cider and boneless wings, and chatted up the Canadian bartender. Push through!

Then comes Strange Fruit. Holyfuckingshit (sorry, professors). It’s intense, it’s provocative, and it’s heartbreaking. And relatable! Since I had just hashed out a thesis idea about race and identity with my professors the day before, it honestly felt like the play was performed for me. I saw pieces of my family (their heritage, culture, belief systems, and relationships) in the characters. Not things that were like them, but things that were them. I don’t think I’ve ever had such a strong connection to literature or theater before this, and I don’t know if or when I will again. For that, I’m eternally grateful to be here in this space and time to have experienced it.

Before I go, let’s talk about the space. Bush Theatre is a beautiful venue that allows for an incredibly intimate performance because seating is arranged on all 4 sides of the stage. I might not have been able to reach out and touch the performers at all times, but there certainly were times that I could. In addition to that, it was a very gender conscious facility. Maybe it’s because North Carolina is still in the shadow of HB2, but seeing a bathroom with the permissive foresight to ensure inclusion gave me an ooey gooey feeling. Sure, it may be “just” a bathroom, but of course, it’s not.

#London2019

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metissagesanguemisto · 4 years

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Skin Folk: Stories (2018) World Fantasy Award Winner: Fiction that “combines a richly textured multicultural background with incisive storytelling,” by the author of The Salt Roads (Library Journal). In Skin Folk, with works ranging from science fiction to Caribbean folklore, passionate love to chilling horror, Nalo Hopkinson is at her award-winning best spinning tales like “Precious,” in which the narrator spews valuable coins and gems from her mouth whenever she attempts to talk or sing. In “A Habit of Waste,” a self-conscious woman undergoes elective surgery to alter her appearance; days later she’s shocked to see her former body climbing onto a public bus. In “The Glass Bottle Trick,” the young protagonist ignores her intuition regarding her new husband’s superstitions—to horrifying consequences. Hopkinson’s unique and vibrant sense of pacing and dialogue sets a steady beat for stories that illustrate why she received the 1999 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. Entertaining, challenging, and alluring, Skin Folk is not to be missed. by Nalo Hopkinson Nalo Hopkinson is a Jamaican-born Canadian whose taproots extend to Trinidad and Guyana. She has published numerous novels and short stories and occasionally edits anthologies. Her writing has received the John W. Campbell Memorial Award, the Locus Award, the World Fantasy Award, the Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic, and the Andre Norton Award. Hopkinson is a professor of creative writing at the University of California, Riverside. She has taught numerous times at both the Clarion Writers’ Workshop and the Clarion West Writers Workshop. Hopkinson’s short story collection Falling in Love With Hominids will appear in 2015.

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noellegraycreative · 5 years

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Happy Book Release Day to these beauties! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Patsy by @ndennisbenn — When Patsy gets her long-coveted visa to America, it comes after years of yearning to leave Pennyfield, the beautiful but impoverished Jamaican town where she was raised. More than anything, Patsy wishes to be reunited with her oldest friend, Cicely, whose letters arrive from New York steeped in the promise of a happier life and the possible rekindling of their young love. But Patsy’s plans don’t include her overzealous, evangelical mother―or even her five-year-old daughter, Tru. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In West Mills by @deshawncharleswinslow — Azalea "Knot" Centre is determined to live life as she pleases. Let the people of West Mills say what they will; the neighbors' gossip won't keep Knot from what she loves best: cheap moonshine, nineteenth-century literature, and the company of men. And yet, Knot is starting to learn that her freedom comes at a high price. Alone in her one-room shack, ostracized from her relatives and cut off from her hometown, Knot turns to her neighbor, Otis Lee Loving, in search of some semblance of family and home. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Fried Plantain by @zalikarb — Kara Davis is a girl caught in the middle — of her Canadian nationality and her desire to be a “true” Jamaican, of her mother and grandmother’s rages and life lessons, of having to avoid being thought of as too “faas” or too “quiet” or too “bold” or too “soft.” Set in “Little Jamaica,” Toronto’s Eglinton West neighbourhood, Kara moves from girlhood to the threshold of adulthood, from elementary school to high school graduation, in these twelve interconnected stories. We see her on a visit to Jamaica, startled by the sight of a severed pig’s head in her great aunt’s freezer; in junior high, the victim of a devastating prank by her closest friends; and as a teenager in and out of her grandmother’s house, trying to cope with the ongoing battles between her unyielding grandparents. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Which of these is on your list? http://bit.ly/2ERjdPD

#IFTTT #Instagram

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carissa--taylor · 7 years

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Authors of Color - A Reading Resource List

Need to find books written by Writers of Color and Native Authors? This is a set of resources for you! Apologies in advance -- most of these links will be heavily weighted toward authors of YA / MG, because that is what I gravitate toward. However, I will keep expanding to include others! This is a work in progress and I'd love your input if you know of resources I've missed. Also note that while I've tried to keep this collection as strictly focused on POC & Native Authors as possible, a few resources may also list a few books with POC / Native main characters too. I will try to note those. Table of Contents (Click to jump to a particular section) General / Mixed Lists African-American / Black Authors Asian-American / Pacific Islander Authors Latinx Authors Muslim & Middle Eastern-American Authors Native Authors General / Mixed Authors of Color Lists: (back to top) New Releases by Writers of Color

10 YA Must Reads by Authors of Color in 2017 - Teen Vogue

We're the People : Summer 2017 Reading List

POC 2016 / 2017 Release List - CrazyQuiltEdi

YA Authors of Color 2014-15 releases - CrazyQuiltEdi

Upcoming 2016/2017 YA Books by Authors of Color - DailyDahlia

Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Picture Book Authors of Color

Goodreads List: #OwnVoices MG/YA/NA

Goodreads List: #ReadPOC

Goodreads List: #1000BlackGirlBooks

Goodreads List: YA, MG Spec Fic by Authors of Color

Goodreads List: MG & YA SFF by Writers of Color

Books by and About Marginalized Races - Daily Dahlia

YA Backlist by Authors of Color - Daily Dahlia

YA Fantasy by Women of Color - YA Interrobang

Urban Fantasy Writers of Color - DanielJoseOlder

Diversity in YA Lists

15 YA Books that Get it Right

Multicultural Fiction - A Mighty Girl

Exploring Diversity Through Children's and YA Books

#OwnVoices MG Fiction

Diverse Chapter Books & Novels about Growing up POC in the South

Diverse Picture Books for Toddlers (3-5yo)

WNDB - "If You liked ..." Summer Reading Recs

Other / General Writers of Color Lists

Goodreads List: Feminist Books by Women of Color

POC Authors List - CrazyQuilt Edi

20 Books to Start Diversifying Your Reading History - RDB

Carefree Colorful Women Beach Reads

Librarything - World Full of Color

10 Books Actually Written by Authors of Color

WWC: Authors of Color

The Cartoonists of Color Database

Diversity Bingo - ReadingAsianAmerican

Authors of Color Online List - RIC

Hapa Booklist

The Bookish Diversity Link List 2017 - DORA (And 2016 Version Here )

The Ultimate Diverse Reading List - RDB

Diverse Book List - Written in Wonder (notes if the book is ownvoices)

Diverse Books Resource List 2015 - Ava Jae / 2016

Diversity in Non-Fiction

WNDB - Where to Find Diverse Books

WNDB - End of the Year Book Recs

WNDB - "If You liked ..." Summer Reading Recs

Sci-Fi and Fantasy POC Authors

YA Fantasy by Women of Color - YA Interrobang

Goodreads List: Fantasy Novels By Women of Color

Goodreads List: Speculative Fiction by Authors of Color

Goodreads List: Spec Fic by POC

Goodreads List: YA, MG Spec Fic by Authors of Color

Goodreads List: MG & YA SFF by Writers of Color

All Our Worlds - Diverse Fantastic Fiction

Urban Fantasy Writers of Color - DanielJoseOlder

List: Non-White Protagonists in SFF -- IllustratedPage (note: not all are authors of color - scroll halfway down the page to view POC authors)

Hashtags: #OwnVoices || #Diverseathon || #RamadanReads || #RamadanReadathon || #AsianLitChat || #AsianLitBingo || #ReadAsianOz || #ReadDiverse2017 ||

African-American / Black Authors (back to top) New Releases by Black Authors

20 Exciting YA Books by Black Women 2016/2017 - TheBookAvid

63 Upcoming Books of Black Literature 2017 - AALBC

24 New African, African-American and Caribbean Releases for 2017 - African Book Addict

2016 YA & MG Titles by African American Authors - Zetta Elliott

2016-2015 African-American Fiction Highlights - The Brown Bookshelf

15 New Books to Dive Into Summer 2015 - The Root

25 Must Read Books by Black Authors from 2015 - HuffPo

2015 African American Fiction - Zetta Elliott

Goodreads List: Adult Releases by Authors of African Descent 2017 / 2016 / 2015 / 2014 / 2013

Young Adult & Middle Grade Black Authors

Goodreads List : African American Books for Teens

Must Read YA Books by Black Women - xoJane

YA Books Exploring Race & Police Brutality

30 Black Comic Writers You Should Know

7 Books to read while you wait for The Hate U Give

8 YA Books for Black History Month - RichInColor

African-American Spec Fic for Kids

10 African-American Authors to Know - DiversityInYA

20 Exciting YA Books by Black Women 2016/2017 - TheBookAvid

2016 YA & MG Titles by African American Authors - Zetta Elliott

10 YA Books by African American Writers 2014 - DiversityInYA

A 2012 Guide to Black Friendly YA Fantasy

Adult Black Authors

13 Must-Reads for the Black Feminist in Training

20 Black Women with Killer Bibliographies

22 Black Authors to add to your Beach Bag This Summer

All Our Worlds : African Tag Search / Black Tag Search (note: some are not #ownvoices)

African American Chick Lit - Read In Colour

Black Women Science Fiction Writers - For Harriet

Black History Month Booklist - Book Trust

Books Set in Africa - Book Trust

African Americans in Speculative Fiction : A Primer

A Crash Course in The History of Black Science Fiction

Famous Black Writers

5 Must-Read Jamaican Authors - Read Diverse Books

63 Upcoming Books of Black Literature 2017 - AALBC

24 New African, African-American and Caribbean Releases for 2017 - African Book Addict

2016-2015 African-American Fiction Highlights - The Brown Bookshelf

15 New Books to Dive Into Summer 2015 - The Root

25 Must Read Books by Black Authors from 2015 - HuffPo

2015 African American Fiction - Zetta Elliott

Goodreads List: Adult Releases by Authors of African Descent 2017 / 2016 / 2015 / 2014 / 2013

PB & Children's Book Black Authors

Children's Books Written by Black Muslim Authors

8 Books for Kids Celebrating African-American Hair

African-American Spec Fic for Kids

Other Black Author Lists

Twinja's Black Book Bloggers List || Black Nerd Girls || African Book Addict || Asian-American / Asian / Pacific Islander Authors (back to top)

Upcoming 2016/2017 YA Books by Asian Women

Asian Lit Bingo - ReadingAsianAmerican

10 YA Books by Asian American Authors - Rich in Color

5 #Ownvoices Reads on the Asian Immigrant Experience

11 YA Novels by Asian-American Authors - Bustle

10 New and Debut Asian American Authors 2015 - DiversityinYA

8 Books for Asian-Pacific Heritage Month - RichInColor

Goodreads List: Best Asian American Teen Fiction

Goodreads List: Asian Canadian Authors

Goodreads List: Asian Spec Fic By Asian Authors

Goodreads List: Short List of Asian American Writers

All Our Worlds : Asian Tag Search / South Asian (note: some are not #ownvoices)

Asian / Pacific Island YA Authors - CrazyQuiltEdi

7 Books about growing up Asian-American - CBC Diversity

8 Books for Asian-Pacific Heritage Month - RichInColor

23 Asian American Authors - CrazyRedPen

32 Essential Asian-American Writers - Buzzfeed

Asian-Americans in YA Fiction - YaYaYas

Asian Lit - Literary Treats

Asian Books Tag - Colorful Book Reviews

Asian Lit - Read In Colour

Asia in the Heart Reviews

East Asian #Ownvoices - YA Interrobang

Fantasy Novellas by Asian Women - Read Diverse Books

150+ Asian-American Spec Fic Authors

Asian / Pacific Islander Librarians Association

East Asian / East Asian - American / Authors

East Asian #Ownvoices - YA Interrobang

Goodreads List: East Asian Authors

LGBTQ by East Asian Authors

East Asian Reads: Winter Edition - ReadingAsIAm

Goodreads List: Chinese American Authors

Chinese-American Tag Search - ReadingAsIAm

Goodreads List: Japanese American Authors

Mini-List: Japanese YA Authors

Japanese-American Tag Search - ReadingAsIAm

Goodreads List: Books by Korean Authors or with Korean Characters

YA Reads Written by Korean-American Authors

4 Must-Read Korean Authors - RDB

Goodreads List: Taiwanese Literature

Taiwanese-American Tag Search - ReadingAsIAm

Searching for Taiwan in YA Lit

Filipino, Malaysian & Other Southeast Asian Authors

Goodreads List: Southeast Asians in YA & MG Fiction (not all are #ownvoices )

#OwnVoices Spotlight: Southeast Asian Authors - YAInterrobang

All Our Worlds :Southeast Asian (note: some are not #ownvoices)

A Guide to South East Asian Authors

Filipino authors you need to know - YABookNerdLibrarian

Goodreads List: Best Books by Filipino Authors

Goodreads List: Literary Philippine / Philippine-American Authors

Picture Books by Filipino Authors

A Guide to Authors from the Philippines

Malaysian Theme - MirrowsWindowsDoors

Malaysian SFF Authors - Google Spreadsheet (see also here)

A Guide to Malaysian Authors

A Guide to Indonesian Authors

Goodreads List: Vietnamese & Vietnamese Diaspora Writers

Goodreads List: Vietnamese Novels & Memoirs

Indian / Indian-American / Sri-Lankan Authors

#Ownvoices Spotlight on South Asian Authors - YAInterrobang

All Our Worlds :South Asian (note: some are not #ownvoices)

8 Great Novels featuring South Asian MCs - Paste Mag

Anglo-Indian & Indian American Books - Masala Reader

10 Books by Indian Authors in 2017 - Bustle

4 YA Books with Indian Protagonists - Rich In Color

34 Books by Indian Authors that Everyone should Read - Buzzfeed

An Indian Summer Reading List - Book Trust

Indian LGBTQ Books - Books And Strips

A Compilation of Sri-Lankan Lit - Cinderzena

Other Asian Author Lists Native Hawaiian #Ownvoices -- Reading for SJ || Hapa Booklist || 8 Books for Asian-Pacific Heritage Month - RichInColor || Asian-Australian Kidlit || Read Asian Oz || See also: #AsianLitChat and #AsianLitBingo and #ReadAsianOz Latinx Authors (back to top) New Releases by Latinx Authors

18 Upcoming and Recent Books by Latinx Authors 2016/2017 - TheBookAvid

9 YA Latina Books Releasing in 2017

8 Great Latino Books Published in 2016 - NBC

Latino Book Awards : 2016 Finalists - YAInterrobang

15 Best Latino Books 2016 - Remezcla

The "Not New York Times" Summer Reading List 2015: Adult // Teen

13 Latino Authors Everyone Needs to Read - Bustle

All Our Worlds : Latinx & Hispanic Tag Search (note: not all are #ownvoices )

10 Books that Celebrate Queer Latinx Identity - RDB

Latin@ Book Tag - CBR

Latina Lit - RIC

Latinx Authors - ComoSeDiceNerd

Goodreads List: Chicana/Latina Lesbian Books

20 Books to Read During and After Latinx Heritage Month

Latinas for Latino Lit - Authors and Illustrators

South American Stories - Book Trust

Vamos a Leer

Latin American Authors in English Speculative Lit

Young Adult & Middle Grade Latinx Authors

Latinx in Kidlit : PB / MG / YA

9 Books by Latinx Authors I wish I had as a Teen - Bustle

Latino YA Authors Everyone Needs to Know -- Latina.com

5 LGBTQ YAs by Latinx Authors

Vamos a Leer

Graphic Novels with Latinx MCs (some may not be #ownvoices)

Mamiverse: Children's / Picture Books / MG / YA

12 Amazing YA Books by Latinx Authors - Buzzfeed

Adult Latinx Authors

13 Latino Authors Everyone Needs to Read - Bustle

All Our Worlds : Latinx & Hispanic Tag Search (note: not all are #ownvoices )

10 Books that Celebrate Queer Latinx Identity - RDB

Latin@ Book Tag - CBR

Latina Lit - RIC

Latinx Authors - ComoSeDiceNerd

Goodreads List: Chicana/Latina Lesbian Books

20 Books to Read During and After Latinx Heritage Month- RDB

Latinas for Latino Lit - Authors and Illustrators

South American Stories - Book Trust

Latin American Authors in English Speculative Lit

5 Must-Read Contemporary Mexican Authors - RDB

6 Lesser-Known Must-Read Books by Mexican Authors - RDB

5 Must-Read Brazilian Novels - RDB

5 Must-Read Jamaican Authors - RDB

Muslim & Middle Eastern American Authors (back to top)

Goodreads List : Muslim YA & Kidlit 2017/2018

Goodreads List: Muslim Squad - YA & MG

Goodreads List: Best Books by Muslim Women

Goodreads List: Muslims Represented in Literature (not all are Muslim Authors)

Goodreads List: LGBT In the Middle East (not all are #ownvoices)

Ramadan Reads 2017 - LoveInshAllah

What I Plan To Read For #RamadanReadathon 2017 - OnceUponABook

Join the National #RamadanReads Campaign - LoveInshAllah

Muslim Representation in YA Lit - TeenLib guest post by Kaye M

Islamic Fiction Booklist 2016

6 Must-Read YA Books with Muslim Protagonists - BNTeen

26 Authors of Muslim Heritage to Read Right now - EW

Muslim Representation in YA - Word Contessa

10 Contemporary Novels By and About Muslims - Lithub

Finding Muslim American Voices for Today's Libraries (scroll halfway down to see list)

All Our Worlds - Muslim & Middle Eastern Tag Search (note: some are not #ownvoices)

Islam in the Classroom

Muslim Children's Books and Multicultural Stories

26 Authors of Muslim Heritage to Read Right now - EW

Teaching Islam Through Literature

YA Novels with Muslim Characters - ZK (not all authors are Muslim, but the list compiler is)

Read Muslim Oz - LoveOzYA

American Muslims : A New Literary Movement

5 Great Canadian Muslim Authors - BookRiot

9 Muslim Canadian Writers

Children's Books Written by Black Muslim Authors - MuslimGirl

See also: #RamadanReads, #RamadanReadathon, #ReadMuslimOz, @MuslimReadathon & @Salaam Reads

Native Authors (back to top)

American Indians in Children's Literature - Best Books

2016 Releases by Native Authors - ReadDiverseBooks

#OwnVoices Representation Native Authors - YA Interrobang

Goodreads List: Native Writers

Goodreads List: Popular Native American Authors

Goodreads List: Native American / First Nations Fiction (not all #ownvoices )

Oyate - Reviews of Native Peoples' Literature

10 books 10 months - Exploring the Work of Indigenous Authors - RDB

Native American Childrens Lit Recommended Reading - First Nations Dev Inst

10 Books by Indigenous Authors You Should Read - Lithub

All Our Worlds - Indigenous & Native American Tag Search (not all #ownvoices )

Happy Native American Heritage Month - Weezie

20 Native American Authors You Need to Read

10 Books by Native Authors

Resources and Kidlit About American Indians

100 Indigenous Books - Colorful Book Reviews

Canadian Book Challenge: Indigenous Writers

BlackWords - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Writers & Storytellers

Indigenous Oz YA & Part II

Indigenous Australian Kidlit

HUIA - Maori and Pacific Authors

Hapa Booklist

Native Hawaiian #Ownvoices -- Reading for SJ

Teen Books By Native Writers to Trumpet All Year Round

Reviewers of Racially Diverse Books (back to top)

CrazyQuilt Edi

The Brown Bookshelf

Rich In Color

Read in Colour

Twinja Book Reviews

Read Diverse Books

WOC Reads

DiversityinYA

Dahlia Adler

Reading in Color: Reviews, Booklists

Reading Asian American

Dark Fanstastic

Mirrors, Windows, Doors : PB // MG // YA

Reading While White

Africa Access

Reading and Gaming for Justice

Technicolor Reading

Well Read Black Girl

Brown Girl Reading

Brown Books and Green Tea

Word Contessa

African Book Addict

Biblio Nyan

Books Before Bandaids

Cinderzena

Colorful Book Reviews

Daily Dahlia

Diary of a Reading Addict

Dusky Literati

Olivia's Catastrophe

Paper Wanderer

QuartzFeather

Reading in Color

The Book Pandas

The Unconventional Librarian

Weezie's Whimsical Writings

Written in Wonder

Zaheerah Khalik

Twinja's Black Book Bloggers List

Diverse Book Bloggers Directory ||

Bookstagrammers: @BooksBeforeBandaids || Book Clubs: Mocha Girls Read || Diverse Study Group - WOCReads || Social Justice Book Club || The Latina Book Club || Midwest Black Speculative Fiction Alliance

from Blogger http://ift.tt/2rmob0P via IFTTT

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janetoconnerfl · 7 years

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Commentary: Has Britain’s Man Booker Prize become too American? Yes.

Handout

Collage of Man Booker Prize shortlist covers

Nothing shatters the mystique of the floating city like seeing a McDonald’s in Venice. But such deflating sights have been the norm for years. American colonization of the world’s economy is complete. This summer in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, we listened to music under a sun-blocking billboard for Netflix’s “Glow.”

That disorienting moment came back to me when I read the list of finalists for the Man Booker Prize. For the first time, half of the six nominees for Britain’s most prestigious literary award are Americans:

“4321” by Paul Auster (U.S.)

“History of Wolves” by Emily Fridlund (U.S.)

“Lincoln in the Bardo,” by George Saunders (U.S.)

“Exit West,” by Mohsin Hamid (U.K.-Pakistan)

“Elmet” by Fiona Mozley (U.K.)

“Autumn,” by Ali Smith (U.K.)

It’s not that American novelists are suddenly writing better books. No, this U.S. invasion is the result of a controversial adjustment to the prize’s eligibility rules. In 2014, the Booker judges opened their doors to include anyone writing a novel in English. (The prize had previously been limited to novels by authors in the Commonwealth, including Ireland, South Africa and Zimbabwe.) After that change, two Americans immediately made the shortlist. The next year, Marlon James, a Jamaican writer living in Minnesota, won the prize. In 2016, the American writer Paul Beatty won. This year, an American has a 50/50 chance of being the winner.

Some British writers, notably Booker winner A.S. Byatt, have complained about the way this change in the rules dilutes the prize’s identity and creates an impossible task for the judges. With no criteria except “written in English,” the Booker Prize sinks into an ocean of titles that no panel of readers can credibly survey. But that’s a problem for the Brits to worry about.

As Americans, we should be more concerned about the loss of cultural diversity, about the closure of yet another avenue for us to experience something beyond our own ever-expanding borders. It’s no criticism to say that this year’s finalists by Auster, Fridlund and Saunders are all distinctly American novels. But for any serious reader of fiction in this country, the Americanization of the Booker Prize is a lost opportunity to learn about great books that haven’t already been widely heralded.

September 13, 2017 Regional fiction: Jim Fergus follows up on his best-selling “One Thousand White Women”

September 9, 2017 An enlightening examination of meditation and evolution in “Why Buddhism Is True”

September 7, 2017 Book review: A master class in creative nonfiction

September 6, 2017 Book review: Projecting our own desires onto Yellowstone’s landscape

September 3, 2017 John Ashbery, celebrated and challenging poet, dies at 90

As flattering as it is for our nation’s novelists to be invited into the U.K.’s literary arena, Americans don’t need any encouragement to trumpet their own books. As a nation, we’re already depressingly xenophobic when it comes to our reading choices. While bookstores all over the world carry books by Americans, bookstores in the United States usually reserve a tiny, dusty shelf called “books in translation.” (So strong is this bias against non-American writers that a New York publisher once told me that she planned to omit “Canadian” from an author’s bio on the jacket flap.)

And besides, American novelists already have prestigious awards reserved just for them, including the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction and the National Book Awards. Opening the Booker up to any work of fiction written in English comes perilously close to creating another bloated monster like the Nobel Prize in literature, an award with such broad standards that it stands for nothing at all.

But literary prizes are conflicted organizations. They want to promote literary excellence, of course, but they also want to promote themselves. In a universe of ever-escalating awards and ever-diminishing attention, every prize is fighting for recognition. What better way to garner more press in the United States than to sprinkle some beloved American names among the finalists.

But that’s a competition with diminishing returns. The Brits need to admit that they made a mistake in 2014. In an effort to broaden the appeal of their most august literary prize, they invited in Americans, who, predictably have taken over. For the good of the Commonwealth – and the United States – the Booker Prize administrators need to stage a literary Brexit.

from Latest Information http://www.denverpost.com/2017/09/14/man-booker-prize-too-american/

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jimblanceusa · 7 years

Text

Commentary: Has Britain’s Man Booker Prize become too American? Yes.

Handout

Collage of Man Booker Prize shortlist covers

“4321” by Paul Auster (U.S.)

“History of Wolves” by Emily Fridlund (U.S.)

“Lincoln in the Bardo,” by George Saunders (U.S.)

“Exit West,” by Mohsin Hamid (U.K.-Pakistan)

“Elmet” by Fiona Mozley (U.K.)

“Autumn,” by Ali Smith (U.K.)

September 13, 2017 Regional fiction: Jim Fergus follows up on his best-selling “One Thousand White Women”

September 9, 2017 An enlightening examination of meditation and evolution in “Why Buddhism Is True”

September 7, 2017 Book review: A master class in creative nonfiction

September 6, 2017 Book review: Projecting our own desires onto Yellowstone’s landscape

September 3, 2017 John Ashbery, celebrated and challenging poet, dies at 90

from Latest Information http://www.denverpost.com/2017/09/14/man-booker-prize-too-american/

0 notes

jackdoakstx · 7 years

Text

Commentary: Has Britain’s Man Booker Prize become too American? Yes.

Handout

Collage of Man Booker Prize shortlist covers

“4321” by Paul Auster (U.S.)

“History of Wolves” by Emily Fridlund (U.S.)

“Lincoln in the Bardo,” by George Saunders (U.S.)

“Exit West,” by Mohsin Hamid (U.K.-Pakistan)

“Elmet” by Fiona Mozley (U.K.)

“Autumn,” by Ali Smith (U.K.)

September 13, 2017 Regional fiction: Jim Fergus follows up on his best-selling “One Thousand White Women”

September 9, 2017 An enlightening examination of meditation and evolution in “Why Buddhism Is True”

September 7, 2017 Book review: A master class in creative nonfiction

September 6, 2017 Book review: Projecting our own desires onto Yellowstone’s landscape

September 3, 2017 John Ashbery, celebrated and challenging poet, dies at 90

from News And Updates http://www.denverpost.com/2017/09/14/man-booker-prize-too-american/

0 notes

laurendzim · 7 years

Text

Commentary: Has Britain’s Man Booker Prize become too American? Yes.

Handout

Collage of Man Booker Prize shortlist covers

“4321” by Paul Auster (U.S.)

“History of Wolves” by Emily Fridlund (U.S.)

“Lincoln in the Bardo,” by George Saunders (U.S.)

“Exit West,” by Mohsin Hamid (U.K.-Pakistan)

“Elmet” by Fiona Mozley (U.K.)

“Autumn,” by Ali Smith (U.K.)

September 13, 2017 Regional fiction: Jim Fergus follows up on his best-selling “One Thousand White Women”

September 9, 2017 An enlightening examination of meditation and evolution in “Why Buddhism Is True”

September 7, 2017 Book review: A master class in creative nonfiction

September 6, 2017 Book review: Projecting our own desires onto Yellowstone’s landscape

September 3, 2017 John Ashbery, celebrated and challenging poet, dies at 90

from News And Updates http://www.denverpost.com/2017/09/14/man-booker-prize-too-american/

0 notes