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# R A Y A

Agency for Arabic literature

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://rayaagency.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Antoon's "Of loss and lavender: A work of translation in every sense, as it seeks to convey the incomparable experience of exile](https://rayaagency.org/2026/07/a-work-of-translation-in-every-sense-as-it-seeks-to-convey-the-incomparable-experience-of-exile-the-new-yorker-on-antoons-of-loss-and-lavender/) - A review for The New Yorker, April 27, 2026 Of Loss and Lavender, by Sinan Antoon, translated from the Arabic by the author (Other Press). The central characters of this contemplative novel are two Iraqi men—unknown to each other— who both immigrate to the U.S. in the wake of the Gulf War, and proceed down
- [Sinan Antoon's novel "Of Loss and Lavender": Another powerful investigation of reinvention, memory and forgetting](https://rayaagency.org/2026/07/sinan-antoons-novel-of-loss-and-lavender-another-powerful-investigation-of-reinvention-memory-and-forgetting/) - A review by Peter Wittaker for 'New Internationalist, March-April 2026 What does it mean to lose a country? To be forced to move to a foreign land and be uprooted from family and friendship ties, the culture you grew up in, even your language? And can one ever truly ‘belong’ to one’s adopted country? Iraqi
- [Sinan Antoon Discusses 'Ave Maria', Memory, and the Future of Iraq](https://rayaagency.org/2026/07/sinan-antoon-discusses-ave-maria-memory-and-the-future-of-iraq/) - An interview conducted by Eduardo Oliveira for 'Estado de Minas', June 5, 2026 The book Ave Maria, by Iraqi writer, poet, translator, and professor at New York University Sinan Antoon, was a finalist for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in 2013. The narrative takes place over the course of a single day and centers
- [Syrian author Samar Yazbek chronicles Palestinian survival in 'Your presence is a danger to your life' - "What elevates the book from a mere catalog of horrors is the profound psychological resilience exhibited by the survivors. Literary critics reviewing the publication have noted a miraculous absence of blind hatred within the testimonies"](https://rayaagency.org/2026/07/syrian-author-samar-yazbek-chronicles-palestinian-survival-in-your-presence-is-a-danger-to-your-life-what-elevates-the-book-from-a-mere-catalog-of-horrors-is-the-profound-psychological-resilie/) - A review by Streamline, June 27, 2026 As the geopolitical media cycle relentlessly pivots toward new global crises, the lingering human devastation of the Gaza conflict risks being reduced to cold, statistical abstraction. In a profound counter-narrative, exiled Syrian writer and journalist Samar Yazbek has published Your Presence is a Danger to Your Life: Voices
- [Translating trauma, the trauma of translating: Leri Price on translating  Yazbek’s 'Your presence is a danger to your life' - "it’s a moral act. I don’t feel capable of very much in the face of such overwhelming horror, but handling these stories with care and respect, being as truthful and as transparent as possible in conveying them to Anglophone readers, is something I can do"](https://rayaagency.org/2026/07/translating-trauma-the-trauma-of-translating-leri-price-on-translating-yazbeks-your-presence-is-a-danger-to-your-life-its-a-moral-act-i-dont-feel-capable-of/) - An interview conducted by Tugrul Mende for ArabLit, June 25, 2026 In Your Presence is a Danger to Your Life: Voices from Gaza, Samar Yazbek made it her task to meet with the survivors of an ongoing genocide. While news headlines inform, this book tries to bring forward the human element to the forefront of
- [ArabLit reviews Yazbek's "Your presence is a danger to your life" - "Horrific as it is, the need for a human to decide who should die when, where, and how—a human with all their complexities, hesitations, and conflicting moral values—can now be removed altogether from the murder equation. Palestinians have become merely undesirable data"](https://rayaagency.org/2026/07/arablit-reviews-yazbeks-your-presence-is-a-danger-to-your-life-horrific-as-it-is-the-need-for-a-human-to-decide-who-should-die-when-where-and-how-a-human-with-all-their-complexiti/) - A review by Ibtihal Rida Mahmood for ArabLit, March 17, 2026 ... During her stay in Doha, in the smoldering summer of 2024, Samar Yazbek collected dozens of testimonies narrated by Gazans who, miraculously, had escaped an ongoing genocide, despite their shrunken lives and irreversibly diminished bodies. Yazbek had not arrived in Qatar intending to
- [ArabLit: Samar Yazbek on Redefining Collective Memory](https://rayaagency.org/2026/07/arablit-samar-yazbek-on-redefining-collective-memory/) - An interview conducted by Olivia Snaije for ArabLit, March 16, 2026 n 2024, the Syrian writer and journalist Samar Yazbek was preparing to go to Sudan. There, she intended to document the stories of women who had been raped and tortured by the paramilitary. But before she left, she went to Qatar to visit her
- [Buzz: "Yazbek's 'Your presence is a danger' is not an easy book to read, but it is an essential one"](https://rayaagency.org/2026/07/buzz-yazbeks-your-presence-is-a-danger-is-not-an-easy-book-to-read-but-it-is-an-essential-one/) - A review for Buzz, May 27, 2026 Adapted from the warning pamphlets dropped over Gaza moments before bombardments, Your Presence Is A Danger To Your Life is a harrowing yet vital account of life in Gaza after October 7.Compiled from the testimonies of 26 Palestinians living under the genocidal siege imposed by the Israeli Defence
- [The Mirror: "I want the voices of the survivors and victims to be heard: Samar Yazbek on Your Presence Is a Danger to Your Life'"](https://rayaagency.org/2026/07/the-mirror-i-want-the-voices-of-the-survivors-and-victims-to-be-heard-samar-yazbek-on-your-presence-is-a-danger-to-your-life/) - A review by Aimée Walsh for The Mirror, June 26, 2026 Gaza has dropped from the headlines, as new conflicts take hold across the world, but Syrian writer Samar Yazbek does not want the world to forget the atrocities enacted on the Palestinian people. Her latest book, Your Presence is a Danger to Your Life:
- [Publishers Weekly: "Yazbek's 'Your Presence Is a Danger to Your Life': The gates of hell are opened onto Gaza"](https://rayaagency.org/2026/07/publishers-weekly-yazbeks-your-presence-is-a-danger-to-your-life-the-gates-of-hell-are-opened-onto-gaza/) - A review by Publishers Weekly, June 23, 2026 The gates of hell” are “opened onto Gaza” in this nightmarish collection of oral histories gathered by novelist and journalist Samar Yazbek (Where the Wind Calls Home). Civilians share their accounts of life in Palestine post–October 7, with each entry more brutal than the last: 23-year-old Saja
- [Samar Yazbek 'Your presence is a danger to your life' is a searing read, very moving...](https://rayaagency.org/2026/07/samar-yazbek-your-presence-is-a-danger-to-your-life-is-a-searing-read-very-moving/) - A review by Lucy Beckett, for The Tablet, May 14, 2026 This is a horrifying book, its chilling title taken from leaflets distributed in Gaza by the Israel Defence Forces, not often in time for the recipients to escape being bombed. The Israelis have famously allowed no foreign journalists into Gaza since 7 October 2023,
- [Yazbek's 'Your Presence is a Danger to Your Life' is a vital reminder of the ongoing genocide and the almost unimaginable extent of its human costs](https://rayaagency.org/2026/07/yazbeks-your-presence-is-a-danger-to-your-life-is-a-vital-reminder-of-the-ongoing-genocide-and-the-almost-unimaginable-extent-of-its-human-costs/) - A review by Clem Clement for BookBlast, May 20, 2026 In early 2024, Samar Yazbek found herself in Doha, where more than 2,500 Palestinian survivors of the genocide in Gaza were living alongside their families and receiving desperately needed medical care. Yazbek is a Syrian writer and journalist. Forced into exile after joining the uprising
- [Samar Yazbek on "Your Presence Is a Danger to Your Life: Voices From Gaza"](https://rayaagency.org/2026/07/samar-yazbek-on-your-presence-is-a-danger-to-your-life-voices-from-gaza/) - A review by Maria Farsoon, for The Skinny, May 12, 2026 In her latest work, Your Presence Is a Danger to Your Life: Voices From Gaza, Syrian journalist Samar Yazbek collects the testimonies of 26 Gazans who describe their accounts of genocide. The title comes directly from the evacuation leaflets dropped over Gaza, by the
- [Sinan Antoon's novel "Of Loss and Lavender": Two Lives Fractured by War and Memory, and Sami's "poignant dreamscape"](https://rayaagency.org/2026/07/sinan-antoons-novel-of-loss-and-lavender-two-lives-fractured-by-war-and-memory-and-samis-poignant-dreamscape/) - A review by Tyson Duffy for Times Literary Supplement, May 15, 2026 “Novels inhabit a liminal space between the real and the imaginary.” So writes Sinan Antoon in the preface to his wonderful novel The Corpse Washer (2013). A poet who relies heavily on motifs of dream, memory and escape, Antoon is interested in exploring
- [Sonia Nimr invited to participate in Boca do Céu International Storytelling Festival 2026!](https://rayaagency.org/2026/06/sonia-nimr-invited-to-participate-in-boca-do-ceu-international-storytelling-festival-2026/) - Boca do Céu is the largest and most prestigious internaitonal storytelling festival in Brazil, held biennially in Sao Paolo. Created in 2001 and curated by renowned educator and storyteller Regina Machado, the event gathers storytellers, griots, and researchers from across the globe to celebrate oral tradition and the art of narrationAcclaimed Palestinian author and storyteller
- [Discovering Khalil Alrez in Turkish](https://rayaagency.org/2026/06/discovering-khalil-alrez-in-turkish/) - A review by Yağmur Dinç for Sabit Fikir In A sleepless giraffe in Damascus although the “giraffe” character is seen by some readers as a symbol of the Syrian revolution, Khalil Alrez states in an interview about the work that this was not his intention. Clearly, the insects on its bright, wide, and beautifully spotted
- [Husam Hilali, winner of the Osama Al-Danasouri Prize: “I am not a writer of nightmares in my work.”](https://rayaagency.org/2026/06/husam-hilali-winner-of-the-osama-al-danasouri-prize-i-am-not-a-writer-of-nightmares-in-my-work/) - An interview conducted by Ultra Sawt, April 18. 2018 In its second edition, the organizers of the Osama Al-Danasouri Poetry Prize expanded participation to include all Arab countries, after the first edition last year had been limited exclusively to Egyptian submissions. Thus, the jury—composed of Egyptians Ahmed Nada and Asmaa Yassin, Moroccan Mubarak Wassat, Iraqi
- [“Al-Danasouri Prize” awarded to the Sudanese poet Husam Hilali.](https://rayaagency.org/2026/06/al-danasouri-prize-awarded-to-the-sudanese-poet-husam-hilali/) - Published in Al-Hayat Al Jadida The Osama Al‑Danasouri Poetry Prize was awarded in 2018 to the Sudanese poet Husam Hilali for his collection “A Balcony Fit for Suicide.”Second prize went to the Syrian poet Minyar Al‑Issa for “Here Lies the Foolish Man,” while the third prize was awarded to the Iraqi poet Mohammed Karim for
- [Larissa Bender on translating the personal accounts in Yazbek’s Gaza book: ‘Far more harrowing than anything I have translated before’](https://rayaagency.org/2026/03/larissa-bender-on-translating-the-personal-accounts-in-yazbeks-gaza-book-far-more-harrowing-than-anything-i-have-translated-before/) - Interview conducted by Thomas Hummitzsch for intellectures, January 31, 2026 Larissa Bender has been translating literature from the Arab world for decades. She was recently awarded the prestigious Sheikh Hamad Prize for her translation of Mustafa Khalifa’s The Shell. These days, the translation of more than two dozen survival testimonies from Gaza, which she worked
- [“This is above all a book about humanity“ - a review of Yazbek's book in Germany](https://rayaagency.org/2026/03/this-is-above-all-a-book-about-humanity-a-review-of-yazbeks-book-in-germany/) - A review by Stephanie von Oppen for Deutschlandfunk Kultur, Studio, March 8, 2026 At least 70,000 dead and 170,700 wounded in Gaza. Behind each number lie countless individual fates. Samar Yazbek spent three months speaking with survivors in a rehabilitation center in Qatar. 27 personal, often harrowing stories are gathered in her book. It is
- [The Arabic Audiobook: Hopes and Challenges](https://rayaagency.org/2026/03/the-arabic-audiobook-hopes-and-challenges/) - Yasmina Jraissati, Storyside (Storytel group)This essay is set to appear in the bilingual publication Voyage of the Book (MBRL Publications, Forthcoming 2026) In recent years, I’ve come to seriously enjoy audiobooks. This is partly due to my work as an audiobook publisher, but that’s not the only factor. I knew, as a professional, that the
- [Khalil El Rez’s novel "Strawberry-spotted handkerchief" : An astonishing weaving of the novel’s fabric with the spindle of love](https://rayaagency.org/2026/03/khalil-el-rezs-novel-strawberry-spotted-handkerchief-an-astonishing-weaving-of-the-novels-fabric-with-the-spindle-of-love/) - A review by Al-Muthanna Sheikh Atiya for Alquds Alrabi, November 11, 2023 Love, then love, then love: the dream of novelists, the sustenance of narratives—if not their very air, without which they suffocate in the aridity of feeling. And love, then love, then love: the nightmare of novelists as well, the strangler of novels at
- [“Strawberry-spotted handkerchief”: A Novel between Shakespeare and Khalil el-Rez, "distinct within the Arabic literary landscape"](https://rayaagency.org/2026/03/strawberry-spotted-handkerchief-a-novel-between-shakespeare-and-khalil-el-rez-distinct-within-the-arabic-literary-landscape/) - A review by Ezzat Omar for Al-Arab, June 28th, 2022 Several Arab novelists have gone beyond the classical structures familiar in their works, and some have boldly ventured into experimental realms using multiple techniques, generating distinct aesthetic and intellectual stakes. The Syrian writer Khalil el-Rezz, in his latest novel Strawberry-spotted handkerchief, is one of these
- ["Strawberry-spotted handkerchief": "Unprecedented" writing,  a "novel whose hallmark is singularity and transcendence"](https://rayaagency.org/2026/03/strawberry-spotted-handkerchief-unprecedented-writing-a-novel-whose-hallmark-is-singularity-and-transcendence/) - A review by Mohammad Shweihna for Qannaass, July 10th, 2023 Writing about Khalil Al-Rez’s novel Strawberry-spotted handkerchief provides an important opportunity to discuss a remarkable narrative experiment that has continued to deepen across the writer’s successive works. These works have succeeded in carving out for themselves a newly invented form that resembles nothing but itself,
- ["Strawberry-spotted handkerchief" by Khalil Al-Rez: "Masterfully structured plot" - Al modon](https://rayaagency.org/2026/03/strawberry-spotted-handkerchief-by-khalil-al-rez-masterfully-structured-plot/) - A review by Jean Hashem for Al Modon, September 22nd, 2022 The title of Khalil Al-Rez’s recently published novel, Strawberry-spotted handkerchief, is not a casual detail taken from a fleeting idea, a flash of inspiration, or a striking image along its course. Rather, through the meanings the author imbued in these two words—drawn from literature,
- [”Strawberry-spotted handkerchief” by Khalil Al-Rez: "Powerful and creative talent" "gift for storytelling"](https://rayaagency.org/2026/03/strawberry-spotted-handkerchief-by-khalil-al-rez-powerful-and-creative-talent-gift-for-storytelling/) - A review by Hassan Daoud for ItaliaTelegraph, September 15th, 2022 Because he tells his own story, this man remains without a name. Those he loves and befriends are introduced by their names (Raya, Nonna, Salem, Maxim Vadimovich, and others) before their presence is even felt. Never, throughout the pages of the novel, does anyone address
- [“Strawberry-spotted handkerchief”: A narrative in the spirit of Shakespeare](https://rayaagency.org/2026/03/strawberry-spotted-handkerchief-a-narrative-in-the-spirit-of-shakespeare/) - A review by Sawsan Jamil Hassan for Diffah, September 22nd, 2022 In Shakespeare’s Othello, Othello presented his wife Desdemona with a handkerchief embroidered with strawberries, which ultimately led to the tragic ending. The handkerchief, which fell from her hands, was used by her adversary Iago to bring about her demise. According to Shakespeare’s narrative, an
- [Khalil El-Rez's “Strawberry spotted handkerchief” is "Spellbinding" -- Al Mayadeen](https://rayaagency.org/2026/03/khalil-el-rezs-strawberry-spotted-handkerchief-is-spellbinding-al-mayadeen/) - A review for Almayadeen by Ghinwa Fedda, July 5th, 2022 The Syrian writer Khalil El-Rez (1956) creates, through his novel Strawberry spotted handkerchief, recently published by Difaf–Ikhtilaf, a spellbinding world built on stories that beget other stories, and tales that unfold endlessly. The narrative begins in the voice of the protagonist, a dreamy young Syrian
- [Khalil Al-Rez to Almodon: "My works are not bound by their real-time settings"](https://rayaagency.org/2026/03/khalil-al-rez-to-almodon-my-works-are-not-bound-by-their-real-time-settings/) - Interview conducted by Oussama Marouk for Almodon, December 18th, 2022 Khalil El-Rez’s latest novel, Strawberry spotted handkerchief, intersects with Dostoevsky’s White Nights, Shakespeare’s Othello, and other global works, exploring divergent meanings of love, fear, betrayal, loneliness, friendship, and the human struggle with the self. With an unnamed Syrian protagonist, reminiscent of the dreamy hero of
- ["Everything is red: Stories of an Ongoing Genocide"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/12/everything-is-red-stories-of-an-ongoing-genocide/) - by Catherine Coquio for 'En attendant Nadeau', November 4th, 2025 After the daily stupefaction caused by the news and the images in the media, after the battles over words, the off-the-cuff analyses and the sample of prescriptive maneuvers that have occupied and undermined public speech, the first historical approaches to what has been taking place
- [Samar Yazbek "I fight against lies, violence, and cruelty”](https://rayaagency.org/2025/12/samar-yazbek-i-fight-against-lies-violence-and-cruelty/) - Interview conducted by Caroline Pernes for Télérama, November 8th, 2025 She spent fifteen years giving voice to the victims of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. In her new book, she gives the floor to around twenty survivors from Gaza. She tells us about her fight to document the horror and human suffering. Long a Syrian political refugee
- [Samar Yazbek's Op Ed in Le Monde "The Syrian Alawites are subjected to a massive collective punishment"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/11/samar-yazbeks-op-ed-in-le-monde-the-syrian-alawites-are-subjected-to-a-massive-collective-punishment/) - Le Monde, November 24 2025 The Collective Punishment of the Alawites in SyriaThe trial of several people accused of committing massacres against Alawite populations on the Syrian coast opened on Tuesday, November 18. However, this is nothing more than a charade: the judge and the defense are both implicated in the massacres and are neither
- [Le Monde "The most deeply moving aspect is the echo of comparable suffering from one testimony to another" - about Yazbek's "Gaza residents: Your presence is a danger to your life"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/11/le-monde-the-most-deeply-moving-aspect-is-the-echo-of-comparable-suffering-from-one-testimony-to-another-about-yazbeks-gaza-residents-your-presence-is-a-danger-to-your-life/) - A review by Jean-Pierre Filiu, for Le Monde, November 23, 2025 Samar Yazbek is today one of the most prominent figures in Arabic literature. Her work, which began at the start of this century in Bachar Al-Assad’s Syria, found new life with the popular uprising against that hereditary dictatorship. In In the crossfire (Feux croisés,
- [Reflections on Samar Yazbek and Syrian literature: Memory, testimony, and survival - "reshaping the Arab literary field as a whole"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/11/reflections-on-samar-yazbek-and-syrian-literature-memory-testimony-and-survival-reshaping-the-arab-literary-field-as-a-whole/) - A review by Alma Abou Fakher for 'Moyen-Orient' magazine, October - December 2025 The year 2011 marks a major turning point in the cultural history of contemporary Syria. The civil protest movement against the regime of Bashar al-Assad (2000–2024) cannot be understood solely through a political lens; it also triggered an unprecedented artistic dynamic. By
- [Mansoura Ez-Eldine's "Deeper down the well", between history and imagination - ArabLit](https://rayaagency.org/2025/11/mansoura-ez-eldines-deeper-down-the-well-between-history-and-imagination-arablit/) - A review by Nassir al-Sayeid al-Nour for ArabLit, May 15, 2018 The acclaimed Egyptian novelist Mansoura Ez Eldin, in her 2017 novel Ikhyla’t Alzil (Deeper down the well), interleaves imagination and true events, and thus conquers the status quo of reality, such that it doesn’t matter whether a narrative event is historically or imaginatively presented. The
- ["Deeper down the well" by Mansoura Ez-Eldine: "A real gem"- Qantara](https://rayaagency.org/2025/11/deeper-down-the-well-by-mansoura-ez-eldine-a-real-gem-qantara/) - A review by Marija M. Bulatović for Qantara.de, February 12, 2020 Mansoura Ez Eldin’s novel "Deeper down the well" reminded me of a very common experience that each of us will be familiar with: the moment of waking up in a dark room. At first, except for darkness, we discern almost nothing, until suddenly, out of shape,
- ["Exquisite artistic detail and careful construction of the novel’s aesthetic world" -- Annour's "Symphony of the south"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/11/exquisite-artistic-detail-and-careful-construction-of-the-novels-aesthetic-world-annours-symphony-of-the-south/) - A review by Abdel Kader Dagash for Almohagig, August 10th, 2024 The Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim once said: “A good historian is a novelist.” Just as in Samrawit by the Eritrean writer Haji Jaber, we find in Tahir Anour’s Symphony of the South an experience of pain and longing. If we may describe Samrawit as
- ["Symphony of the south" by Tahir Annour: A "mature artistic style"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/11/symphony-of-the-south-by-tahir-annour-a-mature-artistic-style/) - A review by Moussa Ibrahim Abu Rayash for Alquds Alrabi. September 30th, 2021 The recent publication of a novel written in Arabic from Chad is a cause for celebration. What’s even more encouraging is that several Chadian creatives are writing in Arabic, highlighting how little we know about this African country, and how overlooked its
- [Tahir Annour's "A symphony of the south": "beautifully poetic narrative language" and a "storytelling  layered with surprise and wonder"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/11/tahir-annours-a-symphony-of-the-south-beautifully-poetic-narrative-language-and-a-storytelling-layered-with-surprise-and-wonder/) - An interview with Saddam Al-Zaidi on January 26th, 2023 for Diffah Al-Araby In his novels published consecutively between 2019 and 2022—Ashes of the Roots, Symphony of the South, and The Barbed Wire Farm—the Chadian novelist Taher Al-Noor focuses on the social and political history of Chad. He does so through a beautifully poetic narrative language,
- ["Deeper down the well" by Mansoura Ez-Eldine: A maze "meticulously woven in polished language", and a narrative given "structural cohesion through almost invisible threads"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/11/deeper-down-the-well-by-mansoura-ez-eldine-a-maze-meticulously-woven-in-polished-language-and-a-narrative-given-structural-cohesion-through-almost-invisible-threads/) - A review by Mamdouh Faraj Al-Nabi for Al arab, 6 July 2017 Few works aim at writing as a means in itself, and even rarer are works by women who engage deeply with the mechanics and craft of writing. In most of their output, women have tended to make the self their primary subject, often
- [Novelist Tahir Annour: In Chad, Arabic Poetry Thrives While the Novel Struggles](https://rayaagency.org/2025/11/novelist-tahir-annour-in-chad-arabic-poetry-thrives-while-the-novel-struggles/) - An interview with Khouloud Al-Falah on August 5th, 2023 for Al-Jazeera.net Tahir Annour is a journalist and novelist from Chad. He won the Tawfiq Bikr Prize for Arabic Novel in Tunisia’s fourth edition in 2022 for the manuscript of his novel Goudala. His novels Ashes of the Roots, The Barbed Wire Farm, and Symphony of
- [Mayada Ibrahim wins the inaugural round of PEN Presents x International Booker Prize!](https://rayaagency.org/2025/11/mayada-ibrahim-wins-the-inaugural-round-of-pen-presents-x-international-booker-prize/) - September 2025 English PEN and the Booker Prize Foundation are delighted to announce the winners of the inaugural round of PEN Presents x International Booker Prize – an edition of the English PEN award for sample translations, launched in partnership with the Booker Prize Foundation to support translators from the Global Majority. The six winning
- [“I have never documented such a way of killing people”: Samar Yazbek gives voice to survivors of the genocide in Gaza](https://rayaagency.org/2025/11/i-have-never-documented-such-a-way-of-killing-people-samar-yazbek-gives-voice-to-survivors-of-the-genocide-in-gaza/) - Interview conducted by Muriel Steinmetz for L'Humanité, October 21st, 2025 Samar Yazbek is a Syrian novelist and journalist. A left-wing opponent of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime, she has been threatened with death multiple times, forced into exile in 2011 with her daughter, and pursued by intelligence services. She returned clandestinely to Syria in 2012 and 2013,
- [Samar Yazbek, writer: “The war in Gaza is the most dreadful, the most cruel, the most savage war.”](https://rayaagency.org/2025/11/samar-yazbek-writer-the-war-in-gaza-is-the-most-dreadful-the-most-cruel-the-most-savage-war/) - Interview conducted by Dimitri Krier, for Le Nouvel Obs, October 16th, 2025 The Syrian novelist and journalist, who published Une mémoire de l'anéantissement, collected testimonies from survivors of the Palestinian enclave being treated in a hospital near Doha, Qatar. This is the story of a Syrian writer who, in the furnace of the Qatari desert,
- [Mansoura Ez Eldine's "Deeper down the well": Childhood imaginations and their hopes](https://rayaagency.org/2025/11/mansoura-ez-eldines-deeper-down-the-well-childhood-imaginations-and-their-hopes/) - A review by Soumar Shehade for Diffah, October 1, 2017 In her novel Akhielet Al-Zéll (Dar Al-tanweer, 2017), the Egyptian writer Mansoura Ez-Eldin turns to imagining reality through a series of assumptions that do not strip the story of its realism, but rather view it through the lens of imagination. In an experimental style that
- ["A novel of petrifying acuity" "A masterpiece" - Le Journal du Dimanche's review of Douaihy's Poison in the air](https://rayaagency.org/2024/02/a-novel-of-petrifying-acuity-a-masterpiece-le-journal-du-dimanches-review-of-douaihys-poison-in-the-air/) - Georges Grange, for Le Journal du Dimanche, January 8, 2024 "Poison in the Air," by Jabbour Douaihy: Houellebecq in Lebanon, in a classical and profound style, Among the literary production, there are good novels. And among the good novels are the remarkable ones, those that imprint themselves on us, those that come back like past
- [Khalil Alrez Discusses His Novel A Sleepless Giraffe in Damascus in an Exclusive Interview: "Not a symbol – just a giraffe!"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/09/khalil-alrez-discusses-his-novel-a-sleepless-giraffe-in-damascus-in-an-exclusive-interview-not-a-symbol-just-a-giraffe/) - Interview by Ilgaz Gökırmaklı, on May 30th, 2025 Not a symbol – just a giraffe! Blurring the lines between reality and imagination, and brought to life by its characters and animals, The Sleepless Giraffe in Damascus is one of the most unique examples of contemporary Arabic literature. We spoke to the author, Khalil Alrez, who
- [The Markaz Reviews Ezeldin's The orchards of Basra:  "a layered and evocative" "work of art"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/09/the-markaz-reviews-ezeldins-the-orchards-of-basra-a-layered-and-evocative-work-of-art/) - A review by Jacob Wirtschafter in The Markaz Review, September 12, 2025 Mansoura Ez-Eldin’s The Orchards of Basra invites readers into a world of forgotten histories, lost wisdom, and intellectual longing. It’s not simply a novel of intellectual or political conflict; it’s a poignant exploration of what we lose when the forces of history and politics erase
- ["Stunning offering of spirituality" - Insightful review of Yazbek's "Where the wind calls home" by Asymptote](https://rayaagency.org/2024/03/stunning-offering-of-spirituality-insightful-review-of-yazbeks-where-the-wind-calls-home-by-asymptote/) - By Alex Tan, for Asymptote, February 29, 2024Where the wind calls home was selected by Asymptote for its February Book Club Selection Where the Wind Calls Home, Syrian author Samar Yazbek’s latest novel to be translated into English, is a stunning offering of spirituality, memory, and all those implacable, liminal spaces wherein only the mind may
- [Khalil Alrez’s The Sleepless Giraffe of Damascus, "a work that drifts between reality and imagination from one of contemporary Arabic literature’s most distinctive voices"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/09/khalil-alrezs-the-sleepless-giraffe-of-damascus-a-work-that-drifts-between-reality-and-imagination-from-one-of-contemporary-arabic-literatures-most-distinctive-voices/) - A review by Abdullah Ezik for Artfulliving, June 26th, 2025 Khalil Alrez’s novel The Sleepless Giraffe of Damascus, recently published by Timaş Publishing and translated into Turkish by Eyyüp Tanrıverdi, is an original and impactful work that stands out for both its subject matter and the subtlety with which it handles narrative. A unique voice
- [K24, Turkey, Interview with Khalil Alrez: A conversation on exile, magical realism, and the power of silent narratives](https://rayaagency.org/2025/09/k24-turkey-interview-with-khalil-alrez-a-conversation-on-exile-magical-realism-and-the-power-of-silent-narratives/) - An interview with Betül Durdu on June 5th, 2025 for K24 We know you began writing The Sleepless Giraffe in Damascus in Syria, but had to flee due to war. As a refugee, how did continuing to write impact your literary language and narrative style? In your view, what is the connection between exile and
- [Akhbar Al-Adab's review of "May vanishes": "Exquisite sensitivity"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/05/akhbar-al-adabs-review-of-may-vanishes-exquisite-sensitivity/) - By Mahmoud al Wardani, April 26, 2025 When Madame May entered the bank, the manager rushed to welcome her into his office and ordered coffee for her, as she was one of their esteemed clients and already past eighty-four. At that time, banks couldn’t release more than two hundred dollars per depositor, having stolen people’s
- [Al Nahar about "May Vanishes": "No other Arabic novel, perhaps, so thoroughly fuses personal and collective fate, city and body"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/05/al-nahar-about-may-vanishes-no-other-arabic-novel-perhaps-so-thoroughly-fuses-personal-and-collective-fate-city-and-body/) - A review by Ahmad al Madini, for Al-nahar, May 12 2025 I find pleasure in reading newly released novels a little after their initial debut. Often, they are treated as mere spectacles or as opportunities to report a fact, and hurried reading tends to flatten their substance through reduction. A novel worthy of its genre
- [May vanishes by Najwa Barakat: "Mastery of narrative technique" "Effective use of first-person voice" "Stylistic finesse in constructing a tense, cinematic scene"... leaving no room for the reader to rest" - Al Sharq Al Awsat](https://rayaagency.org/2025/05/may-vanishes-by-najwa-barakat-an-elegy-for-aging-souls-and-fading-cities/) - A review by Shawki Bazih, for Asharq Al-Awsat, April 13, 2025 “May!”The sound fell upon me like a transparent veil, sending shivers down my spine and shaking my heart, as a hollow, thunderous drumbeat rang in my ears.I froze in place, held my breath, and a merciful silence reigned. But as soon as I moved
- ["Nothing happens but the silence of an empty space... And yet, we find ourselves riveted by these sparse, repetitive events—rendered as if they were intimate secrets slowly unfolding" - Hassan Daoud reviews Najwa Barakat's "May vanishes", Al Quds](https://rayaagency.org/2025/05/nothing-happens-but-the-silence-of-an-empty-space-and-yet-we-find-ourselves-riveted-by-these-sparse-repetitive-events-rendered-as-if-they-were-intimate-secrets-slowly-unfolding-hass/) - A review by Hassan Daoud, for Alquds Alarabi, April 13, 2025 The world May inhabits is exceedingly small. Her ninth-floor apartment keeps her suspended above the bustle of life below, and when she needs something, it is Yusuf, the building’s concierge, who brings it to her. Her twin sons live abroad and, through the money
- [Najwa Barakat's "May vanishes": "showcases Barakat's storytelling mastery, making the novel a rich and complex literary experience" - Al Modon](https://rayaagency.org/2025/05/najwa-barakats-may-vanishes-showcases-barakats-storytelling-mastery-making-the-novel-a-rich-and-complex-literary-experience-al-modon/) - A review by Jean Jabbour, for Al Modon, April 13, 2025 In her newly released novel "May vanishes" (Dar Al Adab), Najwa Barakat continues her exploration of existential questions, memory, and internal conflict—recurring themes in her previous works, which often spotlight characters grappling with intense crises. However, unlike her earlier novels, which sometimes carried clearer
- ["May vanishes": "Beautifully orchestrated narrative by Najwa Barakat, weaving themes of forgetting, aging, the body, and love"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/05/may-vanishes-by-najwa-barakat-beautifully-orchestrated-narrative-by-najwa-barakat-weaving-themes-of-forgetting-aging-the-body-and-love/) - A review by Mohammad Nasser Eldine, for Al-Akhbar, May 3rd 2025 “I look at my life from above. I feel no regret over what has passed, I miss no one, and I hope for or expect nothing to happen—except death. I’m not truly awaiting it; it’s not a waiting, for I’m certain it will come
- ["May vanishes" by Najwa Barakat: "In this novel, love carries the revelation of beauty in meaning—as the meaning of goodness and truth. Human beings only truly deserve existence if they are great lovers" - Al Araby](https://rayaagency.org/2025/05/may-vanishes-by-najwa-barakat-in-this-novel-love-carries-the-revelation-of-beauty-in-meaning-as-the-meaning-of-goodness-and-truth-human-beings-only-truly-deserve-existence-if-they-are/) - A review by Wafaa Sha'rani, for Alaraby, April 16th, 2025Photo credit: Akram Zaatari (Lebanese, b. 1966)Damaged Negatives: Scratched Portraits of Mrs. Baqari2012Made from 35mm scratched negative from the Hashem el Madani archiveInstallation view, Akram Zaatari: The Fold – Space, time and the image© Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, OH, 2018 I don’t know to what extent the structure
- [Najwa Barakat's "May vanishes": A Tragic Mirror of Old Age and the Fractured Self](https://rayaagency.org/2025/05/najwa-barakats-may-vanishes-a-tragic-mirror-of-old-age-and-the-fractured-self/) - A review by Abdo Wazen, for Independant Arabia, April 23, 2025 At the beginning of the first chapter of Najwa Barakat’s new novel "May vanishes" (Dar Al-Adab, 2025), a voice calls out to the "heroine" while she lies half-asleep in her bed, calling her name—May. She trembles as the voice repeats and rises from her
- [Aleph Lam Magazine reviews Najwa Barakat new novel: "May Vanishes"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/05/aleph-lam-magazine-reviews-najwa-barakat-new-novel-may-vanishes/) - A review by Najat El Chalouhi, for Aleph Lam, April 15th, 2025 Najwa Barakat understands the importance of narrative space and its influence in drawing readers into the world of a novel. This is clearly emphasized in her new novel May Vanishes, recently published by Dar Al-Adab. The events of the novel unfold in a
- [L'Orient littéraire reviews "May vanishes": "From the poignant to the hilarious, Najwa Barakat masters the holy grail of Arabic literature".](https://rayaagency.org/2025/05/lorient-litteraire-reviews-may-vanishes-from-the-poignant-to-the-hilarious-najwa-barakat-masters-the-holy-grail-of-arabic-literature/) - A review by Fifi Abou Dib, for L'Orient littéraire, May 1st, 2025 With May vanishes (or Ghaybat May in Arabic), Najwa Barakat signs her seventh novel, set against the backdrop of a dystopian Beirut. The story of May, a lonely woman who, at 84, observes the decline of her body and the decay of her
- ["Ave Maria" by Sinan Antoon was released in Brazil!](https://rayaagency.org/2025/05/ave-maria-by-sinan-antoon-was-released-in-brazil/) - Release announced by ICARABE A finalist for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in 2013, Ave Maria is a novel that delves into the life of a Chaldean Christian family in Baghdad, highlighting the impact of wars and persecution against minorities in Iraq. The story takes place over a single day and presents the contrasting
- [Sinan Antoon's “Of Loss and Lavender”: The Pain of Contemporary Iraq](https://rayaagency.org/2025/05/sinan-antoons-of-loss-and-lavender-the-pain-of-contemporary-iraq/) - A review by Courrier International, 10 April 2025 “Of loss and lavender,” a novel by Iraqi poet Sinan Antoon, was released on April 2 by Actes Sud. In this story, praised by the Arabic press, the author intertwines the painful journeys of two Iraqi exiles in the United States, Sami and Omar. Omar deserted the
- [“Of Loss and Lavender” by Sinan Antoon: "The beauty of the book lies in the discreet, loving gazes that Antoon captures"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/05/of-loss-and-lavender-by-sinan-antoon-the-beauty-of-the-book-lies-in-the-discreet-loving-gazes-that-antoon-captures/) - A review for Télérama by Marine Landrot, 26 April 2025 A major figure in Iraqi literature, Sinan Antoon definitively left his homeland for the United States at the time of the Gulf War in 1991, at the age of 24. Chosen, imposed, dreamed of, forgotten, lost — “elsewhere” has since become the central theme in
- [Sinan Antoon's “Of Loss and Lavender”: "Oum Kalthoum’s songs as a remedy for the melancholy of exile?" - A review by Transfuge](https://rayaagency.org/2025/05/sinan-antoons-of-loss-and-lavender-a-novel-of-exile-and-of-the-memory-of-a-lost-homeland/) - A review for Transfuge by Tewfik Hakem, April 2025 Oum Kalthoum’s songs as a remedy for the melancholy of exile? What a beautiful novelistic idea, especially timely in this year marking the 50th anniversary of the Egyptian diva’s death. Other equally compelling remedies for treating the sadness of displacement and the trauma of those who
- [Khalil Al Rez's “A sleepless giraffe in Damascus”: a tale of reckoning with the past, of compassion, and of a search for meaning.](https://rayaagency.org/2025/05/khalil-al-rezs-a-sleepless-giraffe-in-damascus-a-tale-of-reckoning-with-the-past-of-compassion-and-of-a-search-for-meaning/) - A review for Edebiyathaber.net by Caner Almaz, April 22, 2025 A Sleepless Giraffe in Damascus, penned by Khalil Al Rez, tells the story of a friendship set in a zoo in war-ravaged Damascus. On the surface, the novel appears to depict the bond between a giraffe and a man, but beneath this lies a multilayered
- [Khalil Al Rez's “A sleepless giraffe in Damascus”: Lightening the weight of war with "subtle irony"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/05/khalil-al-rezs-a-sleepless-giraffe-in-damascus-lightening-the-weight-of-war-with-subtle-irony/) - A review for Oggito by Adalet Çavdar, April 23, 2025 Alrez’s pen creates a fairytale-like reality; while blending truth and fantasy through the giraffe’s prophecies, it lightens the weight of war with subtle irony. For the past month, the state of the country is well known. We do nothing but express our democratic demands, yet
- [The Orchards of Basra, by Mansoura Ez Eldin "celebrated for her feverish, fanciful plots" - A review in Words Without Borders](https://rayaagency.org/2025/05/the-orchards-of-basra-by-mansoura-ez-eldin-celebrated-for-her-feverish-fanciful-plots-a-review-in-words-without-borders/) - "What emerges throughout The Orchards of Basra is how fragile and prone to disintegration the borders of identity are," writes critic Alex Tan, in Words Without Borders, April 15th, 2025 A chronicler of the chimeric, the Egyptian writer Mansoura Ez Eldin has been celebrated in the Arab world for her feverish, fanciful plots. To read her feels like
- [Samar Yazbek's debuts at the Royal Dramatic Theatre, Sweden](https://rayaagency.org/2025/05/samar-yazbeks-debuts-at-the-royal-dramatic-theatre-sweden/) - The Syrian author Samar Yazbek has specially written a text that is now being performed at the Royal Dramatic Theatre. She began writing the text after the al-Assad regime's fall in Syria, and describes the process as "the beginning of a return from exile". Now, a few fragments from it are being performed in a
- [Khalil Alrez' "A sleepless giraffe in Damascus" was just release in Turkey by Timas](https://rayaagency.org/2025/04/khalil-alrez-a-sleepless-giraffe-in-damascus-was-just-release-in-turkey-by-timas/) - Turkish is the first foreign language in which this book is translated. English (US) and Italian editions forthcoming!
- [“Of Loss and Lavender” by Sinan Antoon: Fragmented Memories of Iraqi Chaos"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/04/of-loss-and-lavender-by-sinan-antoon-fragmented-memories-of-iraqi-chaos/) - A review for Le Monde, by Richard Jacquemond (April 6, 2025) One seeks to forget, the other longs to remember. Both are refugees in the United States. The new novel by Iraqi writer Sinan Antoon—himself exiled in America—is composed of the shattered pieces of a broken country. Given the country’s recent history of dictatorship, wars,
- [Sinan Antoon's “Of Loss and Lavender”: a powerful narrative on attachment to one’s homeland, human fragility, illness, and absence.](https://rayaagency.org/2025/04/sinan-antoons-of-loss-and-lavender-a-powerful-narrative-on-attachment-to-ones-homeland-human-fragility-illness-and-absence/) - A review for L'Orient Littéraire by Nadia Leila Aissaoui, April 3, 2025 Sinan Antoon—poet, novelist, translator, and university professor—is one of the most prominent voices in contemporary Iraqi literature. Born in Baghdad in 1967, he grew up in the city before leaving it in 1991, in the aftermath of the Gulf War. Settling in the
- [Unraveling Time and Memory through an "extraordinary narrative": Noshin Bokth Reviews The Orchards of Basra by Mansoura Ez-Eldin.](https://rayaagency.org/2025/04/unraveling-time-and-memory-through-an-extraordinary-narrative-noshin-bokth-reviews-the-orchards-of-basra-by-mansoura-ez-eldin/) - A journey between time, faith, and sin in Mansoura Ez-Eldin's The Orchards of Basra by Noshin Bokth in The New Arab, February 19th, 2025 Acclaimed Egyptian author Mansoura Ez-Eldin's novel The Orchards of Basra is a captivating novel that centres around Hisham Al Khattab, an antique bookseller in Cairo. Though his occupation appears lackluster, he
- ["Readers of this book will never forget" - Nikkei, Japan, reviews Yazbek's "The blue pen" (A planet of clay)](https://rayaagency.org/2024/08/readers-of-this-book-will-never-forget-nikkei-japan-reviews-yazbeks-the-blue-pen-a-planet-of-clay/) - A review by Mari Oka, for Nikkei newspaper, published on the 27th of July 2024 In August 2013, the Syrian Assad regime dropped chemical weapons on the Eastern Ghouta region near Damascus, massacring hundreds of its own civilians. How can we put into words the height of violence that surpasses humanity and therefore surpasses human
- [The New York Times reviews Khoury's Stella Maris: "One of the most indelible epics in 21st-century literature"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/02/the-new-york-times-reviews-khourys-stella-maris-one-of-the-most-indelible-epics-in-21st-century-literature/) - A Palestinian Refugee Becomes a Jewish Israeli in This NovelA review for the New York Times, by Jess Row, December 1, 2024 Elias Khoury’s “Children of the Ghetto” series continues with a young man switching identities in a society seeking to erase him.“The beginning of life was the massacre and I have to gather together
- [Samar Yazbek's Op Ed in Liberation "In Damascus: A downward path in the circles of inferno"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/01/samar-yazbeks-op-ed-in-liberation-in-damascus-a-downward-path-in-the-circles-of-inferno/) - Samar Yazbek, for Liberation, January 26, 2025Photo credit: Sameer al Doumy, AFP Before reaching Damascus, we had to pass through Beirut as Damascus International Airport was closed, and I couldn’t wait any longer! At the border in the Masnaa area, the frost began to creep into my extremities. I anticipated joy, but I felt a
- [Elias Khoury's "Stella Maris" is a finalist to the National Book Critics Circle Award, USA](https://rayaagency.org/2025/01/elias-khourys-stella-maris-is-a-finalist-to-the-national-book-critics-circle-award/) - The Children of the Ghetto, by Elias Khoury and translated by Humphrey Davies has been nominated for the 2024 Gregg Barrios Book in Translation Prize of the National Book Critics Circle. Over the past year, the NBCC board has read hundreds of books.The National Book Critics Circle honors outstanding writing and fosters a national conversation about reading, criticism,
- ["Bashar Al Asad is gone, the revolution begins" - Samar Yazbek's tribune in Le  Monde](https://rayaagency.org/2025/01/bashar-al-asad-is-gone-the-revolution-begins-samar-yazbeks-tribune-in-le-monde/) - December 23, 2024, Le MondeThe dictator has fallen, the man who killed his people and sold his land has finally left, he fled like a coward leaving behind a huge devastation. To this moment I still ask myself: Will we live without the rule of the Assad family? I was born in 1970, the year
- [Syria is at its year zero](https://rayaagency.org/2025/01/syria-is-at-its-year-zero/) - La Croix: interview with Samar Yazbek, 16 December 2024 Like many Syrians, Samar Yazbek has only known the totalitarian regimes of Hafez Al Assad and his son, Bashar, who have profoundly shaped the country. The fall of the latter, on December 8, leaves the country facing a massive reconstruction effort. You participated in the Syrian
- [Les pouvoirs du roman avec Elias Khoury](https://rayaagency.org/2025/01/les-pouvoirs-du-roman-avec-elias-khoury/) - Le Matricule des anges: conversation with Elias Khoury, Octobre 2024Excerpt translated into English here, French original below.In December 2015, Le Matricule des anges met in Beirut the writer Elias Khoury, who died on September 15 at the age of 76 following a long illness. A major figure in Lebanese literature, playwright, essayist and tireless left-winger
- [Dr. Ken Endo from Tokyo takes us inside Samar Yazbek’s 'The Blue Pen'](https://rayaagency.org/2025/01/dr-ken-endo-from-tokyo-takes-us-inside-samar-yazbeks-the-blue-pen/) - The Syrian Civil War: A Girl's Inner World: Review by Ken Endo (International Political Scientist, Professor at the University of Tokyo) in Yomiuri Shimbun, published in October 6th, 2024 Some people stayed in Syria and fought against Assad’s dictatorship. The uprising led by the Free Syrian Army was almost entirely crushed by brutal means. Trying
- ["Extraordinary ability to make the invisible visible" - about Yazbek, in "The wind's abode"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/01/extraordinary-ability-to-make-the-invisible-visible-about-yazbek-in-the-winds-abode/) - By Mediennerd, September 23, 2024 "The wind's abode" by Samar Yazbek is a book that touched me deeply and made me think. It is a poetic and at the same time painful story about the conflict and the unspeakable suffering left behind by the war in Syria. This story is much more than just a
- [Deutschlandfunk reviews Yazbek's "The wind's abode": "Not a political perspective, but a counterpoint of poetry, and the beauty of nature"](https://rayaagency.org/2025/01/deutschlandfunk-reviews-yazbeks-the-winds-abode-not-a-political-perspective-but-a-counterpoint-of-poetry-and-the-beauty-of-nature/) - By Von Dina Netz, for Deutschlandfunk, September 9th, 2024 (...) Like Kafka's Gregor Samsa, Ali wakes up at the beginning of the book, lying under a tree and unable to move. While Ali tries to get his bearings, memories of his life before the military return. Samar Yazbek lets her novel oscillate between the narrative
- [Samar Yazbek's "Where the wind calls home" is a finalist to the National Book Award 2024!](https://rayaagency.org/2024/10/samar-yazbeks-where-the-wind-calls-home-is-a-finalist-to-the-national-book-award-2024/)
- [Elias Khoury (1948 - 2024)](https://rayaagency.org/2024/09/elias-khoury-1948-2024/) - Elias Khoury left us on the morning of September 15th. He had been in great pain since July 2023, when he suffered from ischemia. Miraculously, he survived with the superhuman support of his family and the incredible, unwavering strength of his own will. “Unwavering” is perhaps the word that best characterizes Elias. He was unwavering
- [Samar Yazbek's "Where the wind calls home" is longlisted to the National Book Award 2024](https://rayaagency.org/2024/09/samar-yazbeks-where-the-wind-calls-home-is-longlisted-to-the-national-book-award-2024/) - Samar Yazbek's "Where the wind calls home" (or The wind's abode) was longlisted to the National Book Award on September 10, 2024!Amongst the 10 longlisted authors, Samar Yazbek is the only author to have been recognized by the award before. While Leri Price, the translator is among three translators to have been previously listed for
- [A Long Walk From Gaza: an unflinching look at the painful reality of life in Palestine](https://rayaagency.org/2024/09/a-long-walk-from-gaza-an-unflinching-look-at-the-painful-reality-of-life-in-palestine/) - Publishers Weekly reviews "A Long Walk From Gaza", May 2024 Alatawna debuts with a harrowing look at a Palestinian woman’s lifelong struggle for liberation. The nonlinear narrative begins in the early 2000s with the unnamed protagonist attempting to secure asylum in Toulouse, France, where she’s treated poorly but not as badly as she was in
- [In Conversation with Samar Yazbek: 'The World Needs Sincerity and Empathy'](https://rayaagency.org/2024/08/in-conversation-with-samar-yazbek-the-world-needs-sincerity-and-empathy/) - Maki Hoshii, in Asahi Shimbun Digital, on June 17, 2024 Amid the ongoing civil war in the Middle East, Syrian writer Samar Yazbek, visited Japan and gave a lecture in Tokyo on the 16th. She spoke about her newly translated book, the situation in her homeland Syria, and the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza
- [Yazbek, about confronting violence with fantasy and imagination - Mainichi, Japan](https://rayaagency.org/2024/08/yazbek-about-confronting-violence-with-fantasy-and-imagination-mainichi-japan/) - "Bookshelf of the Week, Ask the Author", by Hideyuki Tanabe for Mainichi Newspaper, published on July 20th, 2024 Samar Yazbek, The blue pen (A planet of Clay), Syria, 2013 Translated by Ayumi Yanagiya Confronting violence with imagination. Syria in 2013, during the civil war. The daily life of oppression and violence is depicted in the
- [Writing under air raids: Thinking about the (im)possibility of literature based on Samar Yazbek's "Blue pen"](https://rayaagency.org/2024/08/writing-under-air-raids-thinking-about-the-impossibility-of-literature-based-on-samar-yazbeks-blue-pen/) - Blog post written by MIZOKAWA Takami, Japanese student of literature, and published "On August 15, 2024, the day Japan pledged never to wage war again" Novels, especially full-length novels, are not universally possible. You can't write a full-length novel while being bombed, and reading one would be difficult. As far as I know, there are
- [Syrian Civil War Novel: Samar Yazbek on "Using Literature to Combat Violence"](https://rayaagency.org/2024/08/syrian-civil-war-novel-samar-yazbek-on-using-literature-to-combat-violence/) - Reika Mihara reviews for Nikkei on July 5th, 2024 In June, Syrian-born author Samar Yazbek visited Japan. Her novel The Blue Pen (translated by Ayumi Yanagiya and published by Hakusuisha), which has recently been translated into Japanese, is based on the chemical weapons attack that took place in August 2013 in the Eastern Ghouta area,
- ["A book you need to read": "the reason I kept reading was because the beautiful writing was so startling" - Webdoku, Japan, reviews Yazbek's "The crossing"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/11/a-book-you-need-to-read-the-reason-i-kept-reading-was-because-the-beautiful-writing-was-so-startling-webdoku-japan-reviews-yazbeks-the-crossing/) - Webdoku, November 2022 When classifying literature, one may wonder whether the criterion should be place of origin, current place of residence, language, or ethnicity... The novels one reads in the process make one marvel at the fact that there are places where what one takes for granted is not, and teaches one that human activities
- [Yazbek's "Blue pen" is published in Japan: Some reactions from Japanese readers](https://rayaagency.org/2024/08/yazbeks-blue-pen-is-published-in-japan-some-reactions-from-japanese-readers/) - "A girl from Syria in 2013 speaks to me, over and over, urging me to imagine, to ponder, to reflect. The expression "people don’t die, they disappear" (or rather, this reality), and how her world infinitely expanded through books and paintings, slowly and deeply moved me. " "The delicate continuity, like scales, feels as pure as
- [Yazbek's "Blue Pen": Powerful questions from Syria](https://rayaagency.org/2024/08/yazbeks-blue-pen-powerful-questions-from-syria/) - Masayuki Yamauchi reviews "The blue pen" ((Planet of Clay) by Samar Yazbek for News Post Seven, on July 11th, 2024The tragedy of the Syrian civil war tends to be forgotten, overshadowed by the Gaza War. Samar Yazbek has crafted a psychological novel that intricately explores the complexities of the Syrian civil war, using the incident
- [Japanese praise of Yazbek's "Planet of clay" (or Blue pen), in the influential Shukan Kinyobi magazine](https://rayaagency.org/2024/08/japanese-praise-of-yazbeks-planet-of-clay-or-blue-pen-in-the-influential-shukan-kinyobi-magazine/) - Kai Nagase reviews "Planet of Clay" (The blue pen) by Samar Yazbek for Shukan Kinyobi, on July 19th, 2024 Below is an excerpt from the critic's blog. Samar Yazbek is a writer who is well aware of how difficult it is to talk about and portray a complex world, but has never fallen into the
- [Two poems for Palestine, by Sinan Antoon](https://rayaagency.org/2024/07/two-poems-for-palestine-by-sinan-antoon/) - Archeology He is not an archeologistHe was once a confectionerBut now he squats in front of his houseThe house is not an archeological siteIt is only nine years oldBut a hundred days agoIt became a relicHe does not know the names of the bonesBut he knows who they belong toHe wipes off the dirtand the
- [Yazbek's Where the wind calls home: "On Translating ‘Small, Shining Moments of Crystalline Beauty’ - Read translator Leri Price's interview!](https://rayaagency.org/2024/06/yazbeks-where-the-wind-calls-home-on-translating-small-shining-moments-of-crystalline-beauty-read-translator-leri-prices-interview/) - An interview by Tugrul Mende, for ArabLit, June 12, 2024 Earlier this year, World Editions published Samar Yazbek’s Where The Wind Calls Home, translated by Leri Price. It centers a young soldier as he lays dying from his wounds; we witness his memories and see through his perspective, getting to know him better with each page. Here, Price discusses
- [ELF Publishing](https://rayaagency.org/2024/03/elf-publishing/) - ELF Publishing is the publishing venture of the Emirates Literature Foundation, started in 2021.It is dedicated to publishing remarkable Emirati and UAE based voices, to contribute to the creation of a local and diverse, yet common narrative. This project is unique, in the sense that it embrace the particularities of the Emirati society, and is
- [Kateb Maktub](https://rayaagency.org/2022/03/kateb-maktub/) - This project by the Emirates Literature Foundation, aimed at increasing the digital visibility of Arab authors. Ultimately, the goal was to multiply the number of Wikipedia pages about Arab authors, in both Arabic and English. We worked together with the foundation, to scope the project, determine the milestones to reach the targets within deadlines, look
- [Kitab Sawti](https://rayaagency.org/2021/01/kitab-sawti/) - Kitab Sawti is one of the first Arabic audiobooks streaming platforms in the Arab region, along with its main competitor Storytel. Together, these two companies, the largest in the region, have built the audiobook market. RAYA agency's consulting services were sought to work on attributing metadata, following ONIX standards, to their audio publications. Metadata is
- [Dar al saqi](https://rayaagency.org/2011/06/dar-al-saqi/) - Andre Gaspar and May Ghoussoub, two friends, founded Al-Saqi Bookshop in London in 1979, the first bookstore in the United Kingdom selling a wide and important selection of Arabic books. In 1982, they also started providing English-language books related to the Middle East, and the following year witnessed the launch of Saqi books, an English
- [Naufal (Hachette Antoine)](https://rayaagency.org/2020/10/naufal-hachette-antoine/) - Hachette Antoine (2009) is a prominent Lebanese publisher jointly owned by Hachette Livre (50%) and Librairie Antoine (50%), a bookstore established in 1933. Hachette Antoine publishes works in translation by authors such as J.K. Rowling, Mary Higgins Clark, Harlan Coben and Guillaume Musso, licensed works such as Disney, Paw Patrol, etc., as well as textbooks.The Naufal imprint
- [Democracy in the (Arab) World](https://rayaagency.org/2024/05/democracy-in-the-arab-world/) - "The problematics of democracy in the Arab World"[1] is an essay by Syrian intellectual and thinker George Tarabishi, published by Dar al saqi in the collection "Hartaqat", pp 9-18, and translated with permission from Dar al saqi, by William Tamplin. This translation is published with permission from Dar al saqi and William Tamplin on RAYA
- ["Selamlik, a starling powerful novel" by Khaled Alesmael](https://rayaagency.org/2024/05/selamlik-a-starling-powerful-novel-by-khaled-alesmael/) - Khaled Alesmael's debut novel "Selamlik" was recently released in the UK and US! Below a review. A review by Qisetna, May 2024 Selamlik by Khaled Alesmael is a haunting exploration of identity, love, and survival amidst the backdrop of political turmoil in Syria. Through the lens of Furat, a young man navigating both his homosexuality
- [Bay Area Reporter "Beautifully written... immersive, erotic and memorable novel" - Alesamel's "Selamlik"](https://rayaagency.org/2024/05/bay-area-reporter-beautifully-written-immersive-erotic-and-memorable-novel-alesamels-selamlik/) - This beautifully written novel chronicles the life of Furat, a twenty something queer Syrian man who escapes his homeland of Aleppo in search of true liberation and the wonderous possibilities of desire and love. Alesmael's tone and language is consistently smooth and lushly descriptive as the story begins when Furat is in his first year
- ["Trobades & Premis Mediterannis Albert Camus" selects Samar Yazbek as a finalist to their prestigious award](https://rayaagency.org/2024/03/trobades-premis-mediterannis-albert-camus-selects-samar-yazbek-as-a-finalist-to-their-prestigious-award/) - The jury of the IV Premi Mediterrani Albert Camus —chaired by Javier Gomá, current director of the Juan March Foundation, and also formed by N'Gone Fall, independent curator; Miquel Molina, writer and journalist; José Luis Pérez Pont, critic and museum director; and Anne Prouteau, president of the Society for Camusian Studies — has selected Samar
- ["I love the world in Arabic": Samar Yazbek and her translator Leri Price interviewed by Alex Tan, Asymptote](https://rayaagency.org/2024/03/i-love-the-world-in-arabic-samar-yazbek-and-her-translator-leri-price-interviewed-by-alex-tan-asymptote/) - Asymptote, March 21, 2024 Samar Yazbek’s Where the Wind Calls Home is a poetic rumination that shifts through the land of the dead and of the living, between thinking and intuiting, and from the vast destructions of war to its intimate, embodied experience. In taking us to the “other” side—that of the military—in Syria’s unsparing civil war,
- ["Death... It is the way in which he dances around it, approaches it, moves away from it, revels in it, that is mesmerizing" "A masterpiece" - Transfuge's wonderful review of Douaihy's Poison in the air](https://rayaagency.org/2024/02/it-is-the-way-he-dances-around-it-approaches-it-moves-away-from-it-revels-in-it-that-mesmerizes-a-masterpiece-transfuges-wonderful-review-of-douaihys-poison-in-the-air/) - By Damien Aubel, for Transfuge, January 2024Lebanon Blues Is it the winter temperatures that paralyze my analytical faculties on the day I write this review? Be that as it may, apart from the debilitating repetitive use of the adjective "wonderful," and a few synonyms ("beautiful," "enchanting"), it seems that language has deserted me. Also, what
- [Yazbek's "Where the wind calls home" is out in English! - "This slim novel packs a punch",  Publishers' Weekly](https://rayaagency.org/2024/02/yazbeks-where-the-wind-calls-home-is-out-in-english-this-slim-novel-packs-a-punch-publishers-weekly/) - [Released in February 2024, by World Editions. Translated by Leri Price] Publishers Weekly, February 2024 The potent latest from Yazbek weighs the consequences of the Syrian civil war after a 19-year-old soldier, Ali, survives his patrol station’s 2013 bombing in the Lattakia mountains. Covered in debris, Ali struggles to regain his bearings and then attempts
- ["Evocative" - Kirkus Reviews on Yazbek's "Where the wind calls home"](https://rayaagency.org/2024/02/evocative-kirkus-reviews-on-yazbeks-where-the-wind-calls-home/) - Kirkus Reviews, February 2024 A wounded Syrian soldier reflects on his life and times. In this compact, stream-of-consciousness narrative, 19-year-old Ali, a conscript in the Syrian Army fighting in the civil war that’s ravaged the country for more than a decade, lingers between life and death after a bomb accidentally falls on the position he
- ["Yazbek’s lyrical storytelling and Leri Price’s wistful translation paint pain, the nuisance of emotions, and the subtle ways war obstructs life with incredible tact and skill" - The New Arab about "Where the wind calls home"](https://rayaagency.org/2024/02/yazbeks-lyrical-storytelling-and-leri-prices-wistful-translation-paint-pain-the-nuisance-of-emotions-and-the-subtle-ways-war-obstructs-life-with-incredible-tact-and-skill-the/) - Noshin Bokth, for The New Arab, February, 2024 Samar Yazbek is one of the few writers who have been able to craft with profound acuity the insidious ways in which violence and trauma rip apart people's lives and minds. In her latest book, Where The Wind Calls Home, the reader is transported into the final hours of
- ["Magnificent yet pessimistic", "clear, economical, and restrained writing" - Le Monde reviews Douaihy's "Poison in the air"](https://rayaagency.org/2024/02/magnificent-yet-pessimistic-clear-economical-and-restrained-writing-le-monde-reviews-douaihys-poison-in-the-air/) - Richard Jacquemond, for Le Monde, January 16, 2024 "Poison in the air’ from Jabbour Douaihy: a funeral song for Lebanon.[ Released in France, by Sindbad, Actes Sud, in January 2024. Translated by Stephanie Dujols ] The magnificent yet pessimistic last novel of the Lebanese writer, who passed away in 2021. Published in Beirut a few
- ["Dark and elegiac beauty" - Le Courier de l'Atlas reviews Douaihy's Poison in the air](https://rayaagency.org/2024/02/dark-and-elegiac-beauty-le-courier-de-latlas-reviews-douaihys-poison-in-the-air/) - Le courier de l’atlas Fiction as an Antidote Every country has its scourges. Lebanon, as a whole, faces the evils of corruption and creeping impoverishment. Jabbour Douaihy, who passed away in 2021, has always been at the forefront of Lebanese novelists in taking the pulse of a comatose country. His latest novel, which has all
- ["There is no doubt that in imagining his character, so disconcerting, so unsettling, so definitively amoral, Jabbour Douaihy thought of Meursault, whom Albert Camus made his "Stranger"" - Read Le Telegramme's review of Douaihy's Poison in the air](https://rayaagency.org/2024/02/there-is-no-doubt-that-in-imagining-his-character-so-disconcerting-so-unsettling-so-definitively-amoral-jabbour-douaihy-thought-of-meursault-whom-albert-camus-made-his-stranger-read-le/) - By Stephane Bugat, for Le Telegramme, January 28, 2024 “Poison in the air” a Lebanon of apocalypse" First impressions, whatever one may say, are often deceptive. Thus, one prepares to discover Jabbour Douaihy's novel as a look at Lebanon, knowing how much its internal ruptures have led it towards an abyss from which the country
- [Rima's colors turn the "gas and dust cloud... into a colorful blooming flower" - Yeni Safak reviews Yazbek's "Blue pen"](https://rayaagency.org/2024/02/rimas-colors-turn-the-gas-and-dust-cloud-into-a-colorful-blooming-flower-yeni-safak-reviews-yazbeks-blue-pen/) - Arzu Sahin, for Yeni Safak, January, 2024 [Ketebe Yayinlari, Turkiye, releases Samar Yazbek's "The blue pen" or "Planet of clay", in January 2024. Translated by Mehtap Ozer Isovic] The children of war tied to life by a thread of cotton. "Planet of the clay" tells the story of a girl who seeks refuge in her
- ["Sensitive" "Tribute to the cultural richness of a region ravaged by war" - Politis reviewed Douaihy's "Poison in the air"](https://rayaagency.org/2024/02/sensitive-tribute-to-the-cultural-richness-of-a-region-ravaged-by-war-politis-reviewed-douaihys-poison-in-the-air/) - Lucas Sarafian, for Politis, January 17, 2024 Jabbour Douaihy recounts his Lebanon The latest novel by the Lebanese writer, who passed away in 2021, tells of a shattered destiny and pays tribute to the cultural richness of a region ravaged by war. While war is commonly treated as a geopolitical issue, it is too often
- [Orient XXI reviews Antoon's "Of loss and lavender" - casting a "sharp eye" on the myth of the acceptance of the Other](https://rayaagency.org/2024/02/orient-xxi-reviews-antoons-of-loss-and-lavender-casting-a-sharp-eye-on-the-myth-of-the-acceptance-of-the-other/) - Dalia Chams, for Orient XXI, 2024 Iraq. The Memory of the Vanquished In his new novel Khuzama, Iraqi writer Sinan Antoon tells the respective trajectories of two Iraqi exiles in the United States, retraced in fragments and in the form of intertwined destinies. Their parallel journeys and their relationships with their homeland contribute to a
- [We know a good book when we see one!](https://rayaagency.org/2008/02/we-know-good-book-when-we-see-one/) - We are very proud to inform you that three of our authors are finalists to the most prestigious Arab literary prize ever: "In praise of hatred", by Khaled Khalifa, Syria, "June rain", by Jabbour Douaihy, Lebanon "The land of Purgatory", by Elias Farkouh, Jordan
- [Reporting back from Frankfurt](https://rayaagency.org/2008/10/reporting-back-from-frankfurt/) - Specially noticeable this year in Hall 5 was the presence of the ADACH's, the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage Foundation, and the MBR's, the Mohammad Bin Rached al Maktoum foundation, Dubai, bold stands.
- [Douaihy's Ayn Warda appeared in French](https://rayaagency.org/2009/01/douaihys-ayn-warda-appeared-in-french/) - Jabbour Douaihy's novel 'Ayn Warda' appeared in January 2009 in French under the title 'Rose Fountain Motel', translated by Emmanuel Varlet, and published by Sindbad, Actes Sud. On a visit to Paris, Jabbour Douaihy will give a seminar on his latest novel June Rain. The seminar, held at 46 Rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, on Jaunary 16th, at 18h, will focus on the relationship between history and fiction.
- [Reporting back from Abu Dhabi Book Fair](https://rayaagency.org/2009/03/reporting-back-from-abu-dhabi-book-fair/) - The Abu Dhabi Book Fair, organized by Kitab, a joint venture between ADACH and the Frankfurt Book Fair, has gathered exhibitors from across the Arab world this year. The presence of US, UK, German, Indian and French publishers should also be noted. The fair coincided with both the Sheikh Zayed Award and the Arab Man
- [Ed Nowatka's piece on RAYA agency](https://rayaagency.org/2009/03/ed-nowatkas-piece-on-raya-agency/) - RAYA, a Literary Agency for Arabic Writers 19/03/2009 It is common practice at any large international book fair to find booths taken by literary agencies. The practice was unseen in Abu Dhabi until this year, when Yasmina Jraissati took a space to promote her new literary agency RAYA [Booth 3G02], which works exclusively with Arabic-speaking
- [Reporting back from the BEA](https://rayaagency.org/2009/06/reporting-back-from-the-bea/) - Frankfurt 2004, London 2008, BEA 2009 all three international events featured the 'Arab world' as a focus - not to mention the Turin 2009 fair, which a couple of years after turning into an international event had Egypt as a guest of honor. The least we can say is that the 'Arab world' is getting
- [Arabic Publishing News: Iraq to Officially Censor Books](https://rayaagency.org/2009/09/iraq-to-officially-censor-books/) - The Iraqi Ministry of Culture has just taken the unexpected step of launching a program of official censorship of books imported from abroad. The new rule also applies to books published within Iraq, as publishers are required to obtain authorization before printing. Needless to say, this has provoked a hostile reaction from Iraqi publishers and
- [RAYA in Frankfurt book fair's daily!](https://rayaagency.org/2009/10/raya-in-frankfurt-book-fairs-daily/) - Frankfurt book fair had a new daily this year, 'Publishing Perspectives', keeping trade visitors updated with the latest news and tracking the buzz. Yasmina Jraissati, RAYA agency gave an interview, and presented mubtada wa khabar, the collaborative platform for the Arab book industry that will have its first launch on Friday October 23rd, at the
- [Reporting back from Beirut’s Francophone book fair](https://rayaagency.org/2009/11/reporting-back-from-beiruts-francophone-book-fair/) - The 16th edition of the Lebanese Francophone book fair was held in Beirut, at the BIEL exhibit center, from October 23rd through November 1st, and was particularly successful. In the context of Beirut World Book Capital 2009, France’s Ile-de-France department was this year’s guest of honor, featuring Parisian publishers, most of which are small independent
- [Books In Motion in NYU Alumni magazine](https://rayaagency.org/2010/05/nyu-alumni-magazine-talks-about-books-in-motion/) - TROUPING THROUGH LEBANON by André Tartar / GSAS ’10 Last July, a curious sight arose in Bint beil, a Lebanese town still halfstrewn with rubble from the Summer 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. As a crowd gathered, a man strutted about on stilts, while others balanced a giant replica of a book overhead and
- [Najwa Barakat's Workshop 'how to write a novel' makes it to the headlines](https://rayaagency.org/2010/09/najwa-barakats-workshop-how-to-write-a-novel-makes-it-to-the-headlines/) - Maya Ghandour wrote in the Lebanese francophone daily, L'Orient le jour, an article on the second session of Najwa Barakat's workshop 'Mohtaraf kayfa taktob riwaya'. Young talents from all over the Arab world, if you have a novel or other creative project, end of September 2010 is your deadline. Several projects will be chosen and
- [Najwa Barakat's workshop: Much needed](https://rayaagency.org/2010/09/najwa-barakats-workshop-much-needed/) - Najwa Barakat's Workshop 'how to write a novel', first of its kind in the Arab world, is being regularly covered by the press. This time, the workshop makes it as a headline on the main francophone Lebanese daily's first page. No doubt, Barakat's workshop is not going unnoticed. Barakat's explicit aim is to discover young
- [Arabic literature visible on the international scene?](https://rayaagency.org/2010/10/arabic-literature-visible-on-the-international-scene/) - As a literary agent specialized in representing Arabic literature for world translation rights, I am often asked how visible Arabic literature is on the international scene. This question most of the time translates into: ‘how many copies do books translated from the Arabic sell?’
- [Is it that there is more literary activities in the Arab world, or is it that they're gaining visibility ? - The Tayeb Saleh award for creative writing](https://rayaagency.org/2011/02/is-it-that-there-is-more-literary-activities-in-the-arab-world-the-tayeb-saleh-award-for-creative-writing/) - Is it that there is more literary activities in the Arab world, or is it that they're gaining visibility? For us readers and book professionals, it's all good news! The Sudanese Cultural Center Abdel Karim Mirghani has recently advertised the third edition of the Tayeb Saleh creative writing competition. Not only is it interesting that
- [Waiting for death - a testimony from Syria](https://rayaagency.org/2011/04/waiting-for-death-a-testimony-from-syria/) - I won’t say that I am calm now. I am truly silent. I listen to the beats of my heart like the echo of a distant explosion that is clearer than the sound of the bullets, than the shouts of the young, than the wailing of mothers. Clearer than the tremor in my mother’s voice when she implores me not to go out onto the street. By Samar Yazbek
- ["Metro" - The adventures of the Egyptian graphic novel](https://rayaagency.org/2011/04/metro-the-adventures-of-the-egyptian-graphic-novel/) - An Egyptian cartoonist who was arrested and had his graphic novel banned under Hosni Mubarak's regime is to be published in English. Magdy El Shafee wrote the graphic novel "Metro" in 2008. It was banned in his home country and El Shafee was convicted of offending public decency after a lengthy trial.
- [The Guardian: The revolution in Arabic fiction prefigures the Arab spring](https://rayaagency.org/2011/05/the-guardian-the-revolution-in-arabic-fiction-prefigures-the-arab-spring/) - Over the last decade, a new generation of Arabic novelists has been moving beyond the social realism of their predecessors to reach out to the world.
- [Masmoo3.com: Arab world’s first digital audio library](https://rayaagency.org/2011/05/arab-worlds-first-digital-audio-library/) - A local start-up is turning Arabic books into audio editions, seeking to create the Arab world's first digital audio library. Established only three months ago, Masmoo3 has already secured business deals with several local value-added service companies which will introduce its audio content locally and in the region through mobile operators and related websites.
- [The last day of PalFest: faith, literature and three kilograms of onions](https://rayaagency.org/2011/05/the-last-day-of-the-palestinian-festival-of-literature/) - It was the final day of the fourth Palestine Festival of Literature and I knew it was going to be a long day. I'm a student volunteer at the festival, and the closing event was to take place in the Silwan Solidarity Tent – a public meeting point in a deeply threatened neighbourhood of my city, Jerusalem – with more than twenty writers from all over the world.
- [Look out for Khaled Khalifa's 'In Praise of Hatred' in French, Italian and Dutch - in a bookstore near you](https://rayaagency.org/2011/05/look-out-for-khaled-khalifas-in-praise-of-hatred-in-french-italian-and-dutch-in-a-bookstore-near-you/) - Starting tomorrow, Thursday May 13, 2011, Khaled Khalifa is on a tour in Europe for the launch of his book 'In praise of hatred', coming out in three languages at the same time. Between 2008 and 2009, the book's rights had been sold in six languages. Two years later, the book is finally out in three of them: French (Sindbad, Actes Sud), Italian (Bompiani) and Dutch (De Geus), while we still eagerly wait for the English (Transworld, Random House), Spanish (Lumen, Random House) and Norwegian (Minuskel) versions to come out. Wandering what the reception the press and the readers will reserve to this dense and intense story, we can only be struck by the coincidence of the book's publication in the West and the current events in Syria. In praise of hatred is the story of the Syrian regime's repression of the Muslim brotherhood in 1982, told through the eyes of a religious and activist young woman. The protests started last March are the first time the Syrian people dare defy the regime so massively in thirty years.
- [Two men - Samar Yazbek testifies on her experience with the Syrian security apparatus](https://rayaagency.org/2011/08/two-men-samar-yazbek-testifies-on-her-experience-with-the-syrian-security-apparatus/) - Two huge men entered the room. They stood in readiness, in plainclothes. One of them stood to the right and the other to the left. With a signal from his eyes, each seized me by the shoulders, though not roughly. They seized me as if I were some object, easy for them to move. I did not resist when they started to lift me out of my chair.
- [Khalifa's voice from Damascus is being heard!](https://rayaagency.org/2012/02/khalifas-voice-from-damascus-is-being-heard/) - Two days ago, Khaled Khalifa sent me his address below in Arabic. He needed it to be translated into French and English for starters. His aim was for it to reach as many people as possible. Less than 48 hours later, I find his address on @arablit's blog, and I receive an e-mail from Transworld,
- [Writing in times of revolution - a pannel at AUB, Lebanon](https://rayaagency.org/2012/03/writing-in-times-of-revolution-a-pannel-et-aub-lebanon/) - On Monday evening, the American University of Beirut's West hall auditorium featured an impressive pannel of Arab authors, come from countries who have known, and are still knowing, uprisings: Tunisia, Syria, Bahrain, Yemen, Egypt, and Lebanon. Among the panelists were authors Khaled Khalifa and Kamal Al Riahi, from RAYA's list.
- [Khaled Khalifa's In praise of hatred is out in English! - At Transworld, Random house UK](https://rayaagency.org/2012/09/khaled-khalifas-in-praise-of-hatred-is-out-in-english-at-transworld-random-house-uk/) - Khaled Khalifa's In praise of hatred is now out in English! The book was also published by Bompiani (Italy), De Geus (Netherlands), Sindbad, Actes Sud (France), Minuskel (Norway), Lumen, Random House (Spain), and is to appear at Korridor (Denmark).
- [Selling Arabic fiction rights: it’s what’s inside that counts](https://rayaagency.org/2012/12/selling-arabic-fiction-rights-its-whats-inside-that-counts/) - When asked about the challenges of selling world translation rights of Arabic fiction, one’s first response is naturally always focused on the potential acquirers. It is a fact that Arabic is not widely read in the international publishing industry, and this indubitably has consequences on the access non-Arab publishers have to Arabic literature
- [Ibrahim Nasrallah comes back from Kilimandjaro: Read about this project in support of the Palestine Children's Relief Fund](https://rayaagency.org/2014/02/ibrahim-nasrallah-comes-back-from-kilimandjaro-read-about-this-project-in-support-of-the-palestine-childrens-relief-fund/) - With You They Will Climb The Mountain – With Them You Will Reach The Summit
- [Arabic literature: what acquiring editors should know - Commissionned by BookBrunch, November 2014](https://rayaagency.org/2014/12/arabic-literature-what-acquiring-editors-should-know-commissionned-by-bookbrunch-november-2014/) - In the spring of 2014, Ahmad Saadawi’s book Frankenstein in Baghdad was awarded the International Prize for Arab Fiction, also known as the Arab Booker. It is a novel of a kind quite different from the ones generally acclaimed by the public or by critics, and from those that have come to me for consideration
- [Moushabeck on the Sharjah International Book Fair - Publishers' Weekly](https://rayaagency.org/2014/12/moushabeck-on-the-sharjah-international-book-fair-publishers-weekly/) - Publishers Weekly, November 28th, 2014 Ever since I started Interlink Publishing 30 years ago, I’ve been a passionate advocate of literature in translation. Literature is universal, and great literature travels well. It can thrive at home, in exile, and, yes, in translation. So why do translated titles make up less than 3% of books published
- [Douaihy's "June rain" is out in Spanish!](https://rayaagency.org/2015/05/douaihys-june-rain-is-out-in-spanish/) - Jabbour Douaihy's novel "June rain" was acquired by Turner Libros. It was published this week. June rain was published in French (Actes Sud), English (Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation), Italian (Feltrinelli), German (Hanser), and will appear in Turkish soon. Visit the book's page on this website.
- [Hoda Barakat at Sharjah's International Book Fair:  ‘Genres are not of writers’ concern’](https://rayaagency.org/2015/11/hoda-barakat-at-sharjahs-international-book-fair-genres-are-not-of-writers-concern/) - Sharjah: It is not a writer’s job to categorise his or her book into any particular genre, it is for readers or critics to decide, a panel of Arab writers echoed during a literary session on the first evening of Sharjah International Book Fair 2015. In a session on similarities between literary genres, a panel
- [Douaihy in Le Monde des Livres: "The attacks of Paris: a deep stab in the back"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/11/douaihy-in-le-monde-des-livres-the-attacks-of-paris-a-deep-stab-in-the-back/) - By Jabbour Douaihy, for Le Monde des Livres, November 19th, 2015 Photo credit: La Croix We who, in the late 1970s, retreated, fleeing to Paris, during a first war, civil war among other things, which devastated Beirut and Lebanon as a whole, with its share of violence, where mere membership to a given community transformed men into targets. We who,
- [Sinan Antoon writes in The Guardian - About the Southwest airlines incident, and speaking Arabic](https://rayaagency.org/2016/04/sinan-antoon-writes-in-the-guardian-about-the-southwest-airlines-incident-and-speaking-arabic/) - Sinan Antoon wrote this piece for The Guardian, April 19th, 2016 There was a time when one could speak Arabic on a flight in the United States, or even read a book written in that language, without hesitation or the fear of suffering humiliating consequences. That time is long gone. Many colleagues and friends confess
- ["We are all corpses, waiting to die" - Iraqi novelist Sinan Antoon writes in the New York Times](https://rayaagency.org/2016/07/we-are-all-corpses-waiting-to-die-iraqi-novelist-sinan-antoon-writes-in-the-new-york-times/) - "Living With Death in Baghdad" This piece was written by Sinan Antoon, for the New York Times, published on July 20th, 2016 Excerpts below. When I was growing up in Baghdad, my favorite part of the city was Karrada, the neighborhood on the eastern bank of the Tigris where a bomb went off on July
- [Khalifa writes about being Syrian today in Spiegel: "The Syrians have no other hope but the sea"](https://rayaagency.org/2017/01/khalifa-writes-about-being-syrian-today-in-spiegel-the-syrians-have-no-other-hope-but-the-sea/) - My sister whom I have not seen for more than two years, told me over the phone that she would cross the ocean in a boat. Then she hung up. She did not want to hear my opinion. She contented herself with laying her three sons in the most emotional way if she were to
- [Khaled Khalifa: "Living in a void: Life in Damascus after the exodus"](https://rayaagency.org/2017/09/khaled-khalifa-living-in-a-void-life-in-damascus-after-the-exodus/) - This piece is taken from Refugees Worldwide, an anthology of writing commissioned as part of a project run by the International Literature Festival Berlin. Published in The Guardian on August 22, 2017 My sister, whom I haven’t seen for more than two years, told me she was going to cross the sea in a rubber
- [Sinan Antoon "Fifteen years ago, America destroyed my country" - New York Times OpEd contribution](https://rayaagency.org/2018/03/sinan-antoon-fifteen-years-ago-america-destroyed-my-country-new-york-times-oped-contribution/) - This original contribution by Sinan Antoon was published on March 19th, 2018, in The New York Times. When I was 12, Saddam Hussein, vice president of Iraq at the time, carried out a huge purge and officially usurped total power. I was living in Baghdad then, and I developed an intuitive, visceral hatred of the dictator early
- [This is not Beirut, by Elias Khoury, The Paris Review](https://rayaagency.org/2020/08/this-is-not-beirut-by-elias-khoury-the-paris-review/) - Photograph courtesy of © 2020 Marwan Chamaa A few minutes after 6:00pm, Beirut time, on August 4th, I received an all too familiar WhatsApp message from a friend "Family in Beirut ok?". I instantly knew what this meant: Something somewhere in Beirut must have exploded. I immediately go to Twitter, seeking an answer to my
- [Farewell Jabbour](https://rayaagency.org/2021/07/farewell-jabbour/) - As I sat, to write this post, I started searching for the best photo of you. The one I thought represented you most. And I ended up choosing the only one I never used. You emailed me a set of photographs to send out while promoting your work, back in 2014. "Which one do you prefer?"
- [Aziz Mohammed's The Critical Case of a Man Called K Finalist for 2021 Prix de La Littérature Arabe](https://rayaagency.org/2021/09/aziz-mohammeds-the-critical-case-of-a-man-called-k-finalist-for-2021-prix-de-la-litterature-arabe/) - ArabLit, 9 September 2021 Organizers announced the eight novels chosen for the Prix de La Littérature Arabe, a French prize that celebrates literature by Arab authors written in French or literature translated from Arabic to French: The prize, created in 2013 by the Jean-Luc Lagardère Foundation and the Arab World Institute, is now in its ninth year.
- [Hoda Barakat in Brazil](https://rayaagency.org/2021/10/hoda-barakat-in-brazil/) - Watch Hoda Barakat in conversation with Brazilian author Milton Hatoum, an event organized bu Tabla, Hoda Barakat's Brazialian publisher. This event focuses on Hoda Barakat's novel "The tiller of waters" Hoda Barakat and Milton Hattoum in conversation
- ["My country is chosen by the angel of death" - Khaled Khalifa, for Zeit Online](https://rayaagency.org/2023/03/khaled-khalifa-for-zeit-online/) - Published by Zeit Online, on February 15th, 2023, translated from the Arabic into German by Larissa Bender Below some excerpts in English, translated with the help of Google translate. Photo credit (c) Hassan Ammar / AP / Aleppo *** "I never thought that one day I would stand on the hilltop of the world and
- [Sinan Antoon writes about the US war on Iraq, twenty years and "a million lives" later](https://rayaagency.org/2023/03/sinan-antoon-writes-about-the-us-war-on-iraq/) - A million lives later, I cannot forgive what American terrorism did to my country, Iraq Sinan Antoon, for The Guardian, March 19th, 2023 In early 2003, I was living in Cairo and carrying out research for my doctoral dissertation on a famous Iraqi poet who lived in my hometown, Baghdad, in the 10th century. But
- [So long, Khaled](https://rayaagency.org/2023/10/khaled-khalifa-passed-away/) - My dearest Khaled, I heard a few hours ago that you were gone. But this cannot be true. You said you were coming to visit in November. I said we would have dinner at home. You said I should come to the show you are preparing for your paintings in Bahrain. I said why not!
- [What is the point of promoting Arabic literature, if it is to silence it once it is translated? - I stand with Adania Shibli](https://rayaagency.org/2023/10/what-is-the-point-of-promoting-arabic-literature-if-it-is-to-silence-it-once-it-is-translated-i-stand-with-adania-shibli/) - The Frankfurt Book Fair unfolds as we speak, yet many professionals of the book industry, like myself, have decided to withdraw, and more still have signed open letters. This one, put together by Marcia Lynx Qualey and Olivia Snaij, has to date gathred over 600 signatures by some of the most intellectual prestigious names of
- ["Afterwords" - For Gaza's children - a poem by Sinan Antoon](https://rayaagency.org/2023/11/sinan-antoon-for-gazas-children/) - A poem by Sinan Antoon, published in Al-quds, 21 October 2023, and in its English translation by Sinan Antoon, published by Words Without Borders on November 14th 2023 Afterwords [For Gaza’s children] My father’s warm palms shielded my ears. I could hear his blood racing in his veins. As if being chased by the bombs falling
- [Amerka!](https://rayaagency.org/2010/09/amerka/) - Amérka ! Rabih Jaber, Amerka Dar al Adab, Al markaz al thaqafi al arabi, Beirut, 2009, 430 pages. Reviewed by Yasmina Jraissati, published in L'Agenda Culturel, Beirut.
- [Shopping spree at Sharjah International Book Fair - who said Arabs don't read?](https://rayaagency.org/2010/10/shopping-spree-at-sharjah-international-book-fair-who-said-arabs-dont-read/) - By the year 2002, two key studies linking Arab human development to the book industry had been published: The UNESCO report on Arab book production and the Arab Human Development Report, ADHR. Both reports are alarming regarding the small volume of the production (1.1% of the world production although Arabs constitute 5% of the world's
- [Why was there an Arabic day on twitter yesterday? #ArabicDay](https://rayaagency.org/2010/11/why-was-there-an-arabic-day-on-twitter-yesterday-arabicday/) - During a meeting with an Emirati young free-lance journalist, it struck me as being potentially true: Arabic language is threatened by the weakness of its presence and usefulness on the web. I thought this reality to be limited to Lebanon, where due to the private schooling system, teaching of Arabic is notoriously unfit. Visibly it
- [Following up on Sharjah book fair #SHJIB](https://rayaagency.org/2010/11/following-up-on-sharjah-book-fair-shjib/) - According to Ahmad Bin Rakad Al Amri, Sharjah Book Fair's director, the 12 day long exhibition received 500,000 visitors this year, and made sales for 133 million AED, that is approximately 36,222,000 USD. Figures published in Gulf News. Looking forward to next year's edition, where the fair director says more room is to be made
- [Hello Babylone, long time no see](https://rayaagency.org/2011/02/hello-babylone-long-time-no-see/) - I finally got a hold of Lamia Ziade's book, 'Bye bye Babylone'. I had been looking forward to buying it since last September, having seen some of the book's spreads before its publication. I had immediately spotted some images on the spreads that felt so familiar: the Beirut Corniche, but mainly the hand grenade, Kalashnikov,
- [Who is the author of this book of tweets?](https://rayaagency.org/2011/03/who-is-the-author-of-this-book-of-tweets/) - On the eve of their fifth birthday, Twitter published some remarkable stats. On average per day: 140 million tweets and 460,000 new accounts. Without a doubt, we are living interesting times. The dematerialization of cultural products is in the process of revolutionizing the notion of “book”. User generated content, online publishing tools and mostly social media are empowering individuals both in the virtual world and on the streets, and appear to be in the process of revolutionizing the notion of “authorship”. Written for and published by Publishing perspectives, @pubperspectives
- ["Thus spoke Che Nawwarah" by Rakha, at The Kenyon Review](https://rayaagency.org/2013/02/thus-spoke-che-nawwarah-by-rakha-at-the-kenyon-review/) - "Fear not, gentle spy: I won’t tell you my life story. The important thing is that, like many Egyptians, I’ve spent years pretending to study at a place pretending to be a college that is, in fact, a temple Kafka might have imagined, where priests of social climbing hand out certificates of status to acolytes, granting passage. Totally fucked up. Either you join the mafia of the college-educated or you are cored for life—an apple, yes, to be consumed by the respectable. With the result that standards have been dropping steeply for sixty years, and not just standards of respectability. Like many cyber-activists, who are all dependent on their parents, I attended an expensive private school where I learned my English. Unlike them I’ve always enjoyed reading books in that language, in case you’re wondering how I know things that have nothing to do with either career or country."
- [Khalifa's "In praise of hatred" is on the long list of the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize](https://rayaagency.org/2013/03/khalifas-in-praise-of-hatred-on-the-lonlist-of-the-independent-foreign-fiction-prize/) - First awarded in 1990 to Orhan Pamuk and translator Victoria Holbrook for The White Castle, the Prize ran until 1995 and was then revived in 2000 with the support of Arts Council England, who continue to fund the award. The 2012 prize was won by Aharon Appelfeld and translator Jeffrey M Green for Blooms of Darkness. Khaled Khalifa's In Praise of Hatred, banned in Syria, has made the longlist for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize 2013.
- [An excerpt from Mostafa Khalifa's "The shell" featured in Asymptote](https://rayaagency.org/2014/01/an-excerpt-from-mostafa-khalifas-the-shell-featured-in-asymptote/) - Mental writing is a technique developed by the Islamists. One of them would memorize more than ten thousand names, names of prisoners who had entered the desert prison, names of their families, the cities and villages they came from, dates they were arrested, their sentences, their fates... When I decided to keep these diaries, I tried to train my mind. I transformed it into a cassette tape, on which I recorded everything I saw, and some of what I heard. Now, I am playing back some of what that tape contains.
- [The Atlantic publishes "Requiem for a suicide bomber" - By Youssef Rakha,](https://rayaagency.org/2014/02/the-atlantic-publishes-requiem-for-a-suicide-bomber-by-youssef-rakha/) - Of the hundreds of news items that cite your name, Mohammed Hamdan (Abu Hajar) al-Sawarka, none gives your age or personal details. It’s hard to believe you are older than 17. “Abu Hajar” suggests you already have a daughter, named after the wife of the prophet Ibrahim according to Muslim custom. But if that is the case she can’t be more than a few years old; it wouldn’t surprise me if you married right after puberty. Under the circumstances, of course, those who condemn you do not bother to account for your good looks, the mildness of your manner, or the child’s warmth in your smile—an earnestness that makes sincerity irrelevant, so ingenuous is your willingness to die.
- [Rakha featured in The White Review: "Hoarseness: A legend of contemporary Cairo"](https://rayaagency.org/2014/06/rakha-featured-in-the-white-review-hoarseness-a-legend-of-contemporary-cairo/) - "With a grimy towel, another troll is making a show of wiping your windscreen so you’d have to hand over some coins while the traffic stalls. You blow your horn preemptively to tell him you’re not interested. And, as he spits on the tyre, shuffling menacingly before he moves on, you suddenly see how little ‘revolution’ has affected the ugliness that while not necessarily brought about, was definitely uncovered by Sadat. You see it in the pollution and the garbage, the pointless and hopeless rush, the hawk- and leech-like behaviour of peddlers, the impossibly inconsiderate attitude of drivers to one another, the chaos, the deafening microphones playing bad shaabi and Quran, the ultimate paralysis of motion. It’s ugliness that Mubarak – busy managing terrorists, then hogging the yield of slow privatisation à la crony capitalism – made no effort to control. But had he done, would it have made much difference?"
- [Sinan Antoon on Ya Maryam: Fiction or not fiction?](https://rayaagency.org/2014/10/sinan-antoon-on-ya-maryam-fiction-or-not-fiction/) - Both Maha and Yusif are not real people. They are characters in Ya Maryam, the novel I started writing after the attack against Sayyidat al-Najat in 2010 and published in Arabic in 2012. But there are hundreds of thousands of real Mahas and Yusifs.
- [Leading writers respond to the refugee crisis in The Guardian - read Yazbek's contribution](https://rayaagency.org/2015/09/leading-writers-respond-to-the-refugee-crisis-in-the-guardian-read-yazbeks-contribution/) - This collection of texts was commissioned and published by The Guardian, on September 12th 2015. Photo credit: Ed Alcock, MYOP Diffusion, The Guardian, The refugee crisis, though long in the news, has suddenly captured the world’s attention. But what are the underlying causes, and what should individuals and governments do to help? Samar Yazbek responded (below) - along with Orhan Pamuk,
- [About Dujols, translator of Beavers, and American neighborhood](https://rayaagency.org/2016/03/about-dujols-translator-of-beavers-and-american-neighborhood/) - Olivia Snaije writes a portrait of Dujols, for Publishing Perspectives, January 2016 Arabic literature is notoriously difficult to translate — not only for the complexity of the language but also for the variety of dialects and the challenge of making the prose accessible to Western readers. Arabic literary translators are few and far between, and
- [Samar Yazbek featured in the BBC's new show, the Cultural Frontline](https://rayaagency.org/2016/03/samar-yazbek-featured-in-the-bbcs-new-show-the-cultural-frontline/) - Listen to her piece on the website of the Cultural Frontline, where Arts and news collide. ‘The human body was a weapon’ Syrian writer Samar Yazbek on the public dances of revolution and protest which took place at the beginning of her country’s civil war. Read by Alia Alzougbi. Photo Credit: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty
- [Khaled Khalifa "Syria is more than the image of a drowned child"](https://rayaagency.org/2016/04/khaled-khalifa-syria-is-more-than-the-image-of-a-drowned-child/) - Below is an excerpt of a piece Khaled Khalifa wrote for Corriere della sera, March 2016 During my trip from Damascus to Boston, I found myself reflecting on Syria, giving it one last look. I imagined it calm, and strong; it made me think of so many things. Before leaving it for a whole year,
- [Samar Yazbek's new book 'In her mirrors'](https://rayaagency.org/2010/09/samar-yazbeks-new-book-in-her-mirrors/) - Samar Yazbek, author of 'Clay' and 'Cinnamon', has very recently published 'In her mirrors', that RAYA agency also represents for world translation rights. Set in 2000 Syria in a 24 hour time frame, 'In her mirrors' has something of a modern Greek tragedy, telling the passionate love story that takes place between Laila, young beautiful
- [Palestinian Festival of Literature](https://rayaagency.org/2010/11/palestinian-festival-of-literature/) - It is with great excitement that I discovered the existence of the Palestinian Festival of Literature -although I also found out the Festival has been on since 2009 and had received a huge press coverage. The aim of the festival is to bring world class cultural events to Palestinian cities, giving Palestinian youth access to
- [Aal'a al Aswani on Egypt: 'there is no turning back'](https://rayaagency.org/2011/02/aala-al-aswani-there-is-no-turning-back/) - On Sunday evening, a crowd of about one hundred expatriates, foreign journalists and Anglophone Egyptians congregated between the bookshelves of the AUC Press Bookstore overlooking Tahrir Square to congratulate internationally acclaimed novelist and writer Alaa al-Aswany on the launch of his latest book, “On the State of Egypt: A Novelist’s Provocative Reflections.” The book is a selection of al-Aswany’s weekly columns published in translation and is accompanied by an introductory leaflet entitled “On Tahrir Square, February 2011.”
- [Abu Dhabi's 21st book fair starts today, March 15th 2011](https://rayaagency.org/2011/03/abu-dhabis-21st-book-fair-starts-today-march-15th-2011/) - Abu Dhabi's international book fair opens its doors today. The 21st edition of the fair features a cultural focus on France and a market focus on Korea.
- [Samar Yazbek's Damascene Diaries](https://rayaagency.org/2011/04/samar-yazbeks-damascene-diaries/) - (April 1, 2011) Security patrols swarm through the streets; they are everywhere I go. Cars coming and going; speeding then slowing down. Huge buses of security men wearing helmets and military uniforms are spreading through the markets, squares, major intersections and places where there might be demonstrations. Men in civilian clothes are gathering; their heavy presence exposes them. How did I learn to tell the difference between a security officer and an ordinary man in Damascus? It’s hard to tell when I first started to play this game; when my instincts first outpaced questions and words. I know them from their eyes. From the way their wear their clothes. From their shoes. There are more security men than ordinary people on the streets today, in the alleys, in front of stalls, in the squares, in front of schools. Everywhere I go, the security men are there.
- [Mubtada wa khabar, collaborative platform for information on Arab books is online!](https://rayaagency.org/2013/11/mubtada-wa-khabar-collaborative-platform-for-information-on-arab-books-is-online/) - I first thought of this project in a random conversation with Nadim Tarazi, a friend who owned my favorite bookshop in Beirut in the 1990s, and now runs "La Maison du livre", association for book professionals. He was visiting Paris where I then lived. It was the winter of 2006. I had been a literary agent specialized in Arabic literature for two years, and was struggling to find independent information on books. This is where the realization of a need for more information on Arab books, as well as for quality standards, stemmed from.
- [Guernica magazine draws a portrait of Khaled Khalifa](https://rayaagency.org/2013/11/guernica-magazine-draws-a-portrait-of-khaled-khalifa/) - Khaled always entered first and greeted the customers sitting at tables near the door. He bent down, kissed the men, flirted with the women, and strutted to where Nabil, Qasabji’s owner, had cleaned a spot for us. He ordered either a glass of arak or the local Damascene beer, Barada, pulled a cigarette from his pack, lit it, and added to the purplish haze of smoke.
- [Hilary Plum interviews Youssef Rakha in 'Music and Literature'](https://rayaagency.org/2015/03/hilary-plum-interviews-youssef-rakha-in-music-and-literature/) - Below is an excerpt, read the whole interview here. (...) Youssefl Rakha: I go on about this so as to put you in the picture: the nineties, when I started showing my writing to people—that’s when the clash between younger prose poets and older guardians of the poetic ancien régime took place. This is partly
- [Watch Yazbek talking about The Crossing, Frontline Club](https://rayaagency.org/2015/07/watch-yazbek-talking-about-the-crossing-frontline-club/) - Watch on youtube! Yazbek: "Isis kills 10 people, and the world is outraged. Asad kills thousands, and the world watches in silence". From the Frontline club website: Samar Yazbek was a well-known journalist, presenter on Syrian television and a celebrated novelist when she fell foul of the Assad regime, leaving her no choice but to flee. She
- [NRK about Alwan's "Beavers": "Whoever is looking for exoticism will be disappointed with this novel"!](https://rayaagency.org/2015/09/nrk-about-alwans-beavers-whoever-is-looking-for-exoticism-will-be-disappointed-with-this-novel/) - Marta Norheim published this review in NRK, on December 2014. Photo credit: Cappelen Damm "Whoever is looking for exoticism, Arabian nights, rebellion against reports about violations of human rights, or Islamic studies will be disappointed with this novel. Ghalib is mostly captivated by his age, and by the fact that he cannot marry his lover, a woman he has loved
- [Aftenposten, Norway, interviews Yazbek](https://rayaagency.org/2015/10/aftenposten-norway-interviews-yazbek/) - Interview conducted by Margrethe Zacho Haarde for Aftenposten, published on September 25. Photo credit: Aftenposten (....) Samar Yazbek has written her fifth book, a literary narrative, The Crossing. Yazbek writes about Syrian families who have been displaced from their homes and hiding in cold, dark caves; children with amputated limbs who sit in the sun and play. She describes people who have had
- [Yazbek to Handelsblatt "Europe has picked the wrong fight"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/10/yazbek-to-handelsblatt-europe-has-picked-the-wrong-fight/) - This article was commissioned to the author by Handelsblatt, September 25, 2015 Things must seem a little familiar for the Europeans, at least for the older generations. The images are the same, even if this time they are in color and are shown in their living rooms, instead of being black-and-white pictures viewed at the
- [L'Express reviews Yazbek's Blue pen "words can build a better world and repel ugliness"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/09/l-express-reviews-yazbek-s-the-blue-pen/) - Published by L'Express. September 26 2018. She understands French, but prefers to speak in Arabic. For fear of losing her tongue: "It would be a double exile", explains Samar Yazbek with a serious smile, refugee in France since the summer of 2011. For having participated in the revolt against the regime of Bashar al-Assad, this secular
- [Douaihy's "Printed in Beirut" in the Midwest book review: "Exquisite irony"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/10/midwest-reviews-douaihy-printed-in-beirut-exquisite-irony/) - Published by Midwest Book Review, October 2018 Farid Abou Char arrives in Beirut on a hot summer morning with his manuscript, looking for a publisher. He is turned down by all of them; nobody reads anymore, he is told. Instead, he accepts a job as a proofreader at the famous old print house Karam Bros.,
- [Le Monde reviews Yazbek's "19 women": "A monument"](https://rayaagency.org/2019/11/le-monde-reviews-yazbeks-19-women-a-monument/) - Interview By Annick Cojean, for Le Monde, October 2019 We must not let the memory of the events that have occurred since the first demonstrations in March 2011 dissolve, and demand more democracy (...) "So many things have happened," she said, "magnificent and cruel, that you must tear yourself from oblivion. And there are
- [Middle East Eye reviews Aziz Mohammed's The Critical Case of a Man Called K](https://rayaagency.org/2021/08/middle-east-eye-reviews-aziz-mohammeds-the-critical-case-of-a-man-called-k/) - By M Lynx Qualey, for Middle East Eye, 15 April 2021 Much as Kafka’s young Gregor Samsa woke one morning to find he was an insect, Aziz Mohammed’s young narrator wakes to find his nose is bleeding, a first sign of his leukaemia. The Critical Case of a Man Called K, the Saudi author’s first novel,
- [Ayn Warda in French!](https://rayaagency.org/2007/07/ayn-warda-in-french/) - The French rights to Jabbour Douaihy's 'Ayn Warda' are sold to Sindbad, Actes Sud, Paris. The title should appear in the end of 2008.
- [Khalifa in French and Dutch soon!](https://rayaagency.org/2008/09/khalifa-in-french-and-dutch-soon/) - We are happy to annonce that: French rights to Khaled Khalifa's 'In praise of hatred' have been sold to Sindbad, Actes Sud, Paris, France. Dutch rights to the same title have been sold to De Geus, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Actes Sud is an independent French house, based in Arles. Sindbad is its inprint specialized in Arabic
- [Khalifa's In praise of hatred in Spanish soon!](https://rayaagency.org/2008/11/khalifa-in-spanish-soon/) - Lumen, a literary inprint of Random House Mondadori acquired the Spanish rights to Khaled Khalifa's In praise of Hatred.
- [Khalifa in Italian soon!](https://rayaagency.org/2008/11/khalifa-in-italian-soon/) - Italian rights to Khaled Khalifa's In praise of hatred were sold to Bompiani, Italian publisher part of the RCS Media group.
- [Jabbour Douaihy's June rain in Italian soon!](https://rayaagency.org/2009/05/jabbour-douaihys-june-rain-in-italian-soon/) - Italian publisher Feltrinelli has acquired the Italian rights to Jabbour Douaihy's June rain. Feltrinelli Editore is an Italian independent publisher founded in 1954 by Giacomo Feltrinelli in Milan. In the past couple of years, Feltrinelli has successfully published Aal'a al Aswani's 'Binayat Yacoubian' (Palazzo Yacoubian) and Salwa al Naimi's 'Burhan al aasal' (La prova del
- [Jabbour Douaihy's June Rain in French soon!](https://rayaagency.org/2009/06/jabbour-douaihys-june-rain-in-french-soon/) - Sindbad, Actes Sud, France, who has published in January 2009 Jabbour Douaihy's 'Ayn Ward', under the title 'Rose Fountain Motel', has acquired the French rights to 'June Rain'. Actes Sud is a large French independent house characterized by its vast list of translated fiction. Sindbad is part of Actes Sud since the mid 1980's. June
- [Kahlifa's In praise of hatred in English soon!](https://rayaagency.org/2009/07/kahlifas-in-praise-of-hatred-in-english-soon/) - World English rights to Khaled Khalifa's In praise of hatred have been sold to Transworld, a company part of Random House Group Ltd. since 1999. In praise of hatred was on the shortlist of the first edition of the Arab Man Booker prize awarded in 2008 in Abu Dhabi.
- [Yazbek's 'Cinnamon' in Italian soon!](https://rayaagency.org/2009/11/yazbeks-cinnamon-in-italian-soon/) - Italian rights to Syrian author Samar Yazbek's 'Cinnamon' have been sold to Castelvecchi. The book should be available by Spring 2011. Castelvecchi is a Roman publisher.
- [Douaihy's June Rain in German soon!](https://rayaagency.org/2009/12/douaihys-june-rain-in-german-soon/) - Jabbour Douaihy's novel, June Rain, the French and Italian rights of which have already been acquired, has recently been sold to Hanser, in Germany. Hanser is a house to, among many others, Nobel prize winners Kawabata, Pamuk and Le Clezio.
- [Khalifa's In praise of hatred in Norwegian soon!](https://rayaagency.org/2010/02/khalifas-in-praise-of-hatred-in-norwegian-soon/) - Norwegian publishing house Minuskel recently acquired the rights to Khaled Khalifa's In praise of hatred.
- [Watch out for June Rain's English edition! Soon at BQF](https://rayaagency.org/2010/10/watch-out-for-june-rain-s-english-edition-soon-at-bqf/) - Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation has recently acquired English rights to Jabbour Douaihy's novel.
- [Samar Yazbek's "In her mirrors" acquired by Italian house Castelvecchi](https://rayaagency.org/2010/11/samar-yazbeks-in-her-mirrors-acquired-by-italian-house-castelvecchi/) - Samar Yazbek, Syrian author of "Cinnamon" and "Clay" has recently published a novel in Beirut, "In her mirrors". The novel is set in contemporary Syria, and details the Alaouite community's relation to power and to religion. Castelvecchi, Italian publisher of "Cinnamon", has just acquired the rights to "In her mirrors".
- [Rights to Hawra Al Nadawi's book sold in Denmark!](https://rayaagency.org/2012/01/rights-to-hawra-al-nadawis-book-sold-in-denmark/) - As a follow up on the previous post, concerning a very interesting interview given by Hawra al Nadawi to politiken in Denmark, I am happy to announce that the Danish rights of the young author's book 'Under the Copenhagen's sky', was acquired by C&K Forlag. Written in Arabic, the book was nevertheless clearly addressing a
- [French rights to Yazbek's 'Revolution diaries' sold!](https://rayaagency.org/2012/02/french-rights-to-yazbeks-revolution-diaries-sold/) - French house Buchet-Chastel acquired the rights to Samar Yazbek's book 'In the crossfire: Syrian revolution diaries'. The book should be out in the end of March.
- [German rights to Yazbek's 'Revolution diaries' sold!](https://rayaagency.org/2012/02/german-rights-to-yazbeks-revolution-diaries-sold/) - German rights to Yazbek's 'In the crossfire: Syrian revolution diaries' were acquired by Nagel & Kimche, Hanser. The book is expected to be out in March.
- [English world rights to Yazbek's 'Revolution diaries' sold!](https://rayaagency.org/2012/02/english-world-rights-to-yazbeks-revolution-diaries-sold/) - These posts are a little redundant, but I had to make three of them for the information to be really clear! Finally, Yazbek's 'In the crossfire: Syrian revolution diaries' were acquired by Haus publishing, UK. The book is expected to be out in May.
- [Jabbour Douaihy's Chased away in Italian](https://rayaagency.org/2012/03/jabbour-douaihys-chased-away-in-italian/) - Feltrinelli acquired Italian rights to Douaihy's Chased away.
- ['The king is the king', Saadallah Wannous' play produced in Canada](https://rayaagency.org/2012/04/the-king-is-the-king-saadallah-wannous-play-produced-in-canada/) - Red Deer College produced in April Saadallah Wannou's play "The King is the King". Wannous is one of the most famous playwrights in the Arabic writing world. His plays are translated and often produced. RAYA represents Wannous' translation rights, and recently also took over production rights. RDC's production is the first on our list! "Give
- [Jabbour Douaihy's Chased away sold in French](https://rayaagency.org/2012/06/jabbour-douaihys-chased-away-sold-in-french/) - Actes Sud acquired Douaihy's Chased away's world French rights.
- [Yazbek's Cinnamon in Swedish!](https://rayaagency.org/2012/12/yazbeks-cinnamon-in-swedish/) - The Swedish translation rights of Samar Yazbek's novel Cinnamon was sold to Ordfront.
- [Yazbek's Cinnamon in Norwegian!](https://rayaagency.org/2012/12/yazbeks-cinnamon-in-norwegian/) - Norwegian rights to Cinnamon, by Samar Yazbek, were sold to Cappelen Damm.
- [Yazbek's In the crossfire in Dutch](https://rayaagency.org/2012/12/yazbeks-in-the-crossfire-in-dutch/) - Dutch rights to In the crossfire were sold to Nigh & Van Ditmar, Netherlands.
- [Yazbek's Cinnamon in German!](https://rayaagency.org/2012/12/yazbeks-cinnamon-in-german/) - German rights to Cinnamon were acquired by Hanser, Nagel & Kimche.
- [Le Seuil acquired world French rights to Beavers!](https://rayaagency.org/2012/12/le-seuil-acquired-world-french-rights-to-beavers/) - Mohammad Hasan Alwan's Beavers was acquired by Le Seuil for French translation rights. This title by the young Saudi author is on the 2013 IPAF longlist.
- [Yazbek's In the crossfire in Turkish!](https://rayaagency.org/2012/12/yazbeks-in-the-crossfire-in-turkish/) - Timas, Turkey, has acquired Turkish rights to Yazbek's In the crossfire.
- [Yazbek's "Cinnamon" is out in Sweden and Norway!](https://rayaagency.org/2013/09/yazbeks-cinnamon-is-out-in-sweden-and-norway/) - Cinnamon, the novel by Syrian author Samar Yazbek just came out in Sweden (Ordfront) and Norway (Cappelen Damm). Ordfront's cover Cappelen Damm's cover
- [Douaihy's June rain sold in Turkey!](https://rayaagency.org/2013/12/douaihys-june-rain-sold-in-turkey/) - Turkish house Epsilon has recently acquired June Rain by Jabbour Douaihy, for its literary inprint "Kafka".
- [Douaihy's June Rain sold in Spain!](https://rayaagency.org/2013/12/douaihys-june-rain-sold-in-spain/) - Douaihy's June Rain was recently acquired by Spanish house Turner!
- [Khaled Khalifa's In praise of hatred, soon to be realsed in the USA at Thomas Dunne](https://rayaagency.org/2014/02/khaled-khalifas-in-praise-of-hatred-soon-to-be-realsed-in-the-usa-at-thomas-dunn/) - On March 1, 2012, Fouad Ajami (USA) wrote a long analysis and review of Khalifa's In praise of hatred for The New Republic. Fouad Ajami is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and co-chairman of the Herbert and Jane Dwight Working Group on Islamism and the International Order. As the book
- [Yazbek's The crossing is out in the UK today!](https://rayaagency.org/2015/07/yazbeks-the-crossing-is-out-in-the-uk-today/) - Yazbek's "The crossing: My journey to the shattered heart of Syria" is out in the UK today! Published by Rider Books, Ebury, Penguin Random House. Rights to this book were also sold to Stock, France, t0 appear in October 2015 Hanser, Nagel & Kimche, Switzerland (German), to appear in August 2015 Ordfront, Sweden, to appear in
- [Douaihy signing his new book at Beirut's book fair](https://rayaagency.org/2010/11/douaihy-signing-his-new-book-at-beiruts-book-fair/) - If you're in Beirut for the book fair, do not miss Jabbour Douaihy's conference on December 13th, at 7:00 pm, room#1 at the BIEL conference center. The conference will be about Douaihy's new book, Chased away, and a signature will follow. Participants to the conference are: Mona Fayad, George Dourlyan, Hazem Saghiyye, Melhem Chaoul.
- [Wannous from Syria, to Germany and back to Iraq](https://rayaagency.org/2014/04/wannous-from-syria-to-germany-and-back-to-iraq/) - Interest in the work of Syrian playright Saadallah Wannous has been gaining more and more interest in the recent years. A german production of the play that took place in November of 2012 in TAK (TAK Theater Aufbau Kreuzberg) in Berlin, was recently in Iraq's Kurdish parts. The play, an adaptation of Wannous' Rituals for
- [Meet Alwan at the "Assises Internationales du Roman", in Lyon, on May 28th 2015](https://rayaagency.org/2015/05/meet-alwan-at-the-assises-internationales-du-roman-in-lyon-on-may-28th-2015/) - Alwan will meet his French readers in the Assises Internationales du Roman, in Lyon, on May 28th, 2015. The meeting will take place at the Institut de Formation aux Soins Infirmiers (IFIS) at the "Centre hospitalier Saint-Joseph Saint Luc", 18:30-20:30. The moderators of this discussion are Kahina Saidi and Iliana Goncalves Oliveira. The Assises Internationales
- [Khaled Khalifa on the act of reading under a dictatorship, for La Croix](https://rayaagency.org/2023/03/khaled-khalifa-on-the-act-of-reading-under-a-dictatorship-for-la-croix/) - Khaled Khalifa, in an interview with Marianne Meunier for La Croix, March 10, 2023 Originally from Aleppo, Khaled Khalifa lives in Damascus, which he never wanted to leave despite the conflict. He reads there alone, saddened to no longer be able to discuss his reading with his relatives, most of whom have left. Since the war
- [The award-winning Syrian novelist Khaled Khalifa in an interview for The Guardian](https://rayaagency.org/2023/07/the-award-winning-syrian-novelist-khaled-khalifa-in-an-interview-for-the-guardian/) - Khaled Khalifa, in an interview with Michael Safi for The Guardian, July 1, 2023 about his new book, 'No One Prayed Over Their Graves' The award-winning Syrian novelist on Aleppo, the city of his ‘soul’, his fascination with the late 19th century, and his youthful introduction to Chekhov. While Khalifa was writing his new book, No One Prayed
- [Elias Khoury shares his thoughts about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict](https://rayaagency.org/2023/11/elias-khoury-shares-his-thoughts-about-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict/) - An interview with Elias Khoury published in L'Humanité, November 9, 2023 The great Lebanese writer Elias Khoury just published Stella Maris, a vast epic on Palestine. He shares his thoughts on hot news of an Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In Stella Maris (Actes Sud), Elias Khoury explores identity, memory, voluntary amnesia, betrayal and the relationships between the
- [Élias Khoury: When the character overtakes the story - L'Orient litteraire](https://rayaagency.org/2023/11/elias-khoury-when-the-character-overtakes-the-story/) - By Tarek Abi Samra, L'Orient Littéraire, September 2023 The romantic character is generally only one of many elements used by the novelist to create a story. Other elements include plot, descriptions, point of view, narrative techniques, etc. However, the reader is spontaneously inclined to ignore all this and to see in a novel only the
- [Yazbek to Svenska Dagbladet: Literature gives hope](https://rayaagency.org/2023/12/yazbek-to-svenska-dagbladet-literature-gives-hope/) - For Svenska Dagbladet, 29 October 2023 Syrian Samar Yazbek has documented the horrors of war. Now she has returned to writing novels. Literature is what gives her hope in a violent world. Literature has the ability to create understanding. It is the first step towards change. It started as a poem. It turned out to be a thin novel.
- [Samar Yazbek to Dagens Nyheter: “an make you imagine things, put yourself in someone else's life and maybe even forgive”](https://rayaagency.org/2023/12/samar-yazbek-to-dagens-nyheter-it-can-make-you-imagine-things-put-yourself-in-someone-else-s-life-and-maybe-even-forgive/) - Published in Dagens Nyheter, 29 October 2023 The Syrian writer Samar Yazbek saw it as her duty to document the war in her homeland. But it came at a cost. Now she has left her "mental exile" and returned with the novel "The Winds' Abode". "I can fight forever, but I need a home. My
- [Dagens nyheter: "Samar Yazbek provides a magnetic voice to the unbearable”](https://rayaagency.org/2023/12/dagens-nyheter-samar-yazbek-provides-a-magnetic-voice-to-the-unbearable/) - Maria Schottenius reviews The Winds' Abode in Dagens nyheter, 26 Nov. 2023 Samar Yazbek is a woman who has taken on gigantic tasks in her life. She is Syrian, Alawite, like her opponent in the Assad clan. And she is a writer, who writes peculiar novels with remarkable luster. In addition, she is a journalist
- [Samar Yazbek's interview in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung](https://rayaagency.org/2023/12/samar-yazbeks-interview-in-frankfurter-allgemeine-zeitung/) - Interview conducted by Astrid Kaminski in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 2 December 2023 Her diary of the Syrian Revolution has made Samar Yazbek known in Germany. Unfortunately, her fight for justice is far from over. For more than twelve years, you have been a political refugee. Has the meaning of the term "exile" changed for you
- [Those of you in Berlin: Get to meet Khalil Alrez on June 30th!](https://rayaagency.org/2023/06/those-of-you-in-berlin-get-to-meet-khalil-alrez-on-june-30th/) - Khalil Alrez will be in Berlin on June 29th and 30th! If you're in town, pass by and attend the talks and readings! Khalil Alrez is invited to the conference "Russian-Arab Worlds: From Intrepid Individuals to Transregional History" which will take place on Friday, 30 June 2023 in at the Forum Transregionale Studien (Wallotstr. 14, 14193
- [Wannous and Nasrallah among the 6 finalists of the Arab Man Booker (International Prize for Arabic Fiction)](https://rayaagency.org/2018/02/wannous-and-nasrallah-among-the-6-finalists-of-the-arab-man-booker-international-prize-for-arabic-fiction/) - The prize, which aims at rewarding excellence in Arabic creative writing, was launched in Abu Dhabi in 2007. Apart the $10,000 that awarded to each finalist, and the $50,000 awarded to the winner, the prize also supports translation. The winner will be announced in a ceremony in Abu Dhabi, prior to the book fair which
- [Hoda Barakat receives the prestigious Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais award](https://rayaagency.org/2017/11/hoda-barakat-receives-the-prestigious-sultan-bin-ali-al-owais-award/) - Hoda Barakat wins the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais prize, in the Novel category. The prize will be given to her during a ceremony in Dubai, in March 2018. The very prestigious prize has been given in the past to major Arab artists, intellectuals and writers such as Sa’ad Allah Wanous, Abdul Rahman Mouneef, Nizar
- [Arabic literature in Macedonian territory](https://rayaagency.org/2017/05/arabic-literature-in-macedonian-territory/) - Both fellows of the Sharjah International Book Fair's professional program in 2016, Prozart Media and Bata Press have acquired rights to Arabic literature to translate into Macedonian. The fair has supported these acquisitions, and will importantly contribute towards covering translation costs: Prozart Media has acquired: Lebanese author Jabbour Douaihy's "June rain" Syrian author Khaled Khalifa's
- [Woerdense Courant: K. Khalifa's "There are no knives" is "sometimes chaotic, always incisive"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/09/woerdense-courant-k-khalifas-there-are-no-knives-is-sometimes-chaotic-always-incisive/) - Woerdense Courant, May 27th, 2015 "Whoever thinks of the events in Syria in the recent years sees horror images speed by. In this novel, it becomes very personal. The unnamed narrator brings the reader close to the worries of his family in Aleppo, while the political situation barely lurks in the background (...). Sometimes chaotic, [the novel
- [Philip Jenkins of The Christian Century calls Antoon "a Star of modern Arab fiction"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/07/philip-jenkins-of-the-christian-century-calls-antoon-a-star-of-modern-arab-fiction/) - Published by Philip Jenkins for The Christian Century, June 29, 2018 Sinan Antoon is a star of modern Arab fiction, a multiply honored novelist whose books address critical questions of identity, memory, and history. He has an Iraqi Christian background but teaches at New York Univer­sity—a dislocation that resembles that of so many Middle Eastern Chris­tians in recent
- [A collection of 18 unpublished short stories by Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz has been discovered](https://rayaagency.org/2018/11/a-collection-of-18-unpublished-short-stories-by-nobel-laureate-naguib-mahfouz-has-been-discovered/) - The collection "The whisper of stars" will be published by Dar al saqi on Naguib Mahfouz' birthday, on December 11th. World translation rights (except English) are free, and managed by RAYA agency on behalf of Dar al saqi, Beirut. Culture journalist Mohamed Shoair, was in the middle of writing a book on one of Mahfouz's works.
- [World Literature Today lists Jabbour Douaihy's "Printed in Beirut" and Najla Jraissati Khoury's "Pearls on a branch" among the must reads of 2018 English translations](https://rayaagency.org/2018/12/world-literature-today-lists-jabbour-douaihys-printed-in-beirut-and-najla-jraissati-khoury-s-pearls-on-a-branch-among-the-must-reads-2018-english-translations/) - Published by World Literature Today, December 2018. As the year’s news of rising nationalistic strains and attacks against the press continued, the urgent need for translation became ever more apparent. More and more, translation across borders embodies resistance. Honoring all those who take part in this important work, we again offer 75 of the year’s
- [RAYA agency receives the "Sharjah Rights Connection Award 2023", agency category](https://rayaagency.org/2023/11/raya-agency-receives-the-sharjah-rights-connection-award-2023-agency-category/) - Tuesday October 31st was the wrap up of the Sharjah International Book Fair fellowship program, which is held ahead of the book fair. I've come so many times to this fellowship, I stopped counting. I've seen it grow over the years, to become probably one of the most important professional programs in the world, where
- [National Book Award: Khaled Khalifa is a finalist with "Death is hard work"](https://rayaagency.org/2019/10/national-book-award-khaled-khalifa-is-a-finalist-with-death-is-hard-work/) - The mission of the National Book Award is to "celebrate the best literature in America, expand its audience, and ensure that books have a prominent place in American culture" The winner will be announced on November 20th. Death is hard work has received a lot of praise (see below) in the various countries where it
- [Khaled Khalifa in the New York Times](https://rayaagency.org/2008/04/khaled-khalifa-in-the-new-york-times/) - "Banning books is normal for us here, it's funny, even a little absurd. It's not like Europe ‚"Ooh, I've been censored"
- [and the IPAF winner is...](https://rayaagency.org/2008/03/and-the-ipaf-winner-is/) - On March 10th 2008, at the Rotana Beach Resort in Abu Dhabi, UAE, was held the ceremony of the IPAF prize. The prize was given to Baha'a Taher, for his novel 'Sunset oasis'.
- [Frankfurt book fair 2008](https://rayaagency.org/2008/07/frankfurt-book-fair-2008/) - We will be attending the Frankfurt book fair from Wednesday October 15th through Friday October 17th. See you there!
- [Beirut World Book Capital 2009](https://rayaagency.org/2008/10/beirut-world-book-capital-2009/) - In the context of Beirut World Book Capital 2009, the Lebanese Ministry of Culture had published a call for cultural projects to be submitted for financial and structural support.
- [Beirut book fair's 52nd edition](https://rayaagency.org/2008/11/beirut-book-fair-08/) - The 52nd edition of the Beirut Book Fair will be held at the Biel Center, from November 28th through December 11th.
- [IPAF 2009 long list](https://rayaagency.org/2008/11/ipaf-2009-long-list/) - The IPAF's, or Arab Man Booker prize awarded in Abu Dhabi, long list of 16 titles was very recently published! The 16 titles below were chosen out of the 121 titles presented for the competition by Arab publishers.
- [IPAF 2009 short list!](https://rayaagency.org/2008/12/ipaf-2009-short-list/) - The IPAF's, or the Arab Man Booker prize awarded in Abu Dhabi, short list of 6 titles was announced yesterday!
- [Le Figaro, France, on Ayn Warda](https://rayaagency.org/2009/01/le-figaro-france-on-ayn-warda/) - Un roman tragi-comique dont l'action se déroule dans un pays qui panse ses plaies (le Liban des années 1990), au sein d'une demeure familiale décatie (stuc délabré, plancher qui grince), et qui dépeint une galerie de personnages attachants et contrastés
- [Robert Solé, Le Monde, France, on Ayn Warda](https://rayaagency.org/2009/01/robert-sole-le-monde-france-on-ayn-warda/) - Difficile de ne pas voir dans cette demeure incertaine une métaphore du Liban : un pays victime d'une guerre civile, convoité sinon occupé par ses voisins, où "les gens du dessous" prennent de l'importance, au point de bouleverser les équilibres anciens...
- [La Croix, France, on Ayn Warda](https://rayaagency.org/2009/02/la-croix-france-on-ayn-warda/) - Dans le village de Ayn Wardeh, sur les hauteurs de Beyrouth, la maison des AI Baz abrite dans chaque pièce les souvenirs d'une grandeur aujourd'hui disparue. A la mort du père, les deux fils, Jojo et Reda, se retrouvent chez le notaire et doivent se render à l'évidence: ils ne peuvent se séparer de ce lourd héritage. Car selon la loi au Liban, les biens de mainmorte ne peuvent être ni vendus, ni partagés, tant que les deux héritiers, en l'occurrence les deux frères, sont vivants. «Cette famille chrétienne est bloquée à cause de la mainmorte, comme le Liban est bloqué par son communautarisme, explique l'auteur, Jabbour Douaihy. Les libanais n'ont d'autre choix que de vivre ensemble parce qu'ils ne peuvent pas diviser le pays ».
- [14th Muscat International Book Fair to open today](https://rayaagency.org/2009/02/14th-muscat-international-book-fair/) - 14th Muscat International Book Fair opens this evening under the theme Al Quds, Capital of Arab Culture for 2009. As many as 570 publishing houses from 25 countries, besides Oman and 30 Omani bookshops, will take part in the fair that will run through till March 16 at the Oman International Exhibition Centre. The book
- [Visit our stand in Abu Dhabi](https://rayaagency.org/2009/02/visit-our-stand-in-abu-dhabi/) - RAYA agency will be attending the Abu Dhabi Book Fair, held from March 17th through 22nd. Our stand number is 3G02. Looking forward to seeing you there!
- [Makkawi Said at Dubai literature festival](https://rayaagency.org/2009/02/makkawi-said-at-dubai-literature-festival/) - Makkawi Said is participating to the following discussion panel: Prizes and Translation. Raising Awareness of Arabic Writing Arab literature is now firmly on the map. Recent years have seen a significant increase in the number of books being translated from Arabic into other languages and the subsequent international success of more popular titles such as
- [Yasmina Jraissati fellow of the Torino book fair](https://rayaagency.org/2009/03/yasmina-jraissati-fellow-of-the-torino-book-fair/) - Yasmina Jraissati, RAYA agency, will be a guest of the International Book ForumIBF, at Torino book fair 2009. The fair is held from May 14th through 16th. See you there!
- [Libération, France, on Douaihy's 'Ayn Warda'](https://rayaagency.org/2009/03/liberation-france-on-douaihys-ayn-warda/) - Bienvenue au «Rose Fountain Motel» de Jabbour Douaihy | La chute de la Maison Baz Le Rose Fountain Motel, c'est le rêve de Margaret, l'épouse autrichienne de Jojo. Elle se verrait bien installer dans la maison familiale un hôtel, chaque chambre aurait une couleur différente, à la cave on ouvrirait un restaurant français qu'on appellerait
- [French translation of Elias Khoury's piece on Said](https://rayaagency.org/2009/04/french-translation-of-elias-khourys-piece-on-said/) - Elias Khoury | L’appartenance du marginal Le roman de Makkawi Said « Taghridat El Bajaa » (« Le chant du cygne »), m’a fait penser à Ghaleb Halsa. J’avais le sentiment d’être devant une suite stylistique particulière de l’auteur de « Khamasine » (« Cinquante») et «Al Dahek » (« Le rire »), qui a
- [Book Expo America](https://rayaagency.org/2009/05/book-expo-america/) - Yasmina Jraissati, RAYA agency will be attending the BEA from may 28th through 31st.
- [Najwa Barakat and Jabbour Douaihy at the Turin book fair](https://rayaagency.org/2009/05/najwa-barakat-and-jabbour-douaihy-at-the-turin-book-fair/) - This year's guest of honor of the Turin book fair was Egypt. At this occasion, and in light of Beirut World Book Capital 2009, several Italian houses publishing Arab authors had invited them. From RAYA agency, authors Najwa Barakat, published by Epoché for her book Ya Salam, and Jabbour Douaihy, to be published by Feltrinelli,
- [Frankfurt 2009](https://rayaagency.org/2009/08/frankfurt-2009/) - Yasmina Jraissati, RAYA agency for Arabic literature, will be attending the Frankfurt book fair on October 15th an 16th. See you there!
- [The Sharjah International Book Fair: ongoing until November 21st](https://rayaagency.org/2009/11/sharjah-book-fair/) - The Sharjah International Book Fair is currently holding its 28th edition. The fair, started on November 11th, 2009, is ongoing until November 21st. 750 publishers from 42 countries have registered this year. The fair attracts over 400,000 visitors. Visit the Sharjah Book Fair website for further information.
- [Cairo book fair coming up!](https://rayaagency.org/2010/01/cairo-book-fair-coming-up/) - This year's Cairo book fair will be held from January 28th to February 10th 2010, at the Cairo international fairground. This 42cnd edition of the fair is organized by the General Egyptian Book Organization (telephone: +20(2)25779283). Russia is this year's guest of honor, and over 800 exhibitors from 28 countries are expected.
- [A literary prize fight: politics and the International Prize for Arabic Fiction](https://rayaagency.org/2010/02/a-literary-prize-fight-politics-and-the-international-prize-for-arabic-fiction/) - A fine shortlist of nominees for the third ‘Arabic Booker’ has so far been overshadowed by manufactured controversy, Youssef Rakha writes. * By Youssef Rakha, published in The National
- [Makkawi Said's The swan's last song reviewed in The Independent](https://rayaagency.org/2010/02/makkawi-saids-the-swans-last-song-reviewed-in-the-independent/) - Cairo is gigantic, but still it brims over with humanity. Its population is at least 20 million and still growing. Satellite cities arise in the desert, the suburbs surround the Pyramids, informal settlements colonise Fatimid mausoleums.
- [Damascus according to Samar Yazbek in La Repubblica](https://rayaagency.org/2010/03/damascus-according-to-samar-yazbek-in-la-repubblica/) - Specchio a due facce tra miseria e nobilità.
- [IPAF 2010: And the winner is...](https://rayaagency.org/2010/03/ipaf-2010-and-the-winner-is/) - The Arab Man Booker, also called International Arabic Prize of Fiction, was awarded on March 2cnd in Abu Dhabi to Saudi writer Abdo Khal for his novel 'She throws sparks'. The remaining five shortlisted titles were: Al-Mansi Qindeel, Muhammad (Egypt), "A Cloudy Day on the West Side", Dar Al-Shorouk Ez Eldin, Mansoura (Egypt), "Beyond Paradise",
- [Beirut is getting ready for its 39!](https://rayaagency.org/2010/04/beirut-is-getting-ready-for-its-39/) - Beirut is getting ready for the 39 authors under 39 years old, selected in the context of the event organized by the Hay festival for Beirut World Book Capital 2009, a year which is coming to an end on April 22, 2010. From Wednesday April 14th through Sunday April 18th, 50 events are taking place
- [IO Donna's review on Yazbek's Cinnamon](https://rayaagency.org/2010/05/io-donnas-review-on-yazbeks-cinnamon/) - Il profumo della cannella, published by Castelvecchi was reviewed by IO Donna on May 8th, 2010.
- [Yazbek gives an interview to La Repubblica!](https://rayaagency.org/2010/05/yazbek-gives-an-interview-to-la-repubblica/) - Lara Crino, journalist of the Italian leading press media La Repubblica interviewed Syrian author Samar Yazbek, in the context of her book's recent publication in Italy, by Castelvecchi. The interview was published on May 8th, 2010 in D, La Repubblica della Donne magazine.
- [Italian magazine Grazia reviews Yazbek's Cinnamon](https://rayaagency.org/2010/05/italian-magazine-grazia-reviews-yazbeks-cinnamon/) - On May 17th 2010, the Italian leading magazine Grazia reviewed Samar Yazbek's novel, Cinnamon, recently published by Castelvecchi.
- [La Croix on Douaihy's June Rain](https://rayaagency.org/2010/06/la-croix-on-douaihys-june-rain/) - Noces de sang et secrets trop pesants Inspiré par un massacre en 1957 dans une église de Méziara, d’où l’auteur est originaire, ce très beau roman revient sur la vendetta entre deux familles chrétiennes maronites qui marqua profondément le Liban Elya al Kfouri vit aux États-Unis. Plus de vingt ans après avoir quitté le Liban,
- [Politis on Douaihy's June Rain](https://rayaagency.org/2010/06/politis-on-douaihys-june-rain/) - UN MASSACRE FONDATEUR [pullquote]Je n’avais face à moi qu’une seule question, mais de taille : comment raconter ce massacre interchrétien dans une église ? [/pullquote] Politis | Pluie de juin est la transposition littéraire d’une histoire qui a réellement existé au Liban, et don’t vous avez été le témoin. De quelle histoire s’agit-il ? Jabbour
- [Etudes's review of Douaihy's June rain](https://rayaagency.org/2010/07/etudess-review-of-douaihys-june-rain/) - Pluie de juin, par Elsa Kammerer On n’entre pas dans ce roman sans un malaise persistant, et on n’en sort pas totalement indemne. Savamment construit autour d’un centre vide (le massacre de Borj al-Hawa, au Liban, en juin 1957), Pluie de juin met en scène l’indicible de la violence aveugle, répété à l’envi par la polyphonie des
- [Douaihy's June rain in la Repubblica (D), Italy!](https://rayaagency.org/2010/07/douaihys-june-rain-in-la-repubblica-d-italy/) - Attenti a quel libro di Tiziano Gianotti, D la Repubblica delle donne (10/07/2010) Scheda del libro: Pioggia di giugno, di Jabbour Douaihy Corale in nero, il romanzo a più voci del libanese Jabbour Douaihy, è una delle belle sorprese della stagione. Libano, un paese arroccato, "un luogo zeppo di pini dritti come donne in lutto".
- [Review of Douaihy's June Rain in Geo, Italy](https://rayaagency.org/2010/08/review-of-douaihys-june-rain-in-geo-italy/) - Dal Libano a New York e ritorno (Geo, 29.08.2010) Cosa è successo nell'estate del 1957? Dopo vent'anni Elia torna in Libano per scoprire i motivi che lo hanno spinto a fuggire. Sullo sfondo, una faida familiare che spiega le ragioni di una guerra civile. Elia, figlio di Kamleh, è nato nove mesi e una settimana
- [Follow RAYA agency on twitter!](https://rayaagency.org/2010/09/follow-raya-agency-on-twitter/) - RAYA agency new posts and updates will be published on twitter. Follow us @yjraissati!
- [Read Douaihy's interview in Il Manifesto, Italy](https://rayaagency.org/2010/09/read-douaihys-interview-in-il-manifesto-italy/) - Interview by Monica Ruocco, Published in Il Manifesto APERTURA | di Monica Ruocco MEMORIE ROMANZESCHE DAL LIBANO DI DOUAIHY IN ARRIVO a Mantova Oggi sul palcoscenico del festival l'autore di un singolare testo autobiografico, Quando verrà la rivoluzione avremo tutti lo skateboard, uscito di recente per le edizioni nottetempo. Tra gli appuntamenti di
- [Douaihy, a guest of Montova's Literary festival](https://rayaagency.org/2010/09/douaihy-a-guest-of-montovas-literary-festival/) - Jabbour Douaihy, guest of the Montova literary festival met the public this morning (12.09.2010). "In the last quarter of the twentieth century, the problem for Lebanese novelists was not how to talk about the war, but, rather, how not to." In a country torn by intestine conflicts for decades, confrontation becomes a "way of life"
- [Gioia: Douaihy's June Rain is an antidote against the world's stupidity](https://rayaagency.org/2010/09/gioia-douaihys-june-rain/) - In his review of June Rain, Pietro Chelli says that when you hear "we are better than them because" ... it is usually too late. The uncontrollable violence that identity delirium unleashes is just around the corner. "We are better than them, because...", such is the story that Jabbour Douaihy tells, an antidote against the
- [Khaled Khalifa: going to Hong Kong!](https://rayaagency.org/2010/09/khaled-khalifa-going-to-hong-kong/) - Khaled Khalifa, author of "The notebooks of the bohemians" and "In praise of hatred" (to appear in French at Actes Sud, Italian at Bompiani, Dutch at De Geus, Spanish at Lumen, English at Transworld) is going to Hong Kong on October 10th for a month. The Hong Kong University invited several authors from different countries
- [21st edition of the Arab Federation for Libraries and Information reunion](https://rayaagency.org/2010/09/21st-edition-of-afli/) - The 21st edition of the Arab Federation for Libraries and Information annual reunion will be taking place in Beirut this year, from October 6th to 8th. The Federation's aim is mainly to develop interaction between librarian institutions and associations across the Arab counties; to promote the Arab written heritage; to undertake and encourage studies and
- [Now representing Abdullah Thabit's Terrorist no.2o!](https://rayaagency.org/2010/09/now-representing-abdullah-thabits-terrorist-no-2o/) - RAYA agency proudly presents: Terrorist no.20! A new addition to our list. Check Abduallah Thabit's profile and the summary of this timely and amazing book (also check the press excerpts, the full versions of which will be posted soon).
- [Interview with Abdullah Thabit in Washington Post](https://rayaagency.org/2010/09/interview-with-abdullah-thabit-in-washington-post/) - "The Would-Be Terrorist's Explosive Tell-All Tale" By Faiza Saleh Ambah Special to The Washington Post Monday, July 24, 2006 JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia -- When Abdullah Thabit recently saw a photo of one of the Sept. 11 hijackers for the first time, he felt a jolt of fear, and then a sadness so intense that tears
- [Saved by poetry: La Croix, on Abdullah Thabit's "Terrorist no.20"](https://rayaagency.org/2010/10/saved-by-poetry-la-croix-on-abdullah-thabits-terrorist-no-20/) - Retracing the route of thirty year old Saudi who resembles the 19 hijackers of September 11 through fiction, the author examines his own journey and the motivations of djihadist organizations.
- [A book worth the effort - according to Le Monde](https://rayaagency.org/2010/10/abdullah-thabit-s-book-worth-the-effort-according-to-le-monde/) - This book is a good illustration of the kind of Saudi literature that can be produced, harsh and straightforward, yet not translated enough. The introspection and insight into a society largely unknown put forward by this novel, makes it worth the interest.
- ["A fascinating tale of wisdom and poetry" - 'Lire' on Thabit's novel](https://rayaagency.org/2010/10/lire-on-thabit-s-novel/) - Zahi wears a beard and white tunic. Gradually, his "heart swells with hatred", like his companions: "I thought like them, I felt like them, I belonged to them." Yet, his "friends" will end up cursing him. They accuse him of loving music. And it is music that saves him.
- [Sharjah International Book Fair coming up!](https://rayaagency.org/2010/10/sharjah-international-book-faire-coming-up/) - The Sharjah International Book Fair will be taking place from October 26th to November 6th, 2010. The 29th edition of the Sharjah international book fair is held at the Expo Center of Sharjah. This 10-day annual event draws a total of 750 publishers showcasing books from nearly 42 nations, and attracts over 400,000 GCC visitors.
- [17th Francophone Beirut Book Fair](https://rayaagency.org/2010/10/17th-francophone-beirut-book-fair/) - The 17th edition of the Beirut Francophone book fair, organized by the Lebanese syndicate of book importers, will be taking place from October 29th through November 7th, at the BIEL expo center. The Beirut francophone book fair is the 3rd largest francophone book fair in the world, after Paris and Montreal. It has been establishing
- [Beirut Arab Book Fair 2010](https://rayaagency.org/2010/10/beirut-arab-book-fair-2010/) - For those of you who have contacted me regarding the Beirut Book Fair 2010, thank you! And below, a few precisions. The 54th edition of the Arab Beirut Book Fair (maarad beirut al arabi lil kitab) will be taking place from December 3rd to 16th 2010. The venue was not specified, but chances are the
- [Saint-Georges was looking away - a review of Douaihy's latest novel](https://rayaagency.org/2010/12/saint-georges-was-looking-away-a-review-of-douaihys-latest-nove/) - L'Orient Littéraire, Beirut, Lebanon reviews Douaihy's latest novel. A portion of it is translated with Goole translate - full French review is found below. Ghosts of the past "Charidou'l Manazel" gives the author an golden excuse to sketch the little people of Lebanon, this exuberant fauna swept by war, from the taxi driver dubbed messenger
- ["A novel like a shot from a pistol" - Al Watan reviews Douaihy's latest novel](https://rayaagency.org/2010/12/a-novel-like-a-shot-from-a-pistol-al-watan-reviews-douaihy-s-latest-novel/) - A novel like a shot from a pistol. Read this novel's first page, and the passion will lead you to inevitably read on, full speed, your eyes driven on the lines in pursuit of the events.
- [The shortlist for the IPAF, Arab Booker Prize has just been announced!](https://rayaagency.org/2010/12/the-shortlist-for-the-ipaf-arab-booker-prize-has-just-been-announced/) - The IPAF, or Arab Booker prize's shortlist was announced earlier today in Doha, Arab Capital of Culture of 2010. The winner will be announced on March 14th, 2011 in Abu Dhabi. For the 4th edition of the prize, which was first awarded in 2008, 123 titles were submitted, compared to 115 last year. Titles, submitted
- ['Chased away' and belonging - a review by An Nahar](https://rayaagency.org/2010/12/chased-away-and-belonging-a-review-by-dar-an-nahar/) - In his novel "Chased away", Jabbour Douaihy stirs the pains of those who witnessed the war and remember most of its beginning. But the novel's significance remains that who does not fully belong to a Lebanese community is doomed to be rootless and rejected throughout his life, however short or long.
- [Some Japanese greatness in Douaihy's writing style? (review in Arabic!)](https://rayaagency.org/2010/12/some-japanese-greatness-in-douaihys-writing-style-review-in-arabic/) - ‏ Jabbour Douaihy‪'‬s transparent writing style‪,‬ namely in the description of nature‪,‬ reminds me with the greatness of Japanese novels‪: "he contemplates the purple walnut tree, the sun piercing through, making its green leaves transparent, engulfing them in the dust of a delicate gleam, which spreads out a long thread of light across the garden".
- [The life and death of a city - Douaihy's novel reviewed in Al Hayat](https://rayaagency.org/2010/12/the-life-and-death-of-a-city-douaihys-novel-reviewed-in-al-hayat/) - ‏In ‪'‬Chased away‪',‬ Jabbour Douaihy writes the life and death of a city‪…‬Then, as today, calls‪ and‬ claims for rights resound, and crime remains a constant‪…‬ Full review in Arabic by Hazem Saghiyye, for Al Hayat. حرب صفعت المدينة بالحقيقة الاربعاء, 15 ديسيمبر 2010 حازم صاغيّة يكتب جبّور الدويهي في «شريد المنازل» (دار النهار -
- ['In her mirrors': beyond politics and history, a great novel - Mohammad Barrada on Yazbek's latest book](https://rayaagency.org/2010/12/in-her-mirrors-beyond-politics-and-history-a-great-novel-mohammad-barrada-on-yazbeks-latest-book/) - Mohammad Barrada: 'a novel with a great linguistic wealth, a seductive plot and a humanistic vision'. "It appears that the question of the novel's «references» has solicited the critic's [referring to a previous critique by Nabil Suleiman] interests and made him evoke other texts having the same references to the Syrian Alaouite sect, guided by
- ["Let me have it all or disappear"! - Melhem Chaoul reviews Douaihy's Chased away](https://rayaagency.org/2011/01/melhem-chaoul-reviews-douaihys-chased-away/) - There is a city breaking, Beirut; and a city withdrawn, Tripoli. There is rural community form the mountains, Christians, who are mobilized by, and perhaps even initiate, the violence. Lebanon's communities are fighting their wars, and possibly others' wars, with a lack of awareness and the unconsciousness of teenagers who, as long as they dream
- [Three great novelists - hope in the face of a void young generation](https://rayaagency.org/2011/01/three-great-novelists/) - Hassan Daoud, Abbas Baydoun and Jabbour Douaihy: hope and reassurance, in the face of an overwhelming tendency of young authors who are drowning us in degrading sexual pornography, as the only way to fame and popularity.
- [A novel that should be read out loud - one more great review of Douaihy's 'Chased away'](https://rayaagency.org/2011/01/a-novel-that-should-be-read-out-loud-one-more-great-review-of-douaihys-chased-away/) - Douaihy is the only writer who avoided the trap of compliance, choosing a party over the other, in his narration of the Lebanese war. He does not express any ideological bias through one of his characters. He does not rely on critique to cleanse his own past, or take up a general humanist stand. Such is the case of many works, the authors of which fall in the abyss of interpretation and theory, or attempt to incriminate some of the factions over the others. Douaihy is also the only one to have explored the question of sectarian "differences", in order to weave an impressive literary ground on its basis
- [Unprecedented boldness](https://rayaagency.org/2011/02/samar-yazbek-in-her-mirors-unprecedented-boldness/) - No one dared crossing the threshold of such topics before, but Samar wings her way in with elegance.
- [Venice welcomes Douaihy](https://rayaagency.org/2011/04/venice-welcomes-douaihy/) - “Crossroads of Civilization“ is the name given to the annual Venetian International Literary Festival that annually brings many writers from around the world for four days of immersive discussion. This year's edition will be held from the 13th until the 16th of April 2011. The festival occupies some of the city’s most prestigious locations, from
- [Samar Yazbek speaks up on Syria in an Italian magazine](https://rayaagency.org/2011/04/samar-yazbek-speaks-up-on-syria-in-an-italian-magazine/) - SAMAR YAZBEK 40 years old, blue eyed gentle cosmopolitan. Watching her at first, it is impossible to tell from which part of the world she is. But then it takes little to realize how deeply a daughter of Syria she is. How delighted she is with her language, Arabic, to which she has dedicated her studies, and which has accompanied her work as a feminist and political activist, as a journalist, screenwriter for cinema and TV, and especially a writer. It also takes little to realize that this soft aspect of hers hides an immense courage.
- [More than a modern novel - Chouman's Napolitana according to Al Hayat](https://rayaagency.org/2011/05/more-than-a-modern-novel-chouman-s-napolitana-according-to-al-hayat/) - "A novel, the structure of which is a far cry from more traditional narratives"
- [Remembering Palestinian author Hussein Al Barghouti in Washington University](https://rayaagency.org/2011/05/remembering-palestinian-author-hussein-al-barghouti-in-washington-university/) - University of Washington honors the memory of a former student, Hussein Al Barghouti on Monday, May 2, at 4:00. In 1992, Hussein Al-Barghouti (1954-2002) graduated from the University of Washington with a PhD in comparative literature. Within a few years, he became one of the most respected contemporary Palestinian authors and, as a professor, inspired
- [Bloodshed in the Syrian revolution will prove that we deserve to live](https://rayaagency.org/2011/05/bloodshed-in-the-syrian-revolution-will-prove-that-we-deserve-to-live/) - Interview of Khaled Khalifa by Peter Puchot, for Mediapart: "I defend the right of my people for democracy, I closely watch the process of change of which I can actually testify. For the first time in 40 years, the Syrian society begins to break the wall of fear. It's as if it saw itself for the first time: (it sees) fear of the future and at the same time, confidence to lead its way into it. Since the departure of Mubarak, I've been waiting for the Syrian revolt, but I could not imagine what form it would take, nor where it would be triggered."
- [Elogio Dell Odio - looking back into Khalifa's introduction to Italy](https://rayaagency.org/2011/05/elogio-dell-odio-khaled-khalifa/) - Elogio Dell Odio is the Italian title of Khaled Khalifa's In Praise of Hatred, published by Bompiani this May 2011. In 2008, Khaled Khalifa's book was shortlisted in Abu Dhabi's international prize for Arabic fiction (or Arab Booker prize), and Khalifa had given the interview below to Michele Farina, Corrier della sera.
- [Khaled Khalifa interviewed by 'Le Nouvel Observateur' on the situation in Syria](https://rayaagency.org/2011/05/khaled-khalifa-interviewed-by-le-nouvel-observateur-on-the-situation-in-syria/) - The relation between popular movements in the Arab world is clear: our regimes have in common despotism and corruption, although some claim to be concerned primarily with the defense of national interests and others, by economic growth. Popular demands are also the same: freedom, from which our peoples have long been deprived, and dignity after so many humiliations and so many violations of basic human rights. The powers in place borrow each other's rhetoric and display a shocking ignorance of what is happening deep within their countries. The Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs giggled when a reporter asked him a question about the possibility of a revolution in Egypt as in Tunisia. And the Syrian president responded in the same manner to a question about the impact of the Egyptian revolution in Syria...
- [Khalifa interviewed by Italian leading daily, La Repubblica](https://rayaagency.org/2011/05/khalifa-interviewed-by-italian-leading-daily-la-repubblica/) - An interview by Riccardo Stagliano for Venerdi, Supplement to La Repubblica, May 13th, 2011: "The Syrian culture, in its daily practices, does not allow intransigence. The history of Syria bears witness to a big openness to the Other. If the Syrians had accepted extremism, the Muslim Brotherhood would have had an easy game to win in the eighties. I believe that the Syrian society will make the roots of its civilization prevail again and for the first time in five centuries, the Syrians will be able to start building a democracy that represents them, based on tolerance and on the use of free elections."
- [6th edition of the Sheikh Zayed Award: Now open for applications](https://rayaagency.org/2011/05/6th-edition-of-the-sheikh-zayed-award-now-open-for-applications/) - 2012 is the 6th edition of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award. The call for applications is now open, and the deadline is September 1st 2011.
- [Khalifa 'an author with literary depth comparable to Faulkner and Garcia Marquez'](https://rayaagency.org/2011/05/khalifa-an-author-with-literary-depth-comparable-to-faulkner-and-garcia-marquez/) - In praise of hatred is a must read for several reasons. First of all, the books introduces us to a new author in the world of Arabic literature, who has great literary depth, comparable to Faulkner and Garcia Marquez, which Khalifa cites as his preferred authors, but who do not have a profound influence on his writing. Another name seems to linger between the lines of this novel, and that is perhaps the name of Gibran, especially for the longing moral sense of freedom, that the complex story seems to suggest.
- [Khalifa: We are an anachronism, we only wish to evolve with the rest of humanity](https://rayaagency.org/2011/05/khalifa-we-are-an-anachronism-we-only-wish-to-evolve-with-the-rest-of-humanity/) - If the regime falls, there is inevitably a difficult period of transition. During that period, the freedom for all political parties must be restored, there must be a free press, and an active political debate that will allow free and transparent elections within half or a full year. We will go through many obstacles in order to build a democracy, that's for sure. And maybe, we will take some steps back. But we must go on. We must fight the impression that Syria will fall into a civil or religious war. It is very important that the Syrian people show that they are now united. That we fight together for our democracy.
- ['It is through culture that we allow ourselves to dream again' Khalifa to L'Humanité](https://rayaagency.org/2011/06/it-is-through-culture-that-we-allow-ourselves-to-dream-again-khalifa-to-lhumanite/) - With this novel, I wanted to exorcise the leaden blanket of silence that hangs over this bloody period of Syrian history.
- ['Democracy will put an end to sectarian violence', Khalifa to La Croix](https://rayaagency.org/2011/06/khalifa-to-la-croix/) - The diversity of our society is an asset, not a problem. Today, all its components aspire to live in friendliness. The brutality of the regime, contrary to what some official Sunnis claim, is exercised against all Syrians, not only against the Sunnis. The authorities wanted to scare the minorities by presenting themselves as their protector. We are living important times. We can feel that fundamentalism in its most radical form is losing ground. Getting to democracy is the hope of all Arabs. This will put an end to sectarian violence.
- [The Harvill Secker Young Translators’ Prize: Arabic to English](https://rayaagency.org/2011/06/the-harvill-secker-young-translators-prize-arabic-to-english/) - The Harvill Secker Young Translators’ Prize was launched in 2010 as part of Harvill Secker's centenary celebrations. It is an annual prize, which focuses on a different language each year, with the aim of recognising the achievements of young translators at the start of their careers. This year’s chosen language is Arabic.
- ['Butterflies and scents, side by side with torture and imprisonment'](https://rayaagency.org/2011/06/butterflies-and-scents-side-by-side-with-torture-and-imprisonment/) - A girl who feeds on resentment in the city of Aleppo littered with corpses: In praise of hatred, by the Syrian novelist Khaled Khalifa, focuses on the path of a young fundamentalist in the Islamist uprising (1976-1982) against the Baathist regime and its bloody repression (25 000 dead). At the time where Khalifa's novel is translated in Europe, the ongoing democratic revolt in Syria strangely echoes this traumatic episode. Khalifa described the process of fanaticism that takes over a lonely heart in a gloomy, conservative mansion deserted by its men
- [On Khalifa: 'A prose so powerful, it competes with the events of history'](https://rayaagency.org/2011/06/on-khalifa-a-prose-so-powerful-it-competes-with-the-events-of-history/) - A prose so powerful, it competes with the events of history, and yet, full of nuances, it makes the reader share the most intimate and contradictory feelings of the protagonists. There is this, and even more, in the revelation novel by Khaled Khalifa ('In praise of hatred', Bompiani, translation by Francesca Prevedello). The author, a 47 year old Syrian, is a writer as well as a poet and a screenwriter. Some of his works have been censored. This novel took him 13 years of work.
- ['Dear Assad, this time, you lose' | Khalifa, Vanity Fair](https://rayaagency.org/2011/06/dear-assad-this-time-you-lose-khalifa-vanity-fair/) - "The regime is still the '80s, the Cold War, and treats us like a herd of sheep who do not deserve to make demands of freedom. The president, whom all called 'young', has chosen to refer to that past, and lost credit. "
- [Red and black; red and green](https://rayaagency.org/2011/07/red-and-black-red-and-green/) - Sindbad editions (Actes Sud), specializing in the translation of modern Arabic literature, has just published a book that is very relevant in the challenging times through which Syria is going at this very moment.
- [Literature and politics: A conversation with Khaled Khalifa](https://rayaagency.org/2011/07/a-conversation-with-khaled-khlifa/) - There is an exaggerated fear of democracy, but democracy is in fact the ultimate and ideal solution for protecting all minorities. During the last three months the Syrians have proved that they are not going to embark on the path of sectarian violence despite attempts to incite it. This is a truth that everyone must understand, and Syrian history bears eloquent witness to this fact.
- [Yazbek: one case of tentative intimidation by the Syrian regime - Liberation, France](https://rayaagency.org/2011/08/samar-yazbek-one-case-of-tentative-intimidation-by-the-syrian-regime-liberation-france/) - Liberation publishes Yazbek's testimony on Syrian jails, featured earlier in The Guardian. As an introduction, journalist Ayad explains the context of the event.
- ['There will be no inter-sectarian war'](https://rayaagency.org/2011/08/there-will-be-no-inter-sectarian-war/) - "By appointing a new minister of defense of Christian faith - the General Rajah Daoud - the regime wants to involve Christians in the fight to make the military command responsible for what will later be described as the massacre of Sunnis ..." "But after these tragic developments, our people are perfectly able to avoid the chaos and especially the inter-sectarian war that is anticipated. All communities are engaged in this struggle for the liberation of Syria, and a sectarian civil war is impossible"
- [A deeper look into the reality of the Syrian revolution - Yazbek to Liberation](https://rayaagency.org/2011/08/a-deeper-look-into-the-reality-of-the-syrian-revolution-yazbek-to-liberation/) - The two main cities, Damascus and Aleppo have not embraced the protests. Why? First, this is where the social classes that have benefited most from the regime are concentrated. But if they see that their interests are threatened, the merchant bourgeoisie will also eventually take a stand against Al-Assad. The country is experiencing a very serious economic crisis. The second reason is that all public places are occupied by security forces to prevent any gathering. Power is obsessed with these two cities. There are small daily demonstrations in the capital, but they are nipped in the bud.
- [Samar Yazbek to RFI "There are no words to describe what I saw in Syrian prisons"](https://rayaagency.org/2011/08/samar-yazbek-to-rfi-there-are-no-words-to-describe-what-i-saw-in-syrian-prisons/) - She is now one of the best known faces of the Syrian revolt. The novelist and journalist Samar Yazbek left her country in July 2011. She now lives in Paris. Despite her belonging to the Alawite community, the Shia minority to which also belongs the family al-Assad, she joined the protest against the Regime.
- [Terrorist no.20 is now out in Norwegian! Dagbladet's coverage](https://rayaagency.org/2011/09/terrorist-no-20-is-now-out-in-norwegian-dagbladets-coverage/) - "On the recording, there were pictures of young men who had received weapon training, were singing martial songs, listened to sermons and roared battle cries. It was like watching us back in the camps of the Puritan movement. Nineteen men brought death and destruction on this September day, and if I had stayed in the movement and let myself be persuaded to go to Afghanistan, I could have easily become the twentieth. I could have been an accomplice in one of history's greatest crimes against humanity"
- [Corriere della sera reviews 'In her mirrors' - Yazbek's book now out in Italian!](https://rayaagency.org/2011/09/corriere-della-sera-reviews-in-her-mirrors-yazbek-s-book-now-out-in-italian/) - She is known at home and abroad for her efforts against social and political taboos, and for her courageous books. Novels intimate only in appearance: the intertwined stories of relationships, often dramatic, hold a thousand references that tell more than many reportages, what it is like to live under dictatorship. As in "In her mirrors" an excellent translation from Elena Chiti, published in Beirut, and so far only distributed clandestinely in Syria.
- [RAYA featured in Time Out Beirut!](https://rayaagency.org/2011/10/raya-featured-in-time-out-beirut/) - She founded Raya Agency for Arabic Literature eight years ago. After long internships in publishing houses in New York and Paris, Jraissati realised at the 2004 Frankfurt Book Fair that ‘publishers interested in the Arab world couldn’t get their hands on interesting books because they can’t read them.’ Surely they often simply don’t want to, I say. She laughs. ‘That’s the other part of the story. I wanted them to be interested, so I had a mission... you can’t be interested if you don’t know anything about it, so I wanted to be some sort of medium.’
- [Douaihy's 'Chased away', recipient of the Lebanese Hanna Wakim Prize](https://rayaagency.org/2011/11/douaihys-chased-away-recipiendary-of-the-lebanese-hanna-wakim-prize/) - Douaihy's Chased away was awarded the Hanna Wakim prize for his book 'Chased away' | Charid al manazel, published by Dar annahar in 2010. The novel was selected by students of 9 high schools, among 5 Lebanese novels. The Hanna Wakim Foundation aims at providing financial support for education and promoting young Lebanese cultural achievements.
- ['Solidarity, bravery and irony: my people's secret weapon' - Khalifa in Corriere Della Sera](https://rayaagency.org/2012/01/solidarity-bravery-and-irony-my-peoples-secret-weapon-khalifa-in-corriere-della-sera/) - This disappointing attitude of the regime characterized the scene of a strange Syrian surrealism.The observer has the feeling to read a long and repetitive novel in which are reproduced the same mechanical and foolish scenes and actions of the regime. On the other hand, instead, we find the thuwar (the revolutionaries, ed.) constituting the bright party, with songs and dances borrowed from the rich Syrian tradition. The Syrian people has fueled this revolution with a river of blood paid daily by flocks fallen, among the best sons of Syria, and continues to pay this high price, after waiting in vain for an international rescue.
- [Yazbek in Le Monde: Syria is defying fear](https://rayaagency.org/2012/01/yazbek-in-le-monde-syria-is-defying-fear/) - On December 26, 2011, Syria had its deadliest day since mid-March. One hundred civilian deaths, according to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights. On the 29th, despite the presence of the Arab League observers in the country, the security forces have launched nail bombs on the crowd on the Great Mosque square in Duma. On December 31st, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets again in the country. There have been dozens of deaths.
- [IPAF 2012 shortlist is out and includes Douaihy's Chased away!](https://rayaagency.org/2012/01/ipaf-2012-shortlist-is-out-and-includes-douaihys-chased-away/) - The news below was taken from the IPAF's website. Our favorite literature blogger is attending the conference in Cairo and should get back later today with some further insight!
- [Representing Dar al saqi!](https://rayaagency.org/2012/01/representing-dar-al-saqi/) - RAYA now proudly represents the list of the Lebanese house Dar al saqi. Go to the 'Clients' list' in the menu, and stay updated with authors and titles from their wide list that we will be putting the spot lights on!
- [Hawra al Nadawi in Danish paper Politiken](https://rayaagency.org/2012/01/hawra-al-nadawi-in-danish-paper-politiken/) - On December 12th, the Danish widely read newspaper Politiken interviewed Hawra Al Nadawi. The young writer was long-listed for the IPAF (Arab Man Booker), for her first novel 'Under the Copenhagen sky' published by Dar al Saqi, Lebanon, in 2010. Below, with some delay, the English translation of the interview that didn't go unnoticed in
- ['Beavers', a novel away from clichés | Al Akhbar](https://rayaagency.org/2012/02/beavers-a-novel-away-from-cliches-al-akhbar/) - In his new novel, the author of the «Collar of purity» frees his characters from the dead-end of ready-made ideas, and weaves their lives away from preaching and proselytizing. Ghalib, Ghada, Badriya, Salman and the other characters, live the consequences of many of the disadvantages of the Saudi society
- [Al Riahi's "Gorilla" on tyranny | Al Akhbar](https://rayaagency.org/2012/02/al-riahi-s-gorilla-on-tyranny-al-akhbar/) - The novel surprises the reader as soon as page one: Saleh, the poor young man, climbs up the clock tower at the intersection of Boulevard Mohammed V and Avenue Habib Bourguiba in Tunis to announce the resurrection. People gather around the tower, state police is brought in as the scene of the young man hanging in the air occupies the news and the talk of the population. Through a scenic coherent structure, the novel's passages follow each other in a mastered montage, using an intense, accurate, language that preserves its beauty, without falling into rhetoric and useless talk.
- [Yazbek's 'In the crossfire' is out in German! - Read a first review](https://rayaagency.org/2012/02/yazbeks-in-the-crossfire-is-out-in-german-read-a-first-review/) - Her diary slowly grows into a chronicle of horror - but also a record of unimaginable courage.
- [Die Zeit, interviews Samar Yazbek](https://rayaagency.org/2012/03/die-zeit-interviews-samar-yazbek/) - But if the majority of Sunnis are on the streets, this does not mean that it's about religion. Among the activists who mobilize and organize demonstrations, there also are Alawites and Christians. This is not a confessional conflict.
- [Interview with Jabbour Douaihy over 'Chased away' (shortlisted for the IPAF 2012)](https://rayaagency.org/2012/03/interview-with-jabbour-douaihy-over-chased-away-shortlisted-for-the-ipaf-2012/) - This being said, I have a lot of affection towards Beirut, to which we came from our villages at the beginning of the seventies, feeling that we could change the world. This is a beautiful illusion, and I have not regrets.
- [Oman Daily's review of Douaihy's 'Chased away' #IPAF2012](https://rayaagency.org/2012/03/oman-dailys-review-of-douaihys-chased-away-ipaf2012/) - "A tragedy narrated, pursued chapter after chapter, and its threads woven with great ability, talent and ingenuity by the Lebanese novelist Jabbour Douaihy, in his magnificent novel 'Chased away', one of the six shortlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, 2012."
- ['Read Samar Yazbek', says Le Monde journalist - a beautiful review](https://rayaagency.org/2012/04/read-samar-yazbek-says-le-monde-journalist-a-beautiful-review/) - Le Monde reviews Samar Yazbek's book, In the crossfire, that recently won the Pen award. "The chronicle of the Syrian carnage is weighing you down? Decoding the stakes of this multifaceted crisis discourages you? Read Samar Yazbek. As Syria slides into a civil war that dares not speak its name, and to which the Kofi Annan plan is unlikely to bring an end, it is good to dive into 'In the crossfire', the diary kept by this Syrian novelist in the early months of the uprising, from March to July 2011, before going into exile in France."
- [Khaled Khalifa arrested and released](https://rayaagency.org/2012/05/khaled-khalifa-arrested-and-released/) - The rumor this afternoon, May 26th, was that Khaled Khalifa was arrested in the morning while attending the funeral of a friend in Damascus. He was released with a broken arm and contusions to the head. On the phone, Khaled Khalifa said he was now alright. The LA Times gives the following details. Khaled Khalifa,
- [Review of 'A woman in the crossfire' - by 'Arab lit (in English)'](https://rayaagency.org/2012/06/review-of-a-woman-in-the-crossfire-by-arab-lit-in-english/) - "Mostly, I have shared in some people’s pain. Is there some point to secretly, in my own home, sharing in people’s pain? I don’t know. But once you’ve started, and you’ve found that you care about these people — these characters, these people — it’s also difficult to stop"
- [The Guardian presents A Woman in The Crossfire, by Samar Yazbek, at Haus publishing](https://rayaagency.org/2012/06/the-guardian-presents-a-woman-in-the-crossfire-by-samar-yazbek-at-haus-publishing/) - Samar Yazbek's book just came out in English, at Haus publishing. The book's translation was supported by the Sharjah Book Fair. Below are excerpts of the review by Francis Beckett for The Guardian, June 22, 2012.
- [Khaled Khalifa's In praise of hatred is out in Spanish! - El Mundo covers the event](https://rayaagency.org/2012/07/khaled-khalifas-in-praise-of-hatred-is-out-in-spanish-el-mundo-covers-the-event/) - The novel Khalifa took him 13 years of work. "I felt fear and terror... This probed me to turn that pain into a novel ..." Khalifa is, however, a writer with no pretensions. "I write just for the pleasure of writing and cannot do anything else."
- [La Voz de Galicia interviews Khaled Khalifa](https://rayaagency.org/2012/07/la-voz-de-galicia-interviews-khaled-khalifa/) - -Some analysts see a growing influence of fundamentalists in the revolution. Even radical Islamists can fight in Syria. 'No one can speak of Islamist influence. There is a movement of the whole people which covers all currents and is trying to organize itself to continue the struggle... Syrians have already made the decision to continue the revolution, which began pacifically, but in response tp the barbarism of the regime some groups has taken weapons. Most go on the streets unarmed. Therein lies the secret of the Syrian revolution, in the value of its people.
- [Narrating an ongoing revolution - M. Lynx Qualey's review of Yazbek](https://rayaagency.org/2012/07/narrating-an-ongoing-revolution-m-lynx-qualeys-review-of-yazbe/) - Many have criticized the “hasty” Arabic literature that has emerged in the last 16 months, blossoming in both bookstores and online during the ongoing Arab revolutions... And yet there is something about the intersection of literature and real life that compels readers to keep searching for books that resonate with, and expand beautifully on, the current moment — without cheapening either the literature or the moment. Syrian novelist and TV host Samar Yazbek’s “A Woman in the Crossfire: Diaries of the Syrian Revolution” is one of these rare books.
- [Douaihy's June Rain is now out in German, at Hanser! - Thur gauerzeitung's review (in English)](https://rayaagency.org/2012/08/douaihys-june-rain-is-now-out-in-german-at-hanser-thur-gauerzeitungs-review-in-english/) - "Douaihy's is a tragically fragmented approach to home with a fractured kaleidoscopic narrative that casts different sides of a spotlight on the central event... He succeeds in going under the skin of individual portraits."
- [A powerful piece by Yazbek in New York Times OpEd](https://rayaagency.org/2012/08/a-powerful-piece-by-yazbek-in-new-york-times-oped/) - IT was not yet 5 on Tuesday morning. I was lying on one side of the bed and the two little girls I was watching were on the other. None of us had slept a wink. Snipers’ gunfire rang out from time to time; bombs were crashing all around us. The girls’ frightened mother entered the room. “The bombing is getting worse,” she said. We ran out, heading downstairs. Women and children and some men had gathered in the shelter. The children were now capable of distinguishing between the sound of bombs and gunfire, between distant and nearby shelling, and they could discern the direction from which it was all coming
- ['Exciting' says the magazine Der Freitag, about Douaihy's June rain](https://rayaagency.org/2012/09/exciting-says-the-magazine-der-freitag-about-douaihy-s-june-rain/) - "No one in the village wants to really give him any information. The survivors speak of generalities or give him conflicting versions of what happened. "People talk, just as they please," says Kamleh, Elias' mother, "you will not obtain anything for them, they will lie to you. Anyone who has lost a relative up there, tries to make a hero out of him… And who was himself up there and has flown the coop, does not know what to say, they rather remain silent."" Although June rain has a few lengths, it is an exciting, successful literary novel. In some ways it's a coming of age novel from the Middle East, one that leaves no doubt about the central role of family militant organizations in the Lebanese civil war.
- [The National UAE reviews Yazbek's book -the English translation of which is supported by The Sharjah International Book Fair Translation Grant](https://rayaagency.org/2012/09/the-national-uae-reviews-yazbeks-book-the-english-translation-of-which-is-supported-by-the-sharjah-international-book-fair-translation-grant/) - Yazbek's is not a crafted memoir but an immediate record of three months of fear, torture, intimidation and, eventually, flight from her home told through diaries that stop and start, sometimes repeat, and always offer another detail of popular will and regime cruelty. Its importance is in its existence, the effort of so many Syrians to share their stories and Yazbek's own courage and ability to record them. It is a hard, painful read, not only for what Yazbek witnesses and suffers but also for that of the other Syrians that she interviews. Their testimonies come through on the page as atrocities happen all around her.
- [CNN reviews Yazbek's book!](https://rayaagency.org/2012/09/cnn-reviews-yazbeks-book/) - The 42-year-old writer is a very unlikely revolutionary, certainly an unexpected presence among the Free Syrian Army.
- [Yazbek - a portrait in the Washington Post](https://rayaagency.org/2012/10/yazbek-a-portrait-in-the-washington-post/) - Refusing to play Assad’s sectarian games in Syria By David Ignatius, for the Washington Post, September 19th, 2012 If you want to put a face on the Syrian revolution, try an activist named Samar Yazbek. I had a chance to talk with her when she visited Washington this week, and she brought the cause of
- [PEN Pinter Prize awarded to Yazbek](https://rayaagency.org/2012/10/pen-pinter-prize-awarded-to-yazbek/) - The PEN Pinter Prize was established in 2009 in memory of the Nobel-winning playwright Harold Pinter. The Prize is awarded annually to a British writer or a writer resident in Britain of outstanding literary merit who, in the words of Harold Pinter’s Nobel speech, casts an ‘unflinching, unswerving’ gaze upon the world, and shows a
- [The Guardian on Yazbek's PEN Pinter prize](https://rayaagency.org/2012/10/the-guardian-on-yazbeks-pen-pinter-prize/) - She interviewed protesters, doctors, neighbours and defectors about what was happening in the streets, prisons and hospitals of her country, what they saw and what was done to them, often finding that after they had talked to her, they disappeared. She never pretends that she is being heroic, although her persistence sometimes feels foolhardy. This week the book was awarded the PEN Pinter Prize, given annually to a British writer who, as Harold Pinter put it in his Nobel speech, casts an "unflinching, unswerving" gaze upon the world (this year, Carol Ann Duffy), and shared with an international writer who has been persecuted for speaking out about their
- [Frankfurter interviews Jabbour Douaihy](https://rayaagency.org/2012/10/frankfurter-interviews-jabbour-douaihy/) - The writer and literature professor Jabbour Douaihy is one of the foremost intellectuals of Lebanon. He wants to investigate the violence that shook this country again and again, by literary means. For decades, his family was involved in a blood feud that in the fifties, fell in one day twenty victims. The events of that time has Douaihy processed in his novel "June rain". By mail, he gives me his phone number. I called.
- [Samar Yazbek awarded the PEN Tucholsky prize](https://rayaagency.org/2012/11/samar-yazbek-awarded-the-pen-tucholsky-prize/) - Samar Yazbek, author of the literary account "In the crossfire", will be awarded the PEN Tucholsky prize in Stockholm on November 15th. Since 1985, the Swedish PEN Tucholsky Prize is awarded to writers who made special efforts for freedom of speech. It has over the years been awarded, among others, to Salman Rushdie, Bei Dao and Nuruddin Farrah.
- ["Saint Georges was looking away" - Avvenire reviews Douaihy's Chased away](https://rayaagency.org/2012/11/saint-georges-was-looking-away-avvenire-reviews-douaihys-chased-away/) - In this lies the conflict that Douaihy recounts, that between Muslim and Christian realities, of which Nizam becomes a metaphorical symbol. At twenty, when he gets to Beirut, in the turmoil of the revolution, with the outbreak of the civil war, he must come to terms with his being Muslim and Christian. A dual membership to the two communities, seen not only with suspicion but decidedly rejected. The narrative power of Douaihy lies in his strong belief in the real possibility of telling emblematic stories, with strong characters who are never forgotten. Stories that become emblematic, like are the solitude and the identity of the torn protagonist.
- [SvD, Sweden, interviews Yazbek](https://rayaagency.org/2012/11/svd-sweden-interviews-yazbek/) - SvD interviews Samar Yazbek Published on November 19th, 2012 Photo credit: Dan Hansson As soon as the Syrian uprising erupted against the Assad regime in March 2011, Samar Yazbek travel around the country to describe the regime's brutality and listen to people who have suffered sieges, bombing and shelling during the mass demonstrations against the
- [The New York Times - Portrait of Samar Yazbek](https://rayaagency.org/2012/11/the-new-york-times-portrait-of-samar-yazbek/) - In both the book and in life, Ms. Yazbek, a novelist, oscillates between embracing the Alawite label and rejecting it, loath to paint the uprising in sectarian colors. It is a common sentiment among the limited number of Alawites who have publicly joined the revolution. “I had never cared whether I was an Alawite or not,” she said, speaking in Arabic over coffee in a Midtown Manhattan hotel. “It was like someone saying you had blue eyes.”
- [Saadallah Wannous supported by the MacArthur Foundation](https://rayaagency.org/2012/12/saadallah-wannous-supported-by-the-macarthur-foundation/) - AUB Professor Robert Myers was among a group who were awarded a $50,000 grant by the MacArthur Foundation to translate to English and produce a play by late Syrian playwright Saadallah Wannous in Beirut and Chicago.
- [Two of RAYA's titles on the IPAF2013 longlist](https://rayaagency.org/2012/12/two-of-rayas-titles-on-the-ipaf2013-longlist/) - The International Prize of Arabic Fiction (IPAF) also known as the Arab Booker has announced its long list. RAYA's Ibrahim Nasrallah's The King of Galilee, and Mohammad Hasan Alwan's Beavers are on the list!
- [Beautiful heartfelt German review (in English) of Douaihy's "June rain"](https://rayaagency.org/2012/12/beautiful-german-review-in-english-of-douaihys-june-rain/) - In both books, the life in a small town is carefully circled in episodic chapters. The story of the protagonist is only one among many… A little like a cubist painting peels off gradually from different perspectives, offering a complex picture, which goes far in its multidimensionality, beyond the horizon of individual actors.
- [Samar Yazbek receives the Oxfam-Novib / PEN award in the Netherlands](https://rayaagency.org/2013/01/samar-yazbek-receives-the-oxfam-novib-pen-award/) - The Syrian writer and journalist Samar Yazbek will be receiving the Oxfam Novib / PEN Award on Thursday, January 17. Samar Yazbek was witness to brutal violence against demonstrating citizens in her country. She wrote about it, then received serious threats and finally had to flee the country with her daughter. The Oxfam Novib /
- [Alwan's Beavers is shortlisted for the IPAF!](https://rayaagency.org/2013/01/alwans-beavers-is-shortlisted-for-the-ipaf/) - Mohammad Hasan Alwan's book Beavers is shortlisted for the International Prize of Arabic Fiction, also known as the Arab Booker! Sinan Antoon, Jana Elhassan, Mohammed Hassan Alwan, Ibrahim Issa, Saud Alsanousi and Hussein Al-Wad are announced as the six authors shortlisted for the 2013 International Prize for Arabic Fiction. Their names were revealed on January
- [A review of Ibrahim Nasrallah's Time of white horses](https://rayaagency.org/2013/01/a-review-of-ibrahim-nasrallah-s-time-of-white-horses/) - Nasrallah manages to travel back in time to shape an environment of characters and scenes free of stereotypes and assumptions which a contemporary Westerner might too quickly bring to the table through habits of reading overly contextualized by the arch-narrative of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict post 1948. Drawn into the late 19th and early 20th century life of an Arab community rarely encountered in literature about Palestine, the reader momentarily suspends belief in his own pre-suppositions about the region
- [Susan Abulhawa's impressions on Nasrallah's Time of white horses](https://rayaagency.org/2013/04/susan-abulhawas-impressions-on-nasrallahs-time-of-white-horses/) - TIME OF WHITE HORSES, by my friend, Ibrahim Nasrallah, was a fabulous read that I had to put down, repeatedly. I read the first 300 pages of this translated work from the original Arabic in just a few days. Then the world changed and I moved through the next 300 pages slowly, tiptoeing through lives I recognised and characters I came to love. I turned these pages with trepidation for nearly a month, sometimes holding my breath and swallowing hard. I was reading the unfolding of my own life, and the lives of all Palestinians. I knew what was going to happen and in the strange ways of a heart touched by literature, I wanted to warn the characters. I needed them to make different decisions to save us all from our fate; until, I finally came upon the last chapter and stopped. I put the book down and left it there for another 2 weeks.
- [Yazbek: "The Syrian revolution has changed me as a writer" - The Guardian](https://rayaagency.org/2013/05/yazbek-the-syrian-revolution-has-changed-me-as-a-writer-the-guardian/) - I had to return to Syria. Assad's aircrafts were bombing bakeries, villages and farms. They bombarded civilians with explosives and sent a rain of poison down. In July last year I went back to the north, to the village of Banash, near Idlib. It was here that I saw the real Syria for the first time. The assault was continuous. Snipers were dotted throughout the rebel-controlled areas and Free Syrian Army checkpoints were all along the roads. There was scarcely any sign of extremist Islamists. In towns such as Saraqeb, the poetry of Mahmoud Darwish and Muthafar al‑Nawab and songs of love and struggle spread through the streets. The notion of a civil state dominated. The economic situation had deteriorated but was still bearable and sectarian tensions were not high. I travelled between the villages of the liberated north, hearing stories of death and heroism. I had conversations with various factions of the FSA, who spoke of a civil state even though many of them were Islamists.
- [Saadallah Wannous at the Comedie Francaise: The first time ever an Arabic work is included in the French repertoire](https://rayaagency.org/2013/05/saadallah-wannous-at-the-comedie-francaise-the-first-time-ever-an-arabic-work-is-included-in-the-french-repertoire/) - For the first time, an Arabic work makes its way into the repertoire of the Comédie française: Rituals of a metamorphosis, by Saadallah Wannous. In the long history of the House of Molière, which, this year, celebrates its 333rd birthday, this is an important event.
- [Wannous' 'Rituals' in the Comedie francaise: A visionary play and a symbolic timing](https://rayaagency.org/2013/05/wannous-rituals-in-the-comedie-francaise-a-visionary-play-and-a-symbolic-timing/) - The symbolism is striking given that the play, which was written in 1994, in the time of Hafez El-Assad, clearly announces what we today observe on either side of the Mediterranean. One thinks of the Arab spring, but also, if one carefully listens to Wannous, one thinks of all the sexual and financial scandals which happen at the same time a little more to the North.
- [Samar Yazbek at Ways With Words 2013](https://rayaagency.org/2013/07/samar-yazbek-at-ways-with-words-2013/) - Samar Yazbek, at Dartington's Ways With Words: “We are going to need multiple revolutions. We have had dictators and now we have extremists. But we have the backbone to our society that means there could be a great democracy. We just have to keep fighting.”
- ["Egypt Shows How Political Islam Is at Odds With Democracy" - Rakha in the New York Times OpEd](https://rayaagency.org/2013/07/egypt-shows-how-political-islam-is-at-odds-with-democracy-rakha-in-the-new-york-times-oped/) - "U.S. Warns Egypt’s Generals Against Jeopardizing ‘Second Chance’ at Democracy. “The armed forces remained committed to what it considered the legitimacy of the ballot box until this presumed legitimacy moved against its own purpose,” General el-Sisi said. “The Egyptian people were concerned that the tools of the state could be used against them. The armed forces had to make a choice, seeing the danger of deepened polarization.” The general said that the military had offered Mr. Morsi the option of a referendum on whether he should stay in power, but that the deeply unpopular president had refused. Painful as it was to see the democratic process interrupted so soon after the revolution that overthrew the longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011, the military’s action was necessary."
- [Al Ahram English reviews Khalifa's "There are no knives"](https://rayaagency.org/2013/07/al-ahram-english-reviews-khalifas-there-are-no-knives/) - Syrian novelist Khaled Khalifa continues in his new novel No Knives in this City's Kitchens what he begun in his previous masterpiece, In Praise of Hatred (2006) — excavating contemporary Syrian society's memory. He starts from what one family has gone through in Aleppo, which he describes as the punished city, while In Praise of Hatred focused on the distortions made by death squads or the "Party Action Squads" in the psyches of its members during the events in Hama in the 1980s. The novel explores the price paid by Syrians for living parallel to the life of the ruling party for near half a century.
- [Grazia UK interviews Samar Yazbek: Why she won't be silenced](https://rayaagency.org/2013/08/grazia-uk-interviews-samar-yazbek-why-she-wont-be-silenced/) - "Syrian women were among the first to participate in the public resistance of Assad and they are still participating in the revolution. I think women are the ones who will pay the price of what’s happened first – they have already been abused by Assad’s followers in civilian areas and in refugee camps. Hence why I say that, up to the day Assad falls, we should strive to make sure women are not deprived of their rights and are allowed to participate in political, social and economic life. This is because I am worried of the emergence of a radical Islamic movement, not a moderate one, which will have a negative influence on the Syrian woman. Our mission is to make Assad go and then to crush religious fanaticism and radicalism and this will take a very long time. Our road is very long."
- [Samar Yazbek, BBC](https://rayaagency.org/2013/08/samar-yazbek-bbc/) - All of a sudden, I found myself beneath the guillotine wherever I turned. Having for so many years thought myself capable of claiming my freedom as a woman - despite facing various forms of oppression - I was being stripped of my sense of self, falling repeatedly from the sky down into the devil's abyss. The extent of the barbarity that exists in this world is beyond anyone's imagination.
- [Jeune Afrique reviews Douaihy's Chased away](https://rayaagency.org/2013/09/jeune-afrique-reviews-douaihy-s-chased-away/) - "Superb!"
- [Yazbek, Washington Post: "The novelist vs. the revolutionary: My own Syrian debate"](https://rayaagency.org/2013/09/yazbek-washington-post-the-novelist-vs-the-revolutionary-my-own-syrian-debate/) - The novelist regrets that the opposition movement has evolved from its peaceful origin. She refuses to condone, let alone applaud, armed uprisings. “Isn’t political opposition the better alternative?” she meekly suggests. The other woman laughs in her face and rejects her logic. “What are you waiting for, you futile scribbler, when more than 100,000 people lie dead and thousands are imprisoned or missing?"
- [Khalifa in Malta's Sunday Times](https://rayaagency.org/2013/09/khalifa-in-malta-s-sunday-times/) - “Syria has no choice but hope.”
- [Syria's Inferno - in Le Nouvel Observateur, by Samar Yazbek](https://rayaagency.org/2013/09/syria-s-inferno-in-le-nouvel-observateur-by-samar-yazbek/) - The blazing sun gave the impression that the crowd fleeing death to Turkey was at the gates of hell: Children faces burned, human beings who lacked an arm or leg. And everywhere, the smell of rotting, festering wounds, poorly treated by lack of medicine. We got in the camp after many difficulties. In the harsh light, children seemed to be crumbling clay statues. Tents were lined up, and all around, the foul water flowed in the gutters. The atmosphere was stifling. Almost all the refugees had looked absent, they all seemed to wait for something.
- [Swedish Sveriges radio offers a first review of Yazbek's Cinnamon](https://rayaagency.org/2013/09/swedish-sveriges-radio-offers-a-first-review-of-yazbeks-cinnamon/) - It is not difficult to understand why Samar Yazbek angers the regime in Syria. A dark streak of light is certainly not the reason she fled their home country, nevertheless, this fictional narrative is a biting criticism of Syrian society.
- [Douaihy's "Chased away" winner of the "Young Arab literature" award](https://rayaagency.org/2013/11/douaihys-chased-away-winner-of-the-young-arab-literature-award/) - On Tuesday November 5th, Lebanese author Jabbour Douaihy received the Young Arab literature award, created in the Spring of 2013 by the Jean-Luc Lagardère Foundation, and the Arab World Institute, Paris. Eight titles were shortlisted, by authors Saber Mansouri ("I was born eight times", Le Seuil), Nabil Naoum ("Amir", Actes Sud, Sindbad), Ahmed Dich ("Chibani",
- [Khalifa's "There are no knives" is awarded the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature 2013](https://rayaagency.org/2013/12/khalifas-there-are-no-knives-is-awarded-the-naguib-mahfouz-medal-for-literature-2013/) - This prize, awarded since 1996 is a major award for contemporary Arabic literature. The award is presented annually on December 11, the birthday of Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz, by the President of the American University in Cairo in the presence of the Minister of Culture and many other prominent leaders of Egypt’s cultural life. Exceptionally, and for the first time, the winner of the prize was unable to receive the award in person. Khaled Khalifa was not given permission to leave Syria by the authorities.
- [The IPAF 2014's long list is out!](https://rayaagency.org/2014/01/the-ipaf-2014-long-list-is-out/) - The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (also known as Arab Man Booker) has announced its long list yesterday, Tuesday January 7th. The long list can be found below, and details on each book are on the IPAF's website. On the long list, Khaled Khalifa's novel "There are no knives in the kitchens of the city".
- [The Boston Globe on Wannous' "Rituals", produced in Beirut last December](https://rayaagency.org/2014/01/the-boston-globe-on-wannous-rituals-produced-in-beirut-last-december/) - “He thought his plays would transform Arab society, and all his life he was disappointed that they did not,” said Robert Myers, the playwright and AUB professor who cotranslated “Rituals.”
- [Khaled Khalifa's "There are no knives" on the IPAF's shortlist!](https://rayaagency.org/2014/02/khaled-khalifas-there-are-no-knives-on-the-ipafs-shortlist/) - For the second time, a novel by Khaled Khalifa is on the shortlist of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF), also known as the Arab Man Booker. "There are no knives" is co-published by Dar El Ain, Egypt, and Dar Al Adab, Lebanon. In 2008, Khalifa's "In praise of hatred" was also shortlisted for
- [Al Ahram English interviews Khalifa](https://rayaagency.org/2014/02/al-ahram-english-interviews-khalifa/) - "We should look to ourselves as part of the world, a lot of efforts should be made to make the Arabic novel able to compete with world literature, and this could happen through translation, world prizes and many other things." Khalifa has a belief that this will not occur through one person's effort or success: "I'm telling you we will not make it as individuals, but as a culture."
- [Khalifa interviewed by Al Hayat - translated by Syrian Observer](https://rayaagency.org/2014/03/khalifa-interviewed-by-al-hayat-translated-by-syrian-observer/) - The Syrian writer Khalid Khalifa moves inside Damascus from one neighborhood to another, moving in what he describes as "bourgeois displacement". The writer says he doesn't believe he is entitled to the honor of saying he shares the suffering of real displacement in refugees camps.
- [Library Journal reviews Khalifa's In praise of hatred - "Beautiful, powerful, and terrifying novel"](https://rayaagency.org/2014/03/library-journal-reviews-khalifas-in-praise-of-hatred-beautiful-powerful-and-terrifying-novel/) - While the action seems to be torn out of today's newspapers, it is actually set in the late 1970s and early 1980s when a rebellion against the current leader's father was brutally suppressed. In chilling terms, the narrator describes her embrace of fanaticism and her rejection of the middle ground.
- [The Doha magazine on Jabbour Douaihy's American Neighborhood](https://rayaagency.org/2014/03/the-doha-magazine-on-jabbour-douaihys-american-neighborhood/) - In "American neighborhood', Douaihy stays close to a narrative he's experienced before, and successfully captures the societal transformations that affect his country.
- ["Douaihy gives life to past memories" - Al Safir, on American Neighborhood](https://rayaagency.org/2014/03/douaihy-gives-life-to-past-memories-al-safir-on-american-neighborhood/) - "American neighborhood" is not the story of a particular district of Tripoli, as much as it is the story of the whole city. The novel depicts the city in time and space, and taints it in multiple colors, as the author seems to have dipped his brush in its past and present, creating for us a heart warming portrait.
- [Olivia Snaije interviews Mostafa Khalife for Publishing Perspectives](https://rayaagency.org/2014/06/olivia-snaije-interviews-mostafa-khalife-for-publishing-perspectives/) - Prison is prolonged in life. I was released in 1994 and yet last night I woke up and thought I was still in prison.
- ["Profound depiction of a community’s grief" - Mona Zaki on Douaihy's "June Rain", for Banipal Magazine](https://rayaagency.org/2014/07/profound-depiction-of-a-communitys-grief-mona-zaki-on-douaihys-june-rain-for-banipal-magazine/) - "A candid depiction of death, June Rain is one of the most powerful novels on Lebanon. It is rich, complex, beautifully written and more importantly, beautifully translated by Paula Haydar. This work is outstanding and will continue to remain relevant."
- ["American neighbourhood" is Douaihy's best novel, says Mishka Mourani - courtesy of @Arablit](https://rayaagency.org/2014/09/american-neighbourhood-is-douaihys-best-novel-says-mishka-mourani-courtesy-of-arablit/) - Mishka Mourani says "American neighbourhood" is Douaihy's “best novel yet”
- [El Pais reviews Sinan Antoon's "Ave Maria", published by Turner, Spain](https://rayaagency.org/2014/09/el-pais-reviews-sinan-antoons-ave-maria-published-by-turner-spain/) - Sinan Antoon is another original voice of this new Iraqi narrative
- [Libros reviews Antoon's "Ave Maria" (Fragmentos de Bagdad)](https://rayaagency.org/2014/09/libros-reviews-antoons-ave-maria-fragmentos-de-bagdad/) - "Crudely realistic, Ave Maris nevertheless plays with tenderness, irony and poetry. Common sense, illusion and laughter are opposed to the barbary of dogmatisms. Against violence and corrupt powers, shine the daily kindnesses, and magical encounters allowing life to take its course."
- [Il Fatto Quotidiano, on Mustafa Khalifa's The Shell: "An essential reading"](https://rayaagency.org/2014/09/il-fatto-quotidiano-on-mustafa-khalifa-s-the-shell-an-essential-reading/) - It is an essential reading because it shows that historical truth is not considered in today's debate on Syria. Torture, summary executions, imprisonment of women, men and children in Syrian prisons has been the basis of power of the Assad family
- [Avvenire, The Shell is a "chilling description of torture" - Mostafa Khalifa](https://rayaagency.org/2014/09/avvenire-the-shell-is-a-chilling-description-of-torture-mostafa-khalifa/) - Mostafa Khalifa's is a scream from the silence of the prisons of the regime, a cry to be heard with the hope of freeing the future.
- [Publishers Weekly Online reviews Rakha's "Crocodiles"](https://rayaagency.org/2014/11/publishers-weekly-online-reviews-rakhas-crocodiles/) - Publishers Weekly Online November 2014 Rakha’s dizzying novel, set in Cairo between 1997 and the first days of 2012, disdains narrative arcs and linear chronology, perhaps because its focus is a group of young Egyptians who admire the freewheeling works of Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and other Beats. The narrator, Youssef, and his friends form
- [Crocodiles, "A Book With Prose Like Water" - Reviewlab on Rakha's novel](https://rayaagency.org/2014/12/crocodiles-a-book-with-prose-like-water-reviewlab-on-rakhas-novel/) - Reviewlab, by Skyler Vanderhoof. December 2014 Visit their website for the full story! The Crocodiles by prolific Egyptian novelist, reporter, poet, and photographer Youssef Rakha, is, at the very least, ambitious.. Ostensibly this book is about the eponymous Crocodiles, an underground group of guerilla poets formed in Egypt in the 1990’s and active until the
- [Library Journal: Rakha's Crocodiles is among the "don't miss indie titles in translation 2014"](https://rayaagency.org/2014/12/library-journal-rakhas-crocodiles-is-among-the-dont-miss-indie-titles-in-translation-2014/) - "Rakha’s brilliant novel" Barbara Hoffert, for Library journal, December 9th, 2014 In poet/journalist Rakha’s brilliant novel, set in Cairo between 1997 and 2011, the suicide of an iconic female activist, the founding of the Crocodiles Movement for Secret Egyptian Poetry by a bunch of young idealists, and the birthday of Nayf, who’s struggling to translate
- [And Other Stories reading group selects Khalifa's "There are no knives"!](https://rayaagency.org/2015/01/and-other-stories-reading-group-selects-khalifas-there-are-no-knives/) - For those new to the reading groups, And Other Stories is a fantastic independent UK publisher, and one way they select fiction to translate and publish is through reading groups. The groups help AOS get feedback from savvy readers, by reading as-of-yet untranslated novels, discussing them online and in person, and helping AOS pick what
- [This week: English translation of Antoon's book is awarded the Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation](https://rayaagency.org/2015/02/this-week-english-translation-of-antoons-book-issawarded-the-saif-ghobash-banipal-prize-for-arabic-literary-translation/) - We're very proud to share this news: The 2014 Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation will be awarded this week to Sinan Antoon for the translation of his own novel The Corpse Washer, published by Yale University Press. Paula Haydar is highly commended for her translation of June Rain by Jabbour Douaihy, published by Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing. Both June Rain and The Corpse Washer are on
- [Alwan's Beavers: "A rare and brilliant take on the midlife crisis"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/03/alwans-beavers-a-rare-and-brilliant-take-on-the-midlife-crisis/) - French Magazine "Lui" offers a brief review of Alwan's Beavers, February A rich Saudi man, overwhelmed by his family of morons and disenchanted mistress, leaves for America, the best place to host his melancholy. On a riverbed in Oregon, he meets a beaver, and seeks to find his way between contemplation, alcohol and personal development
- [Barakat, shortlisted for the International Man Booker Prize 2015](https://rayaagency.org/2015/04/barakat-shortlisted-for-the-international-man-booker-prize-2015/) - In the Spring of 2015, Hoda Barakat was on the shortlist of the International Man Booker Prize. Discover her latest novel, The Kingdom of this Earth!
- [Le Monde des Livres' beautiful review of Hoda Barakat's "The kingdom of this earth"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/05/le-monde-des-livres-beautiful-review-of-hoda-barakats-the-kingdom-of-this-earth/) - This article by Catherine Simon, was published in French, by Le Monde des Livres September 2012 What follows is an approximate translation into English. A historical novel, then? A parody rather. The stories told here are full of errors, as childhood memories and village gossip usually are. This is one of the strokes of
- [Representing a new author! - Hoda Barakat](https://rayaagency.org/2015/05/representing-a-new-author-hoda-barakat/) - I am happy and proud to announce that RAYA agency has recently started representing Hoda Barakat for all her works, for world translation rights. Hoda Barakat has published 5 novels, 2 plays, and chronicles. Her work has been translated in many languages, and has received several awards. Namely: Hoda Barakat was awarded Chevalier de l’Ordre des
- [The winner of the International Man Booker Prize will be announced tonight](https://rayaagency.org/2015/05/the-winner-of-the-international-man-booker-prize-will-be-announced-tonight/) - The winner of the International Man Booker Prize will be announced tonight, meanwhile, below is an interview of Hoda Barkat, published by The Guardian on May 13th. Go the The Guardian's website for the interviews of all other authors on the shortlist. How would you describe your work to someone unfamiliar with it? How to
- [Yet another great appreciation of Alwan's Beavers, in Canada](https://rayaagency.org/2015/05/yet-another-great-appreciation-of-alwan-s-beavers-in-canada/) - An interview conducted by Marie-Christine Blais, for La Presse, published in April 10th. Your narrator, Ghaleb, draws continually striking parallels between beavers he discovered in Oregon and his family who lives in Riyadh. How did you get this idea? I grew up in Saudi Arabia, where beavers do not exist. My knowledge on the subject
- [Happy to share English excerpts of Le Monde des Livres' beautiful review of Alwan's Beavers](https://rayaagency.org/2015/05/happy-to-share-english-excerpts-of-le-monde-des-livres-beautiful-review-of-alwan-s-beavers/) - This review by Catherine Simon, was published by Le Monde des Livres, on January 22, 2015. Below are a few excerpts in English. Both melancholic and hilarious, this story (...) sheds a critical, often fierce, light on the Saudi society and its offspring (...) The story begins (and ends) in Oregon (USA), on the banks of the
- [Alwan and his novel "Beavers" on France Inter](https://rayaagency.org/2015/06/alwan-and-his-novel-beavers-on-france-inter/) - Alwan, and his novel "Beavers" were the guests of Katheline Evin's show on France Inter, on May 26th, 2015. Listen here. Below a review that was published on their website. An excerpt in Englihs: "Cruel and nostalgic, funny and incredibly fierce, this book obviously speaks of Saudi Arabia, its archaisms and violence, the patriarcal system and
- [The Observer: Yazbek "crosses the line from journalism to high literary art"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/06/the-observer-yazbek-crosses-the-line-from-journalism-to-high-literary-art/) - This piece is by Andrew Hussey, for The Observer, published June 28th 2015. Read the full article here. Photo credit: Ed Alcock for The Observer. As she sits at a cafe table in the 7th arrondissement – elegant and intense, waving around a Gitane for emphasis – it’s hard to imagine a more Parisian figure
- [Edited excerpt from Yazbek's "The Crossing" in The Guardian](https://rayaagency.org/2015/06/edited-excerpt-from-yazbeks-the-crossing-in-the-guardian/) - This excerpt was published by The Guardian on June 28, 2015. Photo credit: The Guardian, Sedat Suna, EPA The barbed wire lacerated my back. I was trembling uncontrollably. After long hours spent waiting for nightfall, to avoid attracting the attention of Turkish soldiers, I finally raised my head and gazed up at the distant sky, darkening
- [Sunday Times reviews Yazbek's The Crossing: "A sobering glimpse of the wreckage that will be discovered when the war finally ends"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/07/sunday-times-reviews-yazbeks-the-crossing-a-sobering-glimpse-of-the-wreckage-that-will-be-discovered-when-the-war-finally-ends/) - Margarette Driscoll, for Sunday Times, published June 28, 2015 Photo credit: Ulf Andersen, for the Sunday Times [ Below a few excerpts ] The battle for Tal Abyad, a Syrian border town, was playing out as I began The Crossing. The nightly news showed weather-beaten, exhausted refugees flooding to the Turkish border, only to be
- [Samar Yazbek's "The crossing"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/07/samar-yazbeks-the-crossing/) - In The crossing, Yazbek describes the transformation of the Syrian conflict from a popular uprising to a monstrous war dominated by religious extremism. Syrians have been robbed of their revolution as the world watches in silence. In this book, Yazbek lends her voice to those who are not heard, the ordinary people, families, shop-keepers, soldiers, farmers,
- [Le Monde des Livres meets with Jabbour Douaihy in Beirut](https://rayaagency.org/2015/07/le-monde-des-livres-meets-with-jabbour-douaihy-in-beirut/) - This is an excerpt of an article by Laure Stephan, for le Monde des Livres, Published June 18th, 2015 They often talk about their books in France, whether written in French or translated from the Arabic. Some have studied in France or lived here during their years of exile in the time of war (1975-1990). But
- [Yazbek to MailOnline, "the role of a writer in society is  to bring a voice to the people with none"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/07/yazbek-to-mailonline-the-role-of-a-writer-in-society-is-to-bring-a-voice-to-the-people-with-none/) - "Troops snatched young boys from their mothers' arms and 'tore them apart with bullets': New book reveals the harrowing fate of Syrians trapped living under President Assad and the butchers of ISIS" By Imogene Calderwood, for MailOnline, July 8th, 2015 Photo credit: Samar Yazbek The grim reality of life in Syria is told through the
- [The Economist reviews Yazbek's The Crossing: "The important job of putting faces to the numbing numbers of Syria’s crisis"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/07/the-economist-reviews-yazbek-s-the-crossing-the-important-job-of-putting-faces-to-the-numbing-numbers-of-syria-s-crisis/) - The Economist, 11 July 2015FEW dispute that the war in Syria is a tragedy. But the question of what people are fighting about has been bitterly contested since the crisis broke out in 2011. Among many narratives, some see it as a battle of jihadist rebels, including Islamic State, against the nominally secular Assad regime.
- [Yazbek's The Crossing, the Financial Times' review "The new book is at its best in its closely observed storytelling"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/07/yazbek-s-the-crossing-the-financial-times-review-the-new-book-is-at-its-best-in-its-closely-observed-storytelling/) - A review by Roula Khalaf, for the Financial Times, July 17, 2015 Samar Yazbek is no ordinary Syrian dissident. Brave, rebellious and passionate in her advocacy of democratic change, she was born into the Alawite sect, the minority to which the Assad clan belongs. Branded as a traitor by Assad loyalists, this novelist, journalist and
- [Irish Times: "Such reporting on the war in Syria is all too rare" - Yazbek's The Crossing](https://rayaagency.org/2015/08/irish-times-such-reporting-on-the-war-in-syria-is-all-too-rare-yazbek-s-the-crossing/) - By Barry Andrews, for Irish Times, August 2, 2015 Barry Andrews of Goal salutes an eloquent, gripping and harrowing account by an incredibly brave Syrian of her country’s decline into barbarism. The war in Syria is in its fifth year and it is estimated that 230,000 people have died in the conflict. This book is
- [The Spanish literary magazine Detour reviews Douaihy's "June rain"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/08/the-spanish-literary-magazine-detour-reviews-douaihys-june-rain/) - Oscar Brox, for Detour, July 2015. Approximate translation! Back to the past, to follow the traces of time, and collect the voices of other lives. Memory has some frustrating puzzles the pieces of which refuse to fit. However many documents we collect, testimonies and details to provide their nuances, the past is never lived again with the same
- [Le vif l'express, Belgium reviews Douaihy's "American neighborhood": "There is no inevitability to fanaticism and redemption is possible."](https://rayaagency.org/2015/09/le-vif-lexpress-belgium-reviews-douaihys-american-neighborhood-there-is-no-inevitability-to-fanaticism-and-redemption-is-possible/) - Published by Le vif l'express, August 28th, 2015 The tale Lebanese writer Jabbour Douaihy writes in in The American neighborhood is not yet home to the tensions between Sunnis and Shiites that it will become after being contaminated by the Syrian conflict. But the rise of radical Islamism, which is the book's backbone, is already an important sign. The story is
- [Orange blossoms and spurs of violence - a review of Douaihy's "American Neighborhood"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/09/orange-blossoms-and-spurs-of-violence-a-review-of-douaihys-american-neighborhood/) - This is a review of Douaihy's latest nove by Claire Mazaleyrat, published on the blog "L'avis des livres", September 6th, 2015. "At a time when the decline of the city, and the ancient ties that ordered its social hierarchies are crumbling along streets fallen in decrepitude, past allegiances mark the end of a world. It is
- [Interview with the Berliner Zeitung: Yazbek "Syria as we knew it no longer exists"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/09/interview-with-the-berliner-zeitung-yazbek-syria-as-we-knew-it-no-longer-exists/) - This interview was conducted by Susanne Lenz, for the Berliner Zeitung, and published on September 14th, 2015. A few excerpts of the interview below (approximate translation!) In your book you describe how you got controlled at checkpoints by Iraqis, Yemenis, Chechens, etc.. It sounds as if Syria is not the Syrians' anymore. That is perfectly
- [Efekto about Douaihy's June rain "A work of Arabic literature definitely away from the clichés of exoticism which places it squarely in modernity"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/09/efekto-douaihy-june-rain/) - This review is by Jorge Iván Garduño, for Efekto, published in September 2015. June rain is the story of a return home, from America to Lebanon, which transforms into the investigation of a crime: Elia seeks to find the reasons for the "incident", as they call it in reference to the shooting that took place in the fifties, killing
- [Livres Hebdo about Douaihy's "American Neighborhood" : "The most accomplished, subtle and captivating of his books, which should reveal him"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/09/livres-hebdo-about-douaihys-american-neighborhood-the-most-accomplished-subtle-and-captivating-of-his-books-which-should-reveal-him/) - This review is by Jean-Claude Perrier, for Livres Hebdo, and published on August 21, 2015. Photo credit: The National AE. Below is an approximate translation. A subtle novel by Lebanese author Jabbour Douaihy, the main character of which is a city. Himself a son of Tripoli, Lebanon, where he teaches French literature, a literary critic at L'Orient littéraire, and a translator, Jabbour
- [Transfuge reviews Douaihy's American neighborhood - "Sharp and beautiful"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/09/transfuge-reviews-douaihys-american-neighborhood-sharp-and-beautiful/) - A review by Catherine Simon, for Transfuge, September 15ht, 2015 As its name suggests, the said "American" neighborhood is nested on a hill, overlooking the river and city, has kept nothing from its exotic and opulent past, except the old memory of an Anglican school. The school was eventually closed, squatted by politico-military people, in this case Syrian in this case, while the neighborhood itself was "invaded
- [Magazine littéraire: Douaihy's "American neighborhood" and the complexity behind becoming a terrorist, religion and beyond.](https://rayaagency.org/2015/09/magazine-litteraire-douaihys-american-neighborhood-and-the-complexity-behind-becoming-a-terrorist-religion-and-beyond/) - This piece is by Alexis Brocas, for the Magazine littéraire, published in September 2015. Translated excerpts below. Since Tchen'sattacks in The Human Condition, terrorism seems a constant theme in contemporary literature -- a mirror that we walk along a path bordered by the collective history and the author's personal history. Three novels came out this autumn, written in
- [Der Standaard about Khalifa's "There are no knives": "We never have enough"!](https://rayaagency.org/2015/09/der-standaard-about-khalifas-there-are-no-knives-we-never-have-enough/) - Der Standaard, March 27 2015 "Khalifa's family chronicle is straightforward and very structured. We never have enough of the recent history it covers, and the sometimes bizarre characters that filled the ancient streets of the Syrian city [of Aleppo]."
- [Der Standard interviews Yazbek: "If the big countries decide to end the bloodshed, there will be a solution"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/09/der-standard-interviews-yazbek/) - This interview was conducted by Ruth René for Der Standard, and published on September 13th, 2015. Below are translated excerpts. STANDARD: Ms. Yazbek, in your book you despair at the fact that no one wants to know what is happening in Syria. Has the world abandoned Syria? Yazbek: The world knows what is happening in Syria. All
- [Fixpoetry, about "The Crossing": "You can tell some from Yazbek's description of some scenes, that words are not enough to convey what is happening in Syria"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/09/fixpoetry-about-the-crossing-yazbek/) - A review by Elke Engelhardt, for Fixpoetry, September 17, 2015. Below are translated excerpts. Regarding Syria, there is a tragic mismatch in the perception of the situation in that country, and the needs of the people there. On the one hand there are people like Samar Yazbek, who expose themselves to great risks in order to repeatedly
- [Yazbek to Deutschland radio: "Does the West really want to stop the war in Syria?"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/09/yazbek-to-deutschland-radio-does-the-west-really-want-to-stop-the-war-in-syria/) - The interview was conducted by, Korbinian Frenzel for Deutschland radio kultur, on September 16th, 2015. Below are translated excerpts. Photo credit: Deutschland Radio, Torben Waleczek Everybody makes the terrorist organizationof ISIS responsible for the failure of the Syrian revolution. But the Syrian journalist and writer Samar Yazbek says that responsibility does not only lie with ISIS, but also
- [Alwan received the French Award for Arabic literature 2015 for his novel "Beavers"!](https://rayaagency.org/2015/09/alwan-received-the-french-award-for-arabic-literature-2015-for-his-novel-beavers/) - The Award for Arabic literature, worth €10,000, was created by the Arab world institute (Institut du monde arabe, Paris), and the Jean-Luc Lagardère Foundation (Paris). The award is presided by Pierre Leroy, Co-manager of Lagardère SCA, and is composed of several personalities from the worlds of media, arts, culture, as well as specialists of the Arab
- [L'Humanite on Douaihy's "American neighborhood": "The strength of the book lies in the author's acute gaze at these characters"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/10/lhumanite-on-douaihys-american-neighborhood-the-strength-of-the-book-lies-in-the-authors-acute-gaze-at-these-characters/) - Published by L'Humanité, on October 1st, 2015 The Lebanese author Jabbour Douaihy, professor of French literature at the University of Tripoli, immerses his reader in this city, especially in its American neighborhood, among the poorest, which he describes accurately. He explores everyday life, from the souk's stalls, to the cries of the vegetable vendors, these "peasants who smell of damp earth
- [Listen to Douaihy talk about his book "American neighborhood" on Swiss radio RTS](https://rayaagency.org/2015/10/listen-to-douaihy-talk-about-his-book-american-neighborhood-on-swiss-radio-rts/) - Click on this link to RTS' website.
- [Qantara (Germany) interviews Yazbek on her book "The Crossing"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/10/qantara-germany-interviews-yazbek-on-her-book-the-crossing/) - The interview was conducted by Rosa Gosch for Qantara, and published in October 2015 Pen Pinter prize winner Samar Yazbek talks to Rosa Gosch about her latest book, ″The Crossing: My Journey to the Shattered Heart of Syria″, the current situation in her home country and her expectations of the West. Ms Yazbek, the subject
- [Douaihy, about American Neighborhood to La Croix: "He met several Ismails, in these poor and explosive neighborhoods of Tripoli"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/10/douaihy-about-american-neighborhood-to-la-croix/) - A reviewe by Agnes Rotivel, for La Croix, published October 5th, 2015 (...) Here we are again in this mainly Sunni port city in Northern Lebanon - too often overshadowed by the capital Beirut - for which the author confesses a passion. Yet he is born in Zgherta, a Christian Maronite stronghold, 8 km away. "A
- [The Times Literary Supplement reviews books on Syria: Yazbek's is a "powerful and deeply painful"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/10/the-times-literary-supplement-reviews-books-on-syria-yazbeks-is-a-powerful-and-deeply-painful/) - Lydia Wilson, for The Times Literary Supplement, published on the 23rd of September 2015. An excerpt is featured below. Well into its fifth year, the conflict in Syria only seems to worsen every day, the news impossible to foresee from one month to the next, with warnings from the UN, NGOs and charities growing
- [Yazbek to Business Day: "We consume the news and then toss it out into the rubbish. This is what the Syrians have become in four years."](https://rayaagency.org/2015/10/yazbek-to-business-day/) - A review by by Rehana Rossouw, for Business Day, published September 25, 2015 Photo credit: Muhsin Akgun IN SYRIA millions of people’s lives, homes and livelihoods have been destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of abject refugees are streaming out to neighbouring countries and Europe. Since the start of the war in 2011 more than 250,000 Syrians have
- [Neuö Zürcör Zäitung: The Crossing: "Yazbek presents a balanced account"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/10/neuo-zurcor-zaitung-the-crossing-yazbek/) - This article by Angela Schader, was published by NZZ, on September 22, 2015 "Where the sceptre of war leads: Atef Abu Saif has breakfast with drones, and Samar Yazbek travels through destroyed Syria" (…) At the beginning of "The Stolen Revolution" [The Crossing], Samar Yazbek takes a peculiar position. All the details of this report are
- [Le Monde des Livres on American neighborhood: "Douaihy's writing is of extreme beauty"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/10/le-monde-des-livres-on-american-neighborhood-douaihys-writing-is-of-extreme-beauty/) - A review by Eglal Errera, for Le Monde des livres, published Firday 16th of October, 2015. Photo credit: La Croix. A comforting feeling of time and space. Where does this feeling come from in Lebanese writer Jabbour Douaihy's American neighborhood? When one knows that this story takes place in today's Lebanon, a short distance away from the Syrian border, in the city of
- [Der Standaart interviews Yazbek: "What is happening in Syria is a failure of the world’s conscience"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/10/der-standaart-interviews-yazbek-what-is-happening-in-syria-is-a-failure-of-the-worlds-conscience/) - An interview by Ruth Reif, for Der Standaart, published on October 2, 2015 "My soul remains in Syria» A year after the outbreak of the Syrian revolution, Samar Yazbek was forced to flee. Her name was blacklisted. Since then she has returned several times secretly to her home to interview people. Ms. Yazbek (…) Has
- [Al Araby: "Samar Yazbek, the Syrian Svetlana Alexievich"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/11/al-araby-samar-yazbek-the-syrian-svetlana-alexievich/) - Mou'in Al Bayari, for Al Araby, October 16th, 2015 The Belarusian Svetlana Alexievich, journalist, meets with many people who witnessed the tragedy she writes about about. She gathers their testimonies, and creates out of an open collage a narrative. The result is not a novel in the usual sense of the term, nor is it
- [Moustafa Khalifa's "The Shell" obtains a special mention from the jury of the prestigious Ibn Rushd Prize for the Freedom of Thought 2015](https://rayaagency.org/2015/11/moustafa-khalifa-moustafa-khalifas-the-shell-obtains-a-special-mention-from-the-jury-the-freedom-of-thought-2015/) - Ibn Rushd Foundation for the Freedom of Thought is an association based in Germany, whose members are from the Arab diaspora or live across various Arab countries. It takes its name after the philosopher Ibn Rushd (1126-1198), taking it upon itself to support free thought and democratic forces in the Arab world by offering an annual prize. The award is independent, funded
- [La Cite, on Douaihy's American Neighborhood: "A novel the power of which many documentarians would envy"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/11/la-cite-on-douaihys-american-neighborhood-a-novel-the-power-of-which-many-documentarians-would-envy/) - An interview conducted by William Irigoyen, for La Cite, published in November 2015. A few excerpts below in the French original, and in English. Photo credit: Samih Zaatari, La Cite. Thus summed up in its broad lines, the story would present only little interest, if it did not give a new opportunity to the author to
- [The Daily Beast on Yazbek's The Crossing: "Schocking, searing and beautiful"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/11/the-daily-beast-on-yazbeks-the-crossing-schocking-searing-and-beautiful/) - By Robin Yassin Kassan, for The Daily Beast, November 4th, 2015 Photo credit: Yannis Behrakis/Reuters The Syrians Who Refused to Give Up [pullquote]Syrian horrors and hopes almost defy description. Samar Yazbek’s passion and literary skill somehow manage to do them justice.[/pullquote] Samar Yazbek’s searing new book about her Syrian homeland is a testament to the
- [Hoda Barakat to Il Manifesto: "Exile has little to do with geography"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/11/hoda-barakat-to-il-manifesto-exile-has-little-to-do-with-geography/) - By Guido Caldion, for Il Manifesto, published on November 15h, 2015 Hoda Barakat is among the most famous and brilliant Lebanese authors. She has lived in Paris for the past thirty years, at Place de la République, the epicentre of the terrorist attack that hit the French capital. Deeply knowledgeable about the works of Marcel Proust and Robert Musil, but
- [La Vanguardia interviews Yazbek: "Focusing only on 'ISIS' is wrong"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/11/la-vanguardia-interviews-yazbek-focusing-only-on-isis-is-wrong/) - Interview conducted by Catalina Guerrero, for La Vanguardia, November 13th, 2015 Photo credit: Getty images In Syria "we have to face two monsters: the regime of Bashar al-Assad and the 'Daesh' (Arabic acronym for the terrorist group Islamic State)," said writer and activist Samar Yazbek, who recounted in "The Crossing" the "atrocities" she has witnessed. Her
- [El Diario Vasco interviews Yazbek: "The humanitarian reaction to the refugee crisis in Europe is great, but only addresses the consequences, not the cause"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/11/el-diario-vasco-interviews-yazbek-the-humanitarian-reaction-to-the-refugee-crisis-in-europe-is-great-but-only-addresses-the-consequences-not-the-cause/) - Interview conducted by Arantza Furundarena, for El Diario Vasco, November 15th, 2015. Photo credit: El Diario Vasco - What are your dreams for you country? - I dream of a a united, secular country, where religion is separate from politics. - What is the status of women in Syria? - Women have been the main victims of this
- [Yazbek to El Espanol: "For me, women are the real fighters of this war"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/11/yazbek-to-el-espanol-for-me-women-are-the-real-fighters-of-this-war/) - Interview conducted by Maria Torens, for El Espanol, November 12th, 2015 Photo credit: El Espanol While hundreds of thousands of Syrians are fleeing their country to seek asylum in neighboring countries and Europe, you went the opposite direction in 2012 and 2013. It sounds crazy. The situation was not so complicated. DAESH [acronym in Arabic the
- [Yazbek to Dagsavisen, Norway: "Terror struck my second homeland"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/11/yazbek-to-dagsavisen-norway-terror-struck-my-second-homeland/) - By Asne Gullikstad, for Dagsavisen, November 24th, 2015 Photo credit: Dagsavisen Samar Yazbek fled first from the Assad regime, but went back to war. The second time, she fled from ISIS. Now terror struck the city she lives in, Paris. [pullquote]"I opened the window ajar and let in a thin strip of light so the
- [SVT, Sweden: "Yazbek is comparable to Svetlana Alexievich"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/11/svt-sweden-yazbek-is-comparable-to-svetlana-alexievich/) - Ulrika Mille, for SVT, November 11th, 2015 Samar Yazbek's war story "The Crossing", in a translation by Marie Anell, is written in a classical female war correspondent tradition, with forerunners such as Martha Gellhorn, Barbro Alving, Dorothy Parker and Marie Colvin - who was killed in a grenade attack in Homs, in Syria 2012. Yazbek - who
- [Yazbek to Vart land "I fight with words and feel like Don Quixote and his impossible battle against windmills, but memory is an important basis of our existence"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/11/yazbek-to-vart-land/) - Lars Flydal, for Vart Land, November 24th, 2015 Photo credit: Lars Flydal ...Samar Yazbek combines humanitarian work with writing. The meeting with the people in the homeland was strong. "I've talked to hundreds of people who told me about the horrors of war. The author and journalist in me could not refrain from writing down
- [Yazbek to Aftenposten: "ISIS has become a symbol of revolution; the Islamist movement results from the leftist movement's failure"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/11/yazbek-to-aftenposten/) - Thea Storoy Elnan, for Aftenposten, November 23, 2015 Photo credit: Tor Stenersen While schools and the subways are closed in Brussels and other European countries implement high terror alerts, Samar Yazbek disagrees with the way the Western media focusses on refugee flows. - It is to ignore what is actually the root of the problem. The refugee
- [Aftonbladet on The Crossing: "Yazbek's book on Syria is indispensable... a painfully beautiful prose"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/11/aftonbladet-on-the-crossing/) - Elise Karlsson, for Aftonbladet, November 13th, 2015 Even after a country has ceased to exist, people continue to live in it. When the snipers monitor the streets, neighbors open their houses to allow passage, through this alternative road. At night, every night, when the bombs fall, you run you down in the basement with the kids and talk to each other
- [Sonia Dayan-Herzbrun on Douaihy's American Neighborhood: "One must absolutely read this book, imbued with intelligence and humanity"](https://rayaagency.org/2016/02/sonia-dayan-herzbrun-on-douaihys-american-neighborhood-one-must-absolutely-read-this-book-imbued-with-intelligence-and-humanity/) - By Sonia Dayan-Herzbrun, for En attendant Nadeau, published on February 10, 2016 The American neighbourhood, last novel Jabbour Douaihy, is as a long love letter to Tripoli, Northern Lebanese city where the author spent much of his childhood and where he teaches French literature … [pullquote]This beautiful novel, of classical style with the fate of
- [The Shell, by Moustafa Khalifa, "mesmerizing" autobiographical novel - Publishing perspectives](https://rayaagency.org/2016/03/the-shell-by-moustafa-khalifa-mesmerizing-autobiographical-novel-publishing-perspectives/) - Olivia Snaije, for Publishing Perspectives, December 2015 The Shell as part of the "top books" of 2015. Snaije says: "Last but not least, La Coquille, (The Shell) by Moustafa Khalifé, a book I read in French, translated from Arabic, gave me the distinct feeling once I had finished it that I was no longer the
- [The Crossing among the best books of 2015, according to The Guardian](https://rayaagency.org/2016/03/the-crossing-among-the-best-books-of-2015-according-to-the-guardian/) - Carla Kweifio-Okai, about The Crossing, for The Guardian, December 2015 The Syrian refugee crisis was the defining story of 2015. For exiled Syrian journalist Samar Yazbek, it was deeply personal and years in the making. In this compelling read, Yazbek weaves her experiences of the civil war with snapshots of the life cycle of the
- [Yazbek's The Crossing is "a little gem" - says La grande librairie's journalist, France 5's TV cultural show](https://rayaagency.org/2016/03/yazbeks-the-crossing-is-a-little-gem-says-la-grande-librairies-journalist-france-5s-tv-cultural-show/) - Yazbek was featured on La grande librairie last Thursday, guest of Francois Busnel, along with Amin Maalouf and Erik Orsenna, both of which thought the book was important. Busnel explained the book sheds a unique light on the event, as Amin Maalouf asserted that it was a "courageous and honest book". As for Orsenna, and while he
- [Yazbek's The Crossing is on the long list of the Orwell prize](https://rayaagency.org/2016/03/yazbeks-the-crossing-is-on-the-long-list-of-the-orwell-prize/) - The Orwell Prize is Britain’s most prestigious prize for political writing. It is awarded each year for the book which come closest to George Orwell’s ambition to ‘make political writing into an art’. Samar Yazbek is on the Orwell's long list with her book on Syria, The Crossing. The winner will be announced end of May.
- ["A remarkable narrative to get rid of indifference" - Le Figaro on Yazbek's The Crossing](https://rayaagency.org/2016/03/le-figaro-on-yazbeks-the-crossing/) - By Charles Jaigu, for Le Figaro, March 13, 2016 (...) One must read this remarkable narrative to get rid of the indifference to the crackle of images, and of testimonies heard on the fly. It is not enough to know that terrible events are taking place in the world. A story longer than 140 signs needs to give them form and color. (...) Samar Yazbek's story is valuable as a literary
- [Le Nouvel Observateur: Yazbek's The Crossing "makes her comparable to Orwell"](https://rayaagency.org/2016/03/le-nouvel-observateur-yazbeks-the-crossing-makes-her-comparable-to-orwell/) - Gregoire Lemenager, for Le Nouvel Observateur, March 20th 2016 (...) She who until now scanned the gray areas of the good Damascene society in daring novels ( "Cinnamon" tells the homosexual relationship of a bourgeois with her housekeeper), then published "In the crossfire" (Buchet-Chastel, 2012) and collects literary awards that applaud her courage. (...) This book, some
- [The Point Magazine offers a beautiful analysis of Iraqi literature, featuring Sinan Antoon](https://rayaagency.org/2016/03/the-point-magazine-offers-a-beautiful-analysis-of-iraqi-literature-featuring-sinan-antoon/) - Betty Rosen for The Point Magazine, March 2016. Below a few excerpts. VisitThe Point Magazine's website for the full article. (...) Of the abundant works of fiction produced by Iraqi writers in the past ten years, Sinan Antoon’s The Corpse Washer and Hassan Blasim’s The Corpse Exhibition are two of the comparatively few to have
- [Writing about a country disintegrating - Sinan Antoon](https://rayaagency.org/2016/04/writing-about-a-country-disintegrating-sinan-antoon/) - By Farid Farid, for The Guardian, March 2015 “How do you write about a country that is disintegrating?” says Sinan Antoon, on the line from his office at New York University. His words have taken on a more affective valency in recent days, as the notorious militants from Islamic State (Isis) released footage showing the
- [Hoda Barakat to Corriere della sera: "Intellectuals have abdicated"](https://rayaagency.org/2016/05/hoda-barakat-to-corriere-della-sera-intellectuals-have-abdicated/) - Hoda Barakat was a guest of Chiasso Letteraria 2016: Seconda classe, in Italy, and was interviewed by Stefano Montefiori, for La Lettura, Corriere della Sera, April 24th, 2016. Below, excerpts of a summary of this conversation, published on the blog imago 2.0. Hoda Barakat, a Lebanese writer, after a period of great participation in events and discussions
- [Yazbek's "Les portes du néant" ("The crossing") is on the shortlist of the prestigious French Médicis award](https://rayaagency.org/2016/09/yazbeks-les-portes-du-neant-the-crossing-is-on-the-shortlist-of-the-prestigious-french-medicis-award/) - There are 14 titles on the shortlist, and the winner will be announced on October 10th. The Prix Médicis aims at giving recognition to authors whose fame does not match their talent. The prize was awarded to authors such as Jean Echenoz, Philippe Sollers, Sorj Chalandon or Marie Darieussecq in the past. Earlier in the
- [Khalifa's There are no knives is out in English! And reviewed in The National](https://rayaagency.org/2016/09/khalifas-there-are-no-knives-is-out-in-english-and-reviewed-in-the-national/) - A review by Marcia Lynx Qualey, for The National, September 21, 2016 Khaled Khalifa’s No Knives in the Kitchens of This City, like his acclaimed novel In Praise of Hatred (2013), is guided by a single powerful emotion. While In Praise tracks hatred as it seethes in and around Aleppo, No Knives, also translated by
- [The Guardian about Khalifa's No knives: "A pleasure to read... the writing is superb"](https://rayaagency.org/2016/09/the-guardian-about-khalifa-s-no-knives-a-pleasure-to-read-the-writing-is-superb/) - By Robin Yassin-Kassab, The Guardian, September 24, 2016 Were Syrians wise to revolt? Aren’t they worse off now? Such questions misapprehend the situation. Syrians didn’t decide out of the blue to destroy a properly functioning state. The state had been destroying them, and itself, for decades. In No Knives in the Kitchens of This City,
- [Selmi's "art of instilling into apparently trivial narratives, deep questions on the individual and society" - Jeune Afrique](https://rayaagency.org/2016/09/selmi-jeune-afrique/) - Youssef Ait Akdim, for Jeune Afrique, July 2013. Photo credit: Bruno Levy Dans Souriez, vous êtes en Tunisie !, Habib Selmi dresse un portrait acide de son pays. Écrit avant la révolution, ce roman prémonitoire sonde une société en plein bouleversement. [pullquote]Habib Selmi offers an acidic portrait of his country. Written before the revolution, this
- [The French prize of the Best Foreign Book was awarded to Yazbek's The Crossing yesterday!](https://rayaagency.org/2016/11/the-french-prize-of-the-best-foreign-book-was-awarded-to-yazbeks-the-crossing-yesterday/) - This is a translation of an article by Gregoire Lemenager for Nouvel Observateur. The prize for the Best Foreign Book (Meilleur Livre Etranger), the jury of which includes critics and publishers, is awarded on 29 November. There are two awards, one for fiction and one for non-fiction. In the non-fiction category, the prize was awarded to Samar
- [The New York Times reviews Khalifa's "No Knives": "Horror of living in Aleppo comes pounding to life in this book"](https://rayaagency.org/2016/12/the-new-york-times-reviews-khalifas-no-knives-horror-of-living-in-aleppo-comes-pounding-to-life-in-this-book/) - By Jennifer Senior, for The New York Times, December 14 2016 Aleppo has essentially fallen. The images have been unignorable, calamitous: of residents wandering numbly through burning city streets; of parents sobbing over dead children; of the strong wheeling away the weak. On Tuesday, a United Nations official described the massacre of fleeing civilians as
- [Barnes and Nobel recommends Khalifa's "magnificent No knives in the kitchens of this city"](https://rayaagency.org/2017/01/barnes-and-nobel-recommends-khalifas-magnificent-no-knives-in-the-kitchens-of-this-city/) - By David Ulin, for Barnes and nobels, published January 9, 2017 Why do we read fiction? There are as many answers to that question, I suppose, as there are readers, but for me, one of the primary reasons is empathy. Whatever else it bestows, fiction opens up the inner life, collapsing the distance between
- [L'Express: Antoon's The pomegranate alone a "superb portrait" and a "beautiful narrative"](https://rayaagency.org/2017/03/lexpress-antoons-the-pomegranate-alone-a-superb-portrait-and-a-beautiful-narrative/) - Marianne Payot, for L'Express Published on March 5, 2017 Sinan Antoon brushes off the superb portrait of a man carried away by the maelstrom of the Middle East and raises the veil over Baghdad. It is the story of a broken destiny, that of a young man who wanted to become a sculptor and who
- [Lecturer at an American University: Khalifa's no knives is "the best piece of literature I’ve had the chance to read in the last 6 months"](https://rayaagency.org/2017/03/lecturer-at-an-american-university-khalifas-no-knives-is-the-best-piece-of-literature-ive-had-the-chance-to-read-in-the-last-6-months/) - In her blog lecturer Ashleen Williams explains why she has adopted Khalifa's book in her class: This fall I’ll be assigning No Knives in the Kitchens of this City by Khaled Khalifa for Honors 101 – “Self, Society and Identity.” This is probably the best piece of literature I’ve had the chance to read in the last 6
- [Hoda Barakat's The kingdom of this earth featured in The White Review](https://rayaagency.org/2017/03/hoda-barakats-the-kingdom-of-this-earth-featured-in-the-white-review/) - Translation by Marilyn Booth. "Hoda Barakat’s THE KINGDOM OF THIS EARTH turns to the history of Lebanese Maronite Christians, from the Mandate period to shortly before the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War in the mid-1970s. This scene, occurring very early in the novel, precedes a tragedy that will mark the family at the centre
- [Sinan Antoon's Ave Maria is out from Hoopoe! A first review by The National - "A novel of rare brilliance"](https://rayaagency.org/2017/03/sinan-antoons-ave-maria-is-out-from-hoopoe-a-first-review-by-the-national-a-novel-of-rare-brilliance/) - The National, March 29, 2017 he Baghdad Eucharist is a short read but one that lingers long in the mind due to its characters’ candid testimonies. Antoon entrances with both his lavish set-pieces and tight thumbnail sketches. Maha’s miscarriage, together with Youssef’s doomed love affair with a Muslim girl 20 years his junior, show suffering
- [Reviews of The Shell, English edition: "Highly recommended"](https://rayaagency.org/2017/09/reviews-of-the-shell-english-edition-highly-recommended/) - The Shell, by Moustafa Khalifa, is published in English by Interlink, USA (2017): “From 1982 to 1994, Syrian topographer Khalifa was incarcerated in his country’s infamous Tadmur Military Prison, and his decision to present his experiences as fiction results in a document both haunting and bold. Perhaps only fiction could do justice to the suffering
- [Shubbak interview with Najwa Bin Shatwan - Being a female author in Libya](https://rayaagency.org/2017/09/shubbak-interview-with-najwa-bin-shatwan-being-a-female-author-in-libya/) - Interview conducted by Nahla Al Agli for Shubbak festival's blog, in July 2017. An ugly shadow side of Libya’s history is that it was a slave market route for centuries under Ottoman rule, way before the Italian occupation and prior to Libya’s declared independence in 1951. Growing up in Libya, children might still hear stories
- [Antoon's "The pomegranate alone" wins the Arab World Institute-Lagardere award for Arabic literature - while Khalifa's "No knives" gets a special mention](https://rayaagency.org/2017/09/antoons-the-pomegranate-alone-wins-the-arab-world-institute-lagardere-award-for-arabic-literature-while-khalifas-no-knives-gets-a-special-mention/) - The prize for Arabic Literature was created in 2013 by the Foundation Jean-Luc Lagardère and the Arab World Institute in Paris. The 10,000 euros prize rewards one author (national of a state member of the Arab ligue) of a literary work written or translated into French. The prize will be awarded on October 18th in Paris, by former minister
- [Samar Yazbek "19 Women: Stories of resilience from Syria"](https://rayaagency.org/2017/11/samar-yazbek-19-women-stories-of-resilience-from-syria/) - The women of Syria have to fight not only the Regime, or the Islamist rebels; they have to fight the whole of a patriarchal society, including male revolutionaries. Yazbek collects their stories. In 19 women: Stories of resilience from Syria, Yazbek focuses on the silent, or silenced, actors of the revolution: Women. While they were massively present
- ["Ingenious character, and a literary approach on the verge of the unimaginable" - GP, Sweden, reviews Yazbek's Blue Pen](https://rayaagency.org/2017/11/ingenious-character-and-a-literary-approach-on-the-verge-of-the-unimaginable-gp-sweden-reviews-yazbeks-blue-pen/) - Yazbek lets the child testify, a review by Mattia Hagberg, for GP, Sweden, October 2017 How do you describe a modern war? How do you put words on the most horrendous? These questions are all over the Syrian author and journalist Samar Yazbek's novel The Blue Pen. Trapped in a basement in Damascus, Rima is sitting and
- [Le Monde on Douaihy's Printed in Beirut: "A fake thriller, but a real comedy", "Elegant" and "far from stereotypes"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/02/le-monde-on-douaihys-printed-in-beirut/) - By Florence Noiville, for Le Monde, publisher on December 21st, 2017 Lebanese novelist Jabbour Douaihy offers a fake thriller, but a real comedy, tribute to Arabic writing and printing. Here is a Lebanese novel that is far from the stereotypes of Europeans on Middle Eastern literature. There are no reminiscences of war, no religious questions, no community issues. It is about
- [Kirkus reviews Douaihy's American neighborhood - "Brisk and affecting novel](https://rayaagency.org/2018/02/kirkus-reviews-douaihys-american-neighborhood-brisk-and-affecting-novel/) - Published by Kirkus Reviews, September 13th, 2017 A cross-section of life in one Tripoli neighborhood, from a wealthy resident to a housecleaner to a terrorist. This brisk and affecting novel by veteran Lebanese writer Douaihy (June Rain, 2015, etc.) is set during the early stages of the Iraq War and follows three archetypal characters. Intisar is a housecleaner
- [Acclaimed Algerian author Waciny Laredj about Nasrallah's "Second Dog War": A work by "one of the most important Arab voices", "reminiscent of Buzatti"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/03/acclaimed-algerian-author-waciny-laredj-about-nasrallahs-second-dog-war-a-work-by-one-of-the-most-important-arab-voices-reminiscent-of-buzatti/) - Published by Alquds Alarabi Newspaper, March 7, 2018 Nasrallah's experience places him among the most important contemporary Arab authors (...) In this novel, Ibrahim (Nasrallah) partly deviates from history to engage in a new, non-historical fiction, a sort of pre-emptive history that is looming on the horizon with an unavoidable certainty, in which he recounts
- [Qantara reviews Antoon's Ave Maria - "poetry, memory and loss"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/03/qantara-reviews-antoons-ave-maria-poetry-memory-and-loss/) - Published by Qantara, June 7, 2017 In his novel ″The Baghdad Eucharist″, Iraqi author Sinan Antoon probes deeply into the nature of loss and its impact on collective memory. Intertwining two distinct threads, he teases the reader to reach a conclusion about a community on the edge. Marcia Lynx Qualey read the book. On 31 October 2010, a
- [The Jordan Times reviews Douaihy's American Neighborhood - "Beautifully flowing prose"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/03/the-jordan-times-reviews-douaihys-american-neighborhood-beautifully-flowing-prose/) - Published by The Jordan Times, February 11th, 2018 Tripoli, past and present Lebanese novelist Jabbour Douaihy situates his story in Tripoli, in the north of his country. Though it is Lebanon’s second largest city and filled with noteworthy ancient architecture, particularly from the Mamluk period, Tripoli seldom gets the attention it merits. With his beautifully flowing prose,
- [The National calls Douaihy’s American Neighborhood "a Tripoli ballet," "graceful"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/03/the-national-calls-douaihys-american-neighborhood-a-tripoli-ballet-graceful/) - Published by The National, July 20th, 2017 Jabbour Douaihy’s The American Quarter is a strange and complex look into a Tripoli neighbourhood. In American Neighborhood, Lebanese writer Jabbour Douaihy narrates the intersection of three lives in an impoverished Tripoli district in northern Lebanon. Jabbour Douaihy’s The American Quarter is a surprisingly graceful tale of alienation, violence and human connection.
- [Asian Review of Books on Antoon's Avec Maria: "Brief but Resonant"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/03/asian-review-of-books-on-antoons-avec-maria-brief-but-resonant/) - Published by Asian Review of Books, May 13, 2017 Baghdad is not a city readily associated with Christianity. Nevertheless, a small (and shrinking) community lives there. This brief but resonant novel describes the discrimination and abuse they suffer for their faith as well as offering an important insight into how intolerance (of any religion or lifestyle, not just Christianity)
- [Antoon's Ave Maria is "a visceral yet poetic novel" - World Literature Today](https://rayaagency.org/2018/03/antoons-ave-maria-is-a-visceral-yet-poetic-novel-world-literature-today/) - Published by World Literature Today, September 2017 Sinan Antoon’s novel, Baghdad Eucharist, translated by Maia Tabet, originally published in Arabic by Al-Kamel Publishers and shortlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in 2013, is a visceral yet poetic novel about the Iraqi diaspora. Born in Iraq, Antoon moved to the United States in 1991 and has achieved recognition
- [Ibrahim Nasrallah wins the Arab Man Booker - or International Prize for Arabic Fiction 2018](https://rayaagency.org/2018/04/ibrahim-nasrallah-wins-the-arab-man-booker-or-international-prize-for-arabic-fiction-2018/) - On April 24th, the prestigious International Prize for Arabic Fiction was awarded to Ibrahim Nasrallah for his novel "The Second Dog War", a satirical novel, partly dystopia, partly science fiction, that depicts a not-so-distant grim future. The novel is entertaining and was for Ibrahim Nasrallah an opportunity to explore uncharted literary territory. While offering a skillful critique
- [Barakat to Asharq Al-Awsat – "Broaching taboo subjects must be done with respect"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/04/barakat-to-asharq-al-awsat-broaching-taboo-subjects-must-be-done-with-respect/) - Published by Asharq Al-Awsat, April 2nd, 2018 Barakat to Asharq Al-Awsat "I am comfortable with the frequency of my writing, and am not tempted by promotion" In her latest novel, The Night Post, Hoda Barakat adopts a new “trick” to immerse the reader in a game of five letters, written by five different senders as confessions to
- [An overview of Nasrallah's work and latest book by ArabLit](https://rayaagency.org/2018/04/an-overview-of-nasrallahs-work-and-latest-book-by-arablit/) - The full post can be read on ArabLit's website (published on April 24th, 2018). Below is an excerpt: Nasrallah — born in a Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan — is no stranger to the IPAF, having been on four of the prize’s 11 longlists. His Ottoman-era historical novel Time of White Horses made the 2009 shortlist, and has
- [Nasrallah - an interesting interview for The Arab Edition "In this novel there are aspects of sci-fi, frivolity, fantasy, black comedy and also exoticism."](https://rayaagency.org/2018/04/nasrallah-an-interesting-interview-for-the-arab-edition-in-this-novel-there-are-aspects-of-sci-fi-frivolity-fantasy-black-comedy-and-also-exoticism/) - An interview conducted by Maan Jalal for The Arab Edition – below an excerpt. The Second War of the Dog sees our anti-hero protagonist within a fantasy sci-fi setting. Acting as an opponent to an oppressing regime that cherishes power we see him transform into to an extremist. Parallels are obvious in the novel to what
- [La Strata reviews Khalifa's "No Knives": "Khalifa's novels are large domestic frescoes that exude History"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/05/la-strata-reviews-khalifas-no-knives-khalifas-novels-are-large-domestic-frescoes-that-exude-history/) - Published by La Stampa, March 10, 2018 Aleppo, a family portrait in an inferno, between Vivaldi’s music and street bombs The lives of four brothers unravel parallel to the construction of the Assad regime. From the 70s, with the occupation of the army and schools, to the (disappointed) hopes of the 2000s. The novels of Khaled Khalifa
- [Repubblica interviews Khalifa: "Literature proves that Syria will rise again"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/05/repubblica-interviews-khalifa-literature-proves-that-syria-will-rise-again/) - Published by La Repubblica, March 16, 2018 It was 2011, and while the wind of hope of the Arab springs overwhelmed the region and even infected Syria, In Praise of Hatred came out in Italy: a powerful and uncompromising book that made known the most important voice of Syrian literature today, that of Khaled Khalifa. Since then, the writer
- [Süddeutsche Zeitung reviews Khalifa's Death Is Hard Work: "The spirit of inner exile, the silent revolution against a human tragedy, is present in every line"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/06/suddeutsche-zeitung-reviews-khalifas-death-is-hard-work-the-spirit-of-inner-exile-the-silent-revolution-against-a-human-tragedy-is-present-in-every-line/) - Published by The Süddeutsche Zeitung, April 26, 2018 Renowned Syrian writer Khaled Khalifa lives in Damascus to this day. In his novel "Death Is Hard Work", he tells of a country where the people's survival depends on the mood of the soldiers. There are few Syrian authors who have not left the country despite the seven-year civil war. In addition to Niroz Malek, whose text collection
- [Literatur Spiegel dubs Khalifa's Death Is Hard Work "a deep black, gruesome, moving comedy from the realm of the dead"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/06/literatur-spiegel-dubs-khalifas-death-is-hard-work-a-deep-black-gruesome-moving-comedy-from-the-realm-of-the-dead/) - Published by Literatur Spiegel, May 2018 A crazy journey with a corpse through a country at war: Khaled Khalifa's Syrian novel Death Is Hard Work It is very easy to tell stories during wartime. One is surrounded by monstrosities, every day a new one. And something else – which can be found in Syrian author Khaled Khalifa's new novel, Death Is Hard
- [Neue Zürcher Zeitung: Khalifa's Death Is Hard Work is "a compelling book"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/06/neue-zurcher-zeitung-khalifas-death-is-hard-work-is-a-compelling-book/) - Published by Neue Zürcher Zeitung, May 11, 2018 In a night-black novel Khaled Khalifa carries the dreams of his homeland to the graveA man named Nightingale. He would have to be a singer and a lover fluttering through a scenario of magical realism or an old Oriental poem. Not one, however, to whom the concern for the corpse of his father,
- [Khalifa to Ansa: "Aleppo will know how to get up again"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/06/khalifa-to-ansa-aleppo-will-know-how-to-get-up-again/) - Published by Ansa Med, March 19, 2018 "We would have liked the government to listen to us, to open up a new path for human rights and a better life, but we were a group of deluded, dreamers: we did not understand that it is not allowed for Arabs to enjoy democracy" . So the Syrian writer Khaled Khalifa
- [Il Manifesto Interviews Khalifa: "The Forced Silence of Shame"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/06/il-manifesto-interviews-khalifa-the-forced-silence-of-shame/) - Published by Il Manifesto, March 28, 2018 The novel about a prisoner's life, a prisoner of violence but also of the thousand unpardonable compromises that a dictatorship imposes on oppressed individuals. There are no knives in the kitchens of this city (Bompiani, pp. 288, euro 18), tells through the life events of a family in Aleppo the genesis and consolidation of the Assad regime that
- [Khalifa Talks to Avvenire About Repression and Shame in War-Torn Syria](https://rayaagency.org/2018/06/khalifa-talks-to-avvenire-about-repression-and-shame-in-war-torn-syria/) - Published by Avvenire, March 20, 2018 In his work the Syrian writer can not break away from the tormented city: "Despite everything, mine has never been a country prone to fanaticism: plural identity is an ancient value." Khaled Khalifa has some difficulty separating from the passport. The organizers of Libri Come (the Roman event to which the Syrian writer has participated
- [La Repubblica reviews Wannous' The Frightened: "An atrocious and beautiful novel"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/06/la-repubblica-reviews-wannous-the-frightened-an-atrocious-and-beautiful-novel/) - Published by La Repubblica, April 15, 2018 Love and Xanax in Damascus He escaped to Berlin. She remained in Syria: hoping to find her brother, who has "disappeared" at the hands of the regime. But is it possible to really love each other when your survival is conditioned by fear? Two people who suffer from panic attacks and a Xanax dependency fall in
- [Bresciaoggi Reviews Wannous' The Frightened: "An intimate novel that tells the plight of a war-torn Syria"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/06/bresciaoggi-reviews-wannous-the-frightened-an-intimate-novel-that-tells-the-plight-of-a-war-torn-syria/) - Published by Bresciaoggi, May 31, 2018 "The Frightened" live and suffer in Syria Tearing, creeping, uninterrupted. It is fear, a devastating fury that annihilates. How to define it: state of mind, obsession, modus vivendi? Surely it is a force that takes on different connotations, from anxiety to torment to panic. All these nuances, which the protagonists feel – a man and a
- [Dagbladet: Yazbek's Blue Pen "crafts an original voice" "foreign and innovative imagery"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/06/dagbladet-yazbeks-blue-pen-crafts-an-original-voice/) - Published by Dagbladet, May 11, 2018 The girl that is tied up Syrian Samar Yazbek expresses the horror of war in a novel that resembles a strange fairytale. "Do not imagine it is a novel you are reading," says Rima in Syrian author Samar Yazbek's third book translated into Norwegian. The young Rima addresses us in a meek but direct
- [Hoda Barakat discusses modern-day miscommunication with Al Hayat](https://rayaagency.org/2018/07/hoda-barakat-discusses-modern-day-miscommunication-with-al-hayat/) - Published by Al Hayat, June 21st, 2018 Hoda Barakat' Night Post speaks of the world's dysfunction She has her own style, in life as in writing. She rarely participates in cultural events because, in her own words, she doesn’t know the art of “marketing and shopping.” She won the Al Owais Award for all her work, which overflows with grief,
- [Douaihy's "Chased Away" featured in Words Without Borders](https://rayaagency.org/2018/07/douaihys-chased-away-featured-in-words-without-borders/) - Novel excerpt published by Word Without Borders, special issue on Lebanon, July 2018 Translated by Paula Haidar. At an armed checkpoint, sectarian tensions come to bear on one man's suspect identity in this excerpt from Jabbour Douaihy's novel Chased Away​. Nizam went with Olga to Jounieh Saturday morning in her red and white Mini Cooper. She’d barely
- [Words Without Borders publishes an excerpt of Barakat's Night Post](https://rayaagency.org/2018/07/words-without-borders-publishes-an-excerpt-of-barakats-night-post/) - Novel excerpt published by Word Without Borders, special issue on Lebanon, July 2018 Translated by Robin Moger. Translator’s Note: Hoda Barakat’s slim novel The Night Post is composed of the texts of six letters interrupted midway through by short, fragmentary pieces of narrative prose. The following excerpt is taken from the beginning of the third letter. A young man,
- [Livres Hebdo calls Yazbek's "The Blue Pen" a Powerful, Poignant Novel](https://rayaagency.org/2018/07/livres-hebdo-calls-yazbeks-the-blue-pen-a-powerful-poignant-novel/) - Published by Livres Hebdo, June 30, 2018 "Syrian writer Samar Yazbek imagines a very metaphorical female protagonist who discovers war and the virtues of literature."The Blue Pen, in French "La marcheuse", will be published end of August 2019. "Life is faster than it should be; this pen will be a witness to the end of my story." Rima is attached
- [Publishers weekly: Douaihy's "Printed in Beirut" : an "entertainingly jaundiced" look at publishing in Beirut](https://rayaagency.org/2018/08/publishers-weekly-douaihys-printed-in-beirut-an-entertainingly-jaundiced-look-at-publishing-in-beirut/) - Publishers weekly, August 2018 “Aspiring author Farid Abu Shaar, the hero of this entertainingly jaundiced look at Beirut’s publishing and printing industry from Lebanese novelist Douaihy (Chased Away), undergoes a series of swift, comical, and brutal face-to-face rejections of his handwritten manuscript, The Book to Come, which is contained in a red notebook and about
- [Forlagsliv asks: Did Samar Yazbek write our most important novel?](https://rayaagency.org/2018/09/forlagsliv-asks-did-samar-yazbek-write-our-most-important-novel/) - Published by Forlagsliv, May 9, 2018 Samar Yazbek's new novel, The Blue Pen, gives a unique insight into everyday life in civil-war Syria. Yazbek's new novel is a shocking record of a young girl's attempt to acknowledge the wicked cruelty of the war. It is an original and moving book that brings the reader close to the inhuman sufferings of
- [Le Monde reviews The Blue Pen and the "grace" of Samar Yazbek](https://rayaagency.org/2018/09/le-monde-reviews-the-blue-pen-and-the-grace-of-samar-yazbek/) - Published by Le Monde, September 27, 2018. By Eglal Errera. Also featured in Le Monde des Livres. [pullquote]Among all the works that come to us from Syria or from the diaspora, this novel has a unique timbre that mixes absolute realism and wonder.[/pullquote] Venturing into what is most intimate, Yazbek returns to the novel, her original vocation (Cinnamon, Buchet-Chastel, 2013). Amongst
- [Booklist reviews Jabbour Douaihy's "Printed in Beirut" - "scathing comedy of many errors"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/10/booklist-reviews-jabbour-douaihys-printed-in-beirut-scathing-comedy-of-many-errors/) - Published by Booklist, October 2018 “Farid Abu Shaar, a young man earnestly convinced of his own (unproven) literary genius, seeks a publisher for his red-notebook manuscript, The Book to Come. His publication attempts with Beirut's publishing houses prove futile: "No one reads,” one publisher insists. Although his Karam Brothers Press visit doesn't lead to publication,
- [Samar Yazbek is in the third and final selection of the French Femina award 2018](https://rayaagency.org/2018/10/samar-yazbek-is-in-the-third-and-final-selection-of-the-french-femina-award-2018/) - On Wednesday October 24th, the exclusively feminine jury of the French Femina award announced the 7 French titles and 5 foreign titles of their third and final selection. The winner will be announced on November 5th. Samar Yazbek's novel "La marcheuse" (The blue pen) tackles Syria's chemical warfare, and more generally, the massive destruction of
- [Kirkus reviews Khalifa's "Death is hard work": "Insistent, memorable portrait of the small indignities and large horrors of the civil war in Syria"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/11/kirkus-reviews-khalifas-death-is-hard-work-insistent-memorable-portrait-of-the-small-indignities-and-large-horrors-of-the-civil-war-in-syria/) - Starred review by Kirkus, November 2018 Insistent, memorable portrait of the small indignities and large horrors of the civil war in Syria. A native of the Aleppo district, Khalifa—well-known in the Arabic-reading world but new to most American readers and a winner of the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature—here writes of a family both joined and
- [L'Humanité reviews Barkat's Night Post "Temporary inhabitants of a gigantic no man's land"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/12/lhumanite-reviews-barkats-night-post-temporary-inhabitants-of-a-gigantic-no-mans-land/) - Hoda Barakat has imagined a correspondence written in haste, by people constantly on the run, all seeking a refuge that does not exist. Muriel Steinmetz, for L'Humanité, November 22, 2018 Hoda Barakat (born in 1952, in Beirut), author of five novels published in France at Actes Sud, creates characters who wander the planet, men and women. Homeless, they are
- [Transfuges reviews "The night post", a novel by the "Immense novelist Hoda Barakat"](https://rayaagency.org/2018/12/transfuges-reviews-the-night-post-a-novel-by-the-immense-novelist-hoda-barakat/) - A review by Damien Aubel, for Transfuges, December 2018 As all great epistolarians, Madame de Sevigne for example, the immense Lebanese novelist Hoda Barakat knows that the art of correspondence is a metaphysical act. Here, a series of letters, with no direct link, follow each other as many variations on pain, and the exquisiteness of absence. (...) Justice, maternal
- [Hoda Barakat is on the IPAF's shortlist for the second time, with "The night post"](https://rayaagency.org/2019/02/hoda-barakat-is-on-the-ipaf-shortlist-for-the-second-time/) - The night post is on the shortlist of the International Prize of Arabic Fiction (IPAF), or Arab Man Booker, that will be awarded in Abu Dhabi in April 2019. "A writer of her time" who signs an "original and powerful" novel - Mediapart - "Immense Hoda Barakat" - Transfuges - "Temporary inhabitants of a gigantic no
- [Los Angeles Times reviews Khaled Khalifa's "astonishing new novel", Death is hard work](https://rayaagency.org/2019/02/los-angeles-times-reviews-khaled-khalifas-astonishing-new-novel-death-is-hard-work/) - A review by David Ulin for the Los Angeles Times, February 8th, 2019 “If you really want to erase or distort a story,” Khaled Khalifa declares in his astonishing new novel “Death Is Hard Work,” “you should turn it into several different stories with different endings and plenty of incidental details.” He’s referring to the
- [Wall Street Journal reviews Khalifa's "Death is hard work": "Brilliant" and "Unforgettable"](https://rayaagency.org/2019/02/wall-street-journal-reviews-khalifas-death-is-hard-work-brilliant-and-unforgettable/) - A review by Sam Sacks, for the Wall Street Journal, Februay Khaled Khalifa’s “Death Is Hard Work” (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 180 pages, $25) begins with an old man’s dying wish: that his children bury him in the family plot in the town of his birth, a few hundred kilometers from the capital. It might be a
- [Yasmina Jraissati, RAYA The agency for Arabic literature, amongst the three finalists of the London Book Fair International Excellence Awards 2019, Literary agents category](https://rayaagency.org/2019/02/yasmina-jraissati-raya-the-agency-for-arabic-literature-amongst-the-three-finalists-of-the-london-book-fair-international-excellence-award-2019/) - Yasmina Jraissati, RAYA, is among the three finalists of the London Book Fair International Excellency Awards 2019, in the Literary agents category. The winner will be announced in a ceremony at the London Book Fair, on Tuesday March 12th, 2019. "The shortlist for The London Book Fair International Excellence Awards 2019 has been announced, with USA leading the
- [The National: In conversation with Khalifa about "Death is hard work"](https://rayaagency.org/2019/02/the-national-in-conversation-with-khalifa-about-death-is-hard-work/) - Review by Olivia Snaije, for The National, February 25th, 2019 [pullquote] Khalifa, who lives in ­Damascus and has remained in Syria throughout the war, tells The National that the inspiration for his novel came from a personal experience. “In 2013, I had a heart attack and I was in the hospital and I thought about what would
- [Elias Khoury's My name is Adam "an overwhelming book of rare beauty" - Mediapart](https://rayaagency.org/2019/02/elias-khourys-my-name-is-adam-an-overwhelming-book-of-rare-beauty-en-attendant-nadeau/) - Review by Sonia Dayan-Herzbrun, for En Attendant Nadeau / Mediapart, published May 2018 There are subjects that force the novel to reinvent itself. As the narrator of the last book of Elias Khoury puts it, "I am writing a novel that is unlike any other, because it belongs to a literary genre that has no name and I
- [Haaretz: Elias Khoury, a "definite Nobel Prize material", with "remarkable literary skill" writes a "poignant" novel, "close to perfection" - "My name is Adam"](https://rayaagency.org/2019/02/haaretz-elias-khoury-definite-nobel-prize-material-writes-a-poignant-novel-close-to-perfection-my-name-is-adam/) - A review by Avraham Burg, for the Haaretz, May 2018 It’s very hard to review something so close to perfection. About all one can do after such an engrossing read is describe, quote, compare and reflect. Elias Khoury’s remarkable literary skill and the brilliant Hebrew translation of Yehouda Shenhav-Sharabani (a work of art in itself) make “Children
- [Elias Khoury's My name is Adam "a masterpiece of structure, vision, and imagination" - Los Angeles Review of Books](https://rayaagency.org/2019/02/elias-khoury-s-my-name-is-adam-a-masterpiece-of-structure-vision-and-imagination/) - Interview by Tom Zoellner, for the Los Angeles Review of Books, Published February 18th, 2019 ELIAS KHOURY MIGHT BE the Lebanese version of what James Michener is to the United States, or Carlos Fuentes is to Mexico— a big-hitting novelist who aims not merely for the human heart but also for the soul of a
- ["Masterly" - The New York Times Review of Books about Khaled Khalifa's "Death is hard work"](https://rayaagency.org/2019/02/masterly-the-new-york-times-revieiw-of-books-about-khaled-khalifas-death-is-hard-work/) - A review by Elliot Ackerman for The New York Times Review of Books, published February 26th, 2019 [pullquote]How many times can you read about barrel bombs falling on civilians in Aleppo or Islamic State execution squads or sarin gas attacks before the sheer quantity of incidents denudes each of meaning? The facts, devoid of a
- [Herald reviews Khalifa's "Death is hard work": "Stunning"](https://rayaagency.org/2019/03/herald-reviews-khalifas-death-is-hard-work-stunning/) - The Herald, by Alastair Mabbott, published March 16th, 2019 In a Damascus hospital, Abdel Latif breathes his last, his dying wish that his body be laid to rest alongside his sister Layla in their hometown of Anabiya. Normally Anabiya would only be a two-hour drive away, but in a Syria devastated by war Abdel’s children
- [Douaihy's "The king of India" shows that an Arab detective story is possible - or not](https://rayaagency.org/2019/04/douaihys-the-king-of-india-shows-that-an-arab-detective-story-is-possible-or-not/) - By Melhem Chaoul, for L'Orient littéraire, published April 2019. Starting with the title, Malek al-Hind (The King of India): There are no kings (in that story), let alone Kings of the Indian peninsula. By this metaphor, Jabbour Douaihy signifies the absence of power, the absence of control over fate, such as the Viceroy of the Indies at the
- [Hoda Barakat's "Night Post" is the winner of the International Prize of Arabic Fiction (IPAF) 2019](https://rayaagency.org/2019/04/hoda-barakats-night-post-is-the-winner-of-the-international-prize-of-arabic-fiction-ipaf-2019/) - The 12th edition of IPAF ceremony held in Abu Dhabi, on April 23rd, rewarded Hoda Barakat for her novel "Night Post" "NIGHT POST" Rights sold: Sindbad, Actes Sud, France (2018) Oneworld publications, UK (to appear, 2020) La nave di Teseo, Italy (to appear, 2019) Press: “A writer of her time” “Original and powerful” -- Mediapart
- ["A tortured novel" - Livres Hebdo, Dima Wannous' "The frightened"](https://rayaagency.org/2019/05/a-tortured-novel-livres-hebdo-dima-wannous-the-frightened/) - Review by Kerenn Elkaïm for Livres Hebdo, April 2019 « La mémoire, soit elle existe, soit elle n 'existe pas. Soit tu te réconcilies avec elle, soit tu t’en détournes. » Sulayma ne parvient pas à la chasser. Elle songe à Nissim, « ce jeune homme étrange aux os protubérants. » L’héroïne le croise dans un
- ["The frightened" - "With its carnal precision, an immense novel about human fear" - La Viduité](https://rayaagency.org/2019/05/the-frigthened-an-immense-novel-about-human-fear-la-viduite/) - April 2019, La Viduite. The fear of fear, the vertiginous duplication of fiction, a story that merges with a reality whose unbearable horror is then revealed. By dipping into the psyche of a disturbed woman, by the exact restitution of her obsessions and gestures, Dima Wannous manages to draw a sadly faithful portrait of contemporary Syria. With
- [Toute la Culture on The frightened: "Impressive" "Incandescent writing" "Luminous"](https://rayaagency.org/2019/05/toute-la-culture-on-the-frightened-impressive-incandescent-writing-luminous/) - Review by Jerome Avenas, for Toute la Culture, April 29th, 2019 Published by Éditions Gallimard in the collection "Du monde entier", the novel by Dima Wannous, a Syrian writer born in 1982, is an impressive text on the trauma of war, memory and writing. An urgent read. A man and a young woman meet in the
- [The Guardian "Death is hard work" is "robust in its doubts, humane in its gaze and gentle in its persistence"](https://rayaagency.org/2019/05/the-guardian-death-is-hard-work-is-robust-in-its-doubts-humane-in-its-gaze-and-gentle-in-its-persistence/) - A review by Hisham Matar, for The Guardian, May 11th, 2019 Set three years into the Syrian civil war, the novel’s plot is compellingly simple. Bolbol, the deeply sensitive and conflicted protagonist, has just lost his father. He gathers his two older siblings, Hussein and Fatima, to help him honour their father’s last wish –
- ["Intense sense of heartbreak" - Sinan Antoon's "The book of collateral damage is out with Yale University Press](https://rayaagency.org/2019/06/intense-sense-of-heartbreak-sinan-antoon-the-book-of-colateral-damage/) - Published by Arab News, June 18th Out of Baghdad comes “The Book of Collateral Damage” (Fihris, or Index), by internationally celebrated author Sinan Antoon, whose fourth novel follows the life of introspective academic Nameer Al-Baghdadi, an Iraqi living in the US. An encounter in Baghdad with an eccentric bookseller while travelling with documentary filmmakers as a
- [New York Times reviews Elias Khoury's My name is Adam "Powerful" "extraordinary book" that "gives us a glimpse of the unspeakable"](https://rayaagency.org/2019/06/new-york-times-reviews-elias-khourys-my-name-is-adam-powerful-extraordinary-book-that-gives-us-a-glimpse-of-the-unspeakable/) - By Isabella Hammad, for The New York Times, June 22, 2019 Adam Dannoun, the protagonist of Elias Khoury’s powerful new novel, calls himself a child of the ghetto. He does not mean the Warsaw ghetto — although, growing up in the newly established state of Israel, he allows his university colleagues to make that assumption.
- [Bokmagasinet, Norway reviews "There are no knives in the kitchens of the city", by Khaled Khalifa - "Brilliant"](https://rayaagency.org/2019/06/bokmagasinet-norway-reviews-there-are-no-knives-brilliant/) - By Janneken Øverland, in Bokmagasinet, Norway, June 2019 There are no knives in the kitchens of the city is the brilliant, depressive, rolling and falling history of a family from Aleppo starting in 1960 to 2000. Within less than 300 pages Syrian author Khaled Khalifa manages to squeeze in so much misery, humor, death, war, sex, food, and
- [New York Review of Books draws the portrait of playwright Saadallah Wannous, as "Sentence to hope: A Saadallah Wannous reader" gets published by Yale University Press - Truly inspiring read](https://rayaagency.org/2019/06/new-york-review-of-books-portrait-of-saadallah-wannous-sentence-to-hope-yale-university-press/) - "Coup de Théatre", by Ursula Lindsey, for The New York Review of Books, June 26, 2019 In the spring of 1967, Sa'dallah Wannous, a young Syrian journalist and playwright, was studying theater at the Sorbonne in Paris. That June, after Israel's victory in the Six-Day War against Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, it gained control of
- [NPR features Sinan Antoon's "Index" (aka The book of collateral damage)](https://rayaagency.org/2019/07/npr-features-sinan-antoon-s-index-aka-the-book-of-collateral-damage/) - Bo Hamby and Simone Popperl produced and edited this interview for broadcast at NPR. Patrick Jarenwattananon adapted it for the Web. The novelist and poet Sinan Antoon grew up in Baghdad, Iraq — a city that's known many years of sorrow. He was born to an Iraqi father and an American mother, and lived there
- [Le Monde interviews Hoda Barkat in the context of its five "big interviews with big writers"](https://rayaagency.org/2019/07/le-monde-interviews-hoda-barkat-in-the-context-of-its-five-big-interviews-with-big-writers/) - Interview By Christophe Ayad, for Le Monde, July 25th, 2019 Some extracts translated into English published below. Hoda Barakat is a rare kind of writer. Born in Lebanon in 1952, she published her first novel relatively late, in 1990, shortly after leaving her country because of the civil war.In six novels, she has won almost
- ["Great simplicity and a subtle dose of humor that Selmi slips into seeminly innocuous words" - DNA reviews Selmi's "Innocence"](https://rayaagency.org/2019/08/great-simplicity-and-a-subtle-dose-of-humor-that-selmi-slips-into-words-dna-reviews-selmis-innocence/) - A review by Christine Zimmer, for DNA, France, 2019 How is a rumor born, what feeds it? Why? To what end? What becomes of the rumor's victims? Can we find the source of a rumor? How to react when the rumor strikes you fully and hits you in the most intimate parts of your life? Habib Selmi tackles
- [Selmi's "Innocence" is a "metaphor of the process of democracy learning" - Le Vif](https://rayaagency.org/2019/08/selmis-innocence-is-a-metaphor-of-the-process-of-democracy-learning/) - By Gerald Papy, for Le Vif, Belgium, July 2019 In an isolated village, an evil rumor regarding the wedding night, years before, of Si Bechir, a successful sheep merchant, shakes the lives of three families, while the jolts of the revolution that troubles urban Tunisia barely reaches them. Isn't it though, the new wind of
- [Khalifa's "Death is hard work" is on the longlist of the 2019 National Book Award!](https://rayaagency.org/2019/09/khalifas-death-is-hard-work-is-on-the-longlist-of-the-2019-national-book-award/) - Khaled Khalifa's "Death is hard work" is on the longlist of the National Book Award! The shortlist will be announced on October 8th, and the winner on November 20th. The book has received wonderful praise: “Masterly” The New York Review of Books “Brilliant” “Unforgettable” Wall Street Journal “Astonishing” “recalls Faulkner’s
- [The National, about Sinan Antoon's "The book of collateral damage" : "Formally daring, stylistically inventive" "It challenges but it also impresses and enthrals"](https://rayaagency.org/2019/09/the-national-about-sinan-antoons-the-book-of-collateral-damage-formally-daring-stylistically-inventive-it-challenges-but-it-also-impresses-and-enthrals/) - Read The National's review (2019) In Antoon’s latest novel, The Book of Collateral Damage [aka Index], the Iraqi author returns to the subject of the Second Gulf War... But Antoon is too good a writer to simply retread old terrain. For this, his fourth novel, he explores new ground by depicting turmoil and carnage through a series of richly diverse second-hand
- [World Literature Today about Antoon's The Book of Collateral Damage: "Unique"](https://rayaagency.org/2019/09/world-literature-today-about-antoons-the-book-of-collateral-damage-unique/) - By Ghyath Manhel (University of Arkansas, Fayetteville - University of Kufa, Iraq), for World Literature Today (2019) So many books have been written about the Iraq War (2003–2011) from both sides of that conflict, but Sinan Antoon’s The Book of Collateral Damage is unique in that it chooses to represent the human and environmental cost of that war.
- ["Precise, hyper-observant", "profoundly moving" - Full Stop blog's insightful reivew of Sinan Antoon's "The book of collateral damage"](https://rayaagency.org/2019/09/precise-hyper-observant-profoundly-moving-full-stop-blogs-insightful-reivew-of-sinan-antoons-the-book-of-collateral-damage/) - By Will Preston, for Full Stop (2019) (...) The very concept of “collateral damage,” after all, rests on the logic that others lack their own stories. They are only a means to an end: an acceptable loss, a supporting character in the narrative of someone else’s war. But to what extent? Within the framework of
- ["These women are my heroins, they represent the revolution we wanted: Secular, democratic" - Yazbek, about her book 19 women in Liberation](https://rayaagency.org/2019/09/these-women-are-my-heroins-they-represent-the-revolution-we-wanted-secular-democratic-yazbek-about-her-book-19-women-in-liberation/) - Interview by Hala Kodmani for Liberation, September 2019 In her book, the novelist and activist brings together the testimonies of those she knew and accompanied in her country at war. Nurses, teachers, mothers, often spent in prison, they survived the terror and the war without ever giving up. "Heroines" in search of a secular and
- [Le Monde interviews Hoda Barakat in their series of five interviews dedicated to important authors: "I am happy to respect sacred texts, but language itself is not scared"](https://rayaagency.org/2020/01/le-monde-interviews-hoda-barakat-in-their-series-of-five-interviews-dedicated-to-important-authors-i-am-happy-to-respect-sacred-texts-but-language-itself-is-not-scared/) - By Christophe Ayad, For Le Monde, July 2019(Photo credit: Lea Crespi, Pasco)Great talks with great writers 2 | 5. The Lebanese writer, translated all over the world, received the coveted "Arab Booker" in April. This meeting takes place in Paris, her adopted city, where she talks about literature, religion, and the civil war that ignites
- ["If you want to include everything that was destroyed only in the first minute of a war, you can never get past that first minute" - Sinan Antoon, about his latest book "The book of collateral damage", interviewed in FAZ, Germany](https://rayaagency.org/2020/01/sinan-antoon-interviewed-in-faz-germany/) - Lena Bopp interviews Sinan Antoon for FAZ January 2020 Two final questions translated here: Your last novel "The book of collateral damage" ("Index") is (...) a kind of archive, a catalog full of things that once existed in Iraq and that are lost I imagine the terrible concept of collateral damage as a black hole that swallows
- ["Essential and disquieting" - Le Point reviews Yazbek's 19 women](https://rayaagency.org/2020/01/essential-and-disquieting-le-point-reviews-yazbeks-19-women/) - "Samar Yazbek, the soldier of Syrian memory" By Victoria Gairin, for Le Point (Photo credit: Rania Stephan) Revealing the truth is what drives Samar Yazbek. “Quick, before we all sink into collective amnesia. I am so afraid that we will all lose our memories… We cannot retain from a conflict only figures!" Yet they are
- [Sinan Antoon's OpEd for The New York Times "I will visit your grave when I go to Iraq"](https://rayaagency.org/2020/01/sinan-antoons-oped-for-the-new-york-times-i-will-visit-your-grave-when-i-go-to-iraq/) - By Sinan Antoon, Iraqi author, Published on December 16, 2019, by The New York Times. Safa al-Sarray was killed when Iraqi forces fired a tear-gas canister at his head. Iraqis have been protesting since early October against the dysfunctional and corrupt political system installed by the United States after the 2003 occupation. Unlike previous waves of protests
- [London Book Fair International Excellence Awards -  Shortlisted again!](https://rayaagency.org/2020/02/london-book-fair-international-excellence-awards-shortlisted-again/) - For the second year in a row, RAYA is on the shortlist of the London Book Fair International Excellence Awards - Literary Agent category! The awards, held in partnership with the UK Publishers Association, celebrate publishing success in 16 categories, representing the best publishing ambassadors, innovative publishing, and ground-breaking initiatives in the industry. In
- ["Love and loneliness in Syria" "powerfully and subtly" written, "memorable" - The Guardian reviews Dima Wannous' The frightened ones, just published by Harvill Secker](https://rayaagency.org/2020/04/love-and-loneliness-in-syria-powerfully-and-subtly-written-memorable-the-guardian-reviews-dima-wannous-the-frightened-ones-just-published-by-harvill-secker/) - By Maya Jaggi, published by The Guardian, on April 15, 2020 Midway through Dima Wannous’s novel, the narrator recalls a neighbour who fell sick during a dire shortage of doctors and medicine. The woman’s daughter had to take time off work to hunt for a hospital bed. “So, silently, I begged my own mother not
- [" 'Death is hard work' but life is just as troublesome!" FAZ interviews Khaled Khalifa as his novel "There are no knives in the kitchens of the city" is about to get published in Germany](https://rayaagency.org/2020/04/death-is-hard-work-but-life-is-just-as-troublesome-faz-interviews-khaled-khalifa-as-his-novel-there-are-no-knives-in-the-kitchens-of-the-city-is-about-to-get-published-in-germany/) - Interviewed by Lena Bopp for FAZ, April 13, 2020 In his novels, Khaled Khalifa goes to court with the Syrian regime. Nevertheless, the writer still lives in Damascus and voluntarily returns to his home country from every trip abroad. How can that be? A long time ago, when the virus was still unknown in
- [WDR German radio interviews Khaled Khalifa! - link to the interview, in German](https://rayaagency.org/2020/04/wdr-german-radio-interviews-khaled-khalifa-link-to-the-interview-in-german/) - Listen to the interview here.
- [Il Manifesto features Hoda Barakat](https://rayaagency.org/2020/06/il-manifesto-features-hoda-barakat/) - Il Manifesto, May, 2020 In an interview to Il Manifesto, Hoda Barakat, first woman to win the prestigious International Prize for Arabic fiction 2019 (or Arab Booker) shares: «I think it is extraordinary that in a world characterized by hyper-communicability, communication has become our biggest challenge » «I have no idea what the “after” world will
- [Khalifa's "There are no knives in the kitchens of the city" featured in a dedicated film on 3 Sat TV!](https://rayaagency.org/2020/06/khalifas-there-are-no-knives-in-the-kitchens-of-the-city-featured-in-a-dedicated-film-on-3-sat-tv/) - As Khalifa's "Death is hard work" was a finalist of the Premio Gregor Von rezzori award 2020, his previous novel "There are no knives in the kitchens of the city" gains attention in German speaking territory, and was featured in a dedicated 4 minutes film on 3 Sat TV!
- [Asma Al Atawna "Missing picture"](https://rayaagency.org/2020/06/asma-al-atawna-missing-picture/) - Told in the first person, Asma Al Atawna’s debut coming of age novel captures with beautiful and surprising honesty the life of an eponym young woman. The novel, is in two parts. The first part, entitled “Go away” starts with the tale of her escaping the open air prison that Gaza in Palestine has become.
- [Hammour Ziada "Drowning"](https://rayaagency.org/2020/06/hammour-ziada-drowning/) - Sudan, 1968, the military coup taking place in Khartoum echoes all the way to the small rural town of Hajer Narti, where the body of a young girl has just been found in the Nile. “Drowning” is Hammour Ziada third novel. With scarce descriptions, and just the minimal amount of words, Ziada succeeds in portraying
- [Dima Wannous "And the family devoured its men"](https://rayaagency.org/2020/06/dima-wannous-and-the-family-devoured-its-men/) - A daughter and her mother in an apartment in London. Every evening, they meet, with an occasional glass of whisky, going over the times, not so long ago, where they were a large family, all women, living in Damascus. And the family devoured its men is a powerful book about loss, its different meanings, dimensions
- [Nael Eltoukhy "Out of the gutter"](https://rayaagency.org/2020/06/nael-eltoukhy-out-of-the-gutter/) - Out of the gutter is a most unusual read: A saga that mixes tragedy, and a dark, off the wall humor. Houriya, or Harankash, as her father used to call her, is a conventional, candid, middle-class bigot, who, when the novel opens, is recovering from her husband’s suicide and her father’s recent passing. Raising her
- [Irish times, reviewing Dima Wannous' "The frightened ones" - "Fascinating portrayal of damaged people"](https://rayaagency.org/2020/06/irish-times-reviewing-dima-wannous-the-frightened-ones-fascinating-portrayal-of-damaged-people/) - As it presented several books worthy of attention, the Irish times (June 26, 2020) specified, regarding Dima Wannous' "The Frightened ones": "Mention of a novel set in Syria might suggests a story mired in violence and suffering, but in ‘The Frightened Ones’ by Dima Wannous, translated by Elisabeth Jacquette (Harvilll Secker, 242pp, £12.99) the emphasis is
- [The book satchel's selection of the 10 best books of 2020 so far: Dima Wannous' "The frightened ones": "Mind-blowing"!](https://rayaagency.org/2020/06/the-book-satchels-selection-of-the-best-books-of-2020-so-far-dima-wannous-the-frightened-ones-mind-blowing/) - Do you love books that surprise you? I do. I had such a rush reading The Frightened Ones translated from the Arabic. The same kind when I read Bunny by Mona Awad—dark, trippy novel about MFA students and decapitated rabbit heads—and Supper Club by Lara Williams—women indulging in food, gluttony and sex. In The Frightened Ones, we meet Suleima—artist with anorexia prone
- ["The Markaz Review" interviews Samar Yazbek, "19 women" in focus](https://rayaagency.org/2020/11/the-markaz-review-interviews-samar-yazbek-19-women-in-focus/) - Interview and forward by Nada Ghosn, for The Markaz Review, November 9, 2020 [pullquote]In the cities or in the countryside, in the first year, women were symbols, the showcase of the revolution. But they were symbolically murdered by their comrades. They were the targets of the regime, of the revolutionaries, as well as of the
- [The Guardian reviews Barakat's Voices of the lost (aka Night post): "Searing"](https://rayaagency.org/2021/02/the-guardian-reviews-barakat-s-voices-of-the-lost/) - By Madeleine Thien, for The Guardian, February13th, 2021 A chain of letters links five refugees in the Lebanese writer’s searing prizewinner "That country is now gone,” observes an unnamed woman in Voices of the Lost. “It is finished, toppled over and shattered like a huge glass vase. To attempt to bring any of this
- [Al Araby reviews Hoda Barakat's Night post "Hoda Barakat does it again"!](https://rayaagency.org/2021/02/al-araby-reviews-hoda-barakat-night-post-voices-of-the-lost/) - By Tahmina Begum, for Al Araby, February 19, 2021 Usually, when you open up a book, which begins with a letter, you presume that the answer is hidden somewhere in the pages. Instead what you get with Voices of The Lost, is a sense of ambiguity and a human chain revealing that we're all much more similar
- [The Bobsphere blog reviews Barakat's Voices of the Lost: "a one-of-a-kind novel"](https://rayaagency.org/2021/03/the-bobsphere-blog-reviews-barakats-voices-of-the-lost-a-one-of-a-kind-novel/) - By Bobsphere, February 16, 2021 Hoda Barakat’s novel, Voices of the Lost manages to pull off quite a feat. This is a novel about war, it is a political novel. It is also a novel about love, ranging from filial to romantic, abuse, trauma, , fatherhood, motherhood it’s all in there. Like a piece of
- [Samar Yazbek is in the National Book Award Translation Fiction Long list!](https://rayaagency.org/2021/09/samar-yazbek-is-in-the-national-book-award-translation-fiction-long-list/) - Yazbek is in the longlist of the presitigous National Book Award ! Publishers submitted a total of 164 books for the 2021 National Book Award for Translated Literature. The judges for Translated Literature are Stephen Snyder (Chair), Jessie Chaffee, Sergio de la Pava, Madhu H. Kaza, and Achy Obejas. Judge’s decisions are made independently of
- [Samar Yazbek is a finalist to the National Book Award!](https://rayaagency.org/2021/10/samar-yazbek-is-a-finalist-to-the-national-book-award/) - Samar Yazbek's novel "Planet of clay" (also known as The blue pen) is a finalist to the National Book Award, and is competing with 4 other titles in the translated fiction category! Planet of clay was in the third and final selection of the French Femina award in 2018.
- ["A harsh and cruel portrait of a Saudi Arabia in search of meaning" - Politis reviews Aziz Mohamed's 'The critical case of Mr. K'](https://rayaagency.org/2021/10/a-harsh-and-cruel-portrait-of-a-saudi-arabia-in-search-of-meaning-politis-reviews-aziz-mohameds-the-critical-case-of-mr-k/) - Review by Anaïs Heluin for Politis, March 2021 Le poète Aziz Mohammed offre à travers le cas d’un jeune cancéreux le portrait drôle et cruel d’une Arabie saoudite en mal de sens. Pour Aziz Mohammed, le Journal de Kafka est bien plus qu’une référence. En affirmant dès le titre de son livre, Le Cas critique du dénommé K.,
- [The Conrad Festival 2021 (Kraków) interviews Elias Khoury](https://rayaagency.org/2021/10/the-conrad-festival-2021-krakow-interviews-elias-khoury-2/) - In his novel, The Children of the Ghetto: My Name is Adam, Khoury tells the story of a Palestinian who – just like his people – fights for a place he can call home and for the memory of those who have been wronged. During Conrad Festival 2021, the author talked about the social and political mechanisms that turn victims into perpetrators. How is it possible that
- [The Epoch of Human Shame: An Interview with Samar Yazbek](https://rayaagency.org/2021/12/the-epoch-of-human-shame-an-interview-with-samar-yazbek/) - Interview by Will Forrester for PEN Transmissions, December 8, 2021 I think that if I could go back to those days, I would do the same thing all over again. I never regret going back to Syria – being there at the frontline, and in the middle of the war – nor do I regret
- [Destructive turbulence: the Frankfurter Allgemeine reviews Khalifa's "No one prayed over their graves"](https://rayaagency.org/2022/09/destructive-turbulence/) - Review by Joseph Croitoru for Frankfurter Allgemeine, 2 May 2022 When dreams go away: Khaled Khalifa recounts the recent history of Aleppo in his novel "No One prayed at their graves". Some works of fiction, even if not necessarily the author's intention, can take on astonishing poignancy over time. Such is the case with Syrian
- ["The best international crime fiction" - LitHub recommends Douaihy's "King of India"!](https://rayaagency.org/2022/09/the-best-international-crime-fiction-lithubs-recommends-douaihys-king-of-india/) - Literary Hub made a list of their favorite crime titles of the early fall, and Douaihy's exceptional "King of India" is in there! Here is what they say. This month’s picks include Nazis on the run in South America, a new Swedish-style Sherlock story, an action-packed Japanese thriller, a brooding Lebanese detective story, and a
- ["Perhaps the most beautiful novel that we can read by Samar Yazbek to date" - Le Monde, Richard Jacquemond's review of Yazbek's "The wind's abode":](https://rayaagency.org/2023/01/le-monde-jacquemond-yazbek-the-wind-s-abode/) - A review by Richard Jacquemond, for Le Monde des Livres, January 26th, 2023 [pullquote]Through the eyes of this half-simple, half-mystical young man, like a character by the Lebanese poet Khalifa Gibran (1883 - 1931), a whole world is seen collapsing under the he effect of a war ... But, with Samar Yazbek's skill, this collapse
- ['With great sensitivity, the Syrian author Samar Yazbek imagines a metaphorical novel about war, the power of nature and hope' - Kerenn Elkaim reviews 'The Winds of Abode' in Livres Hebdo](https://rayaagency.org/2023/03/with-great-sensitivity-the-syrian-author-samar-yazbek-imagines-a-metaphorical-novel-about-war-the-power-of-nature-and-hope-kerenn-elkaim-reviews-the-winds-of-abode-in-livres-hebdo/) - A review by Kerenn Elkaim, for Livres Hebdo, December 16th, 2022 “Memory is a plague. Nevertheless , it can serve as a torch when everything is in tatters"... Ali oscillates between two states. Is he dead or alive? Even he doesn't know. He wakes up with his body
- ['Turn your eyes to the sun and die': Fifi Abou Dib reviews The Wind's Abode in L'Orient Littéraire](https://rayaagency.org/2023/03/turn-your-eyes-to-the-sun-and-die-fifi-abou-dib-reviews-the-winds-abode-in-lorient-litteraire/) - A review by Fifi Abou Dib, for L'Orient Littéraire, February 2nd, 2023 Neither dream nor nightmare. But an oak leaf is stuck to one of his eyelids, and Ali cannot move. Is he dead ? Is he alive? Is he in limbo, between two states? The Wind's Abode by Samar Yazbek is the story of an agony experienced
- ["Remarkable lyrical form", "a powerful portrayal of her country's fragmented soul“ - Pierre de Gasquet reviews Yazbek's "The Wind's Abode” for Les Echos](https://rayaagency.org/2023/03/the-winds-abode-pierre-de-gasquet-les-echos/) - A review by Pierre de Gasquet, for Les Echos, February 13th, 2023 The Syrian writer describes the nightmare of a country fragmented and suffocated by the dictatorship for twelve years. To the greatest indifference of the international community. Born in the province of Latakia, the most coveted Syrian port since the time of the
- ['The Wind's abode': Samar Yazbek, the martyred mountain - By Hala Kodmani, Libération](https://rayaagency.org/2023/03/the-winds-abode-samar-yazbek-the-martyred-mountain-by-hala-kodmani-liberation/) - A review by Hala Kodmani, for Libération, January 22nd, 2023 A look back at the war in Syria through the eyes of a soldier from the pro-Bashar al-Assad forces. (...) This novel has everything from (Rimbaud's) "Sleeper of the Valley". Except that Ali is lying at the foot of an oak in a wood in
- [Samar Yazbek presents 'The Wind's Abode' on TV5](https://rayaagency.org/2023/03/samar-yazbek-presents-the-winds-abode-on-tv5/) - Samar Yazbek, author of "The Wind's Abode", published at Éditions Stock, was invited at "Maghreb-Orient Express" show on TV5 to talk about her book. Listen to the interview here
- [The Wind's Abode on France 5](https://rayaagency.org/2023/03/the-winds-abode-on-france-5/) - Samar Yazbek's book "The Wind's abode", published by Stock presented in 'C'est ce soir' on France 5. Listen to the presentation here
- ["Mansoura Ezeldin's novel has the intensity and mystery of a marvelous gem" - Damien Aubel reviews Ezeldin's "The orchards of Basra"](https://rayaagency.org/2023/03/mansoura-ezeldins-novel-has-the-intensity-and-mystery-of-a-marvelous-gem-damien-aubel-reviews-ezeldins-the-orchards-of-basra/) - Damien Aubel, February 2023, for Transfuge Mansoura Ezeldin's novel has the intensity and mystery of a marvelous gem. It illuminates this winter's publications. Here is a book which delights the reader in exactly the same proportion as it condemns the critic to embarrassment. A book that prevents any analytical intent, and causes a thousand rare pleasures. A small prowess in which the qualities
- [Foreign literature: books not to be missed - By Maya Kergall and Olivia Phelip, Via Books](https://rayaagency.org/2023/03/foreign-literature-books-not-to-be-missed-by-maya-kergall-and-olivia-phelip-via-books/) - A review by Maya Kergall and Olivia Phelip, for Via Books, February 19th, 2023 At the start of 2023, many publications give pride of place to foreign literature. We find some heavyweights like the latest books by the late Javier Marias, Colson Whitehead, Joyce Carol Oates or the reissue of a major text by Vassili
- ['The memory of jasmine' by Nadia Leila Aissaoui, L'Orient-Le-Jour](https://rayaagency.org/2023/03/the-memory-of-jasmine-by-nadia-leila-aissaoui-lorient-le-jour/) - A review by Nadia Leila Aissaoui, for L'Orient-Le-Jour, February 2nd, 2023 The Orchards of Basra by Mansoura Ez-Eldin, translated from Arabic (Egypt) by Philippe Vigreux, Sindbad/Actes-sud, 2023, 224 p. In this captivating and remarkably translated novel, Mansoura Ez-Eldin takes us on a round trip in time and space, between Cairo and Basra, to meet timeless
- [Mansoura Ezeldin "brilliantly mixes the codes of ancient Arabic writing with those of the contemporary novel" - Richard Jacquemond reviews "The orchards of Basra" for Le Monde des Livres](https://rayaagency.org/2023/03/the-orchards-of-basra-le-monde-des-livres/) - By Richard Jacquemond, for Le Monde des Livres, February 9th, 2023 Hisham, who lives off the antique book trade, is haunted by a dream. He sees himself alive, under the name of Yazid Ibn Abihi, in Basra (or Basra, name of the second city of Iraq, located in the south of the country), at the
- ["Superbly mastered novel" - J.-P. Guirado reviews Ezledin's novel for Mare Nostrum](https://rayaagency.org/2023/03/superbly-mastered-novel-j-p-guirado-reviews-ezledins-novel-for-mare-nostrum/) - By Guirado for Mare Nostrum, January 3, 2023 It all starts with a dream. A haunting and poetic dream in which angels descend from heaven to pick jasmine from the gardens of Basra – present-day Basra in Iraq. This dream continually monopolizes the mind of Hishâm Khattab who, after brilliant studies in geology which did not
- [Quentin Perissinotto reviews "The orchards of Basra" for Le Regard Libre](https://rayaagency.org/2023/04/quentin-perissinotto-reviews-the-orchards-of-basra-for-le-regard-libre/) - By Quentin Perissinotto for Le Regard Libre, 11 April 2023 The Orchards of Basra is an illusory attempt to resuscitate images and bring them to life. Hishâm, an antique book dealer in Cairo, is inhabited and haunted by a dream: he sees angels picking all the jasmine in Basra. Determined to decipher the meaning of this dream, he flips through
- [Read Asymptote's beautiful review of Alrez' "A sleepless giraffe in Damascus" - by Margaret Litvin](https://rayaagency.org/2023/06/read-asymptotes-beautiful-review-of-alrez-a-sleepless-giraffe-in-damascus-by-margaret-litvin/) - Published by Asymptote, on June 5, 2023 In a three part series, Asymptote asks the 2023 PEN/Heim grantees to talk about the books they are working on. Below, we are happy to share Margaret Litvin's words on Khalil Alrez' "A sleepless giraffe in Damascus". At first it was the rhythm of his sentences: polished
- [ORIENT XXI reviews Ezledin’s 'The Orchard of Basra'](https://rayaagency.org/2023/07/orient-xxi-reviews-ezledins-the-orchard-of-basra/) - Published by ORIENT XXI, on July 7 2023 Hisham navigates in a dream between contemporary Cairo and 8th-century Basra, where Islamic thought is taking shape. In this parallel world, he encounters his doppelganger, Yazid, who frequents the circle of rationalist theologians. With "The Gardens of Basra," Egyptian novelist Mansoura Ez-Eldin brings back illustrious characters from
- ["Through its intimacy and grace" a "heart-wrenching" novel - Khalifa's last novel in the Chicago Review of Books](https://rayaagency.org/2023/07/through-its-intimacy-and-grace-a-heart-wrenching-novel-khalifas-last-novel-in-the-chicago-review-of-books/) - The Chicago Review of Books recommends Khalifa's "No one prayed over their graves" as one of the 12 must reads of July! By Michael Welch, July 5, 2023 From the National Book Award finalist Khaled Khalifa comes the story of two friends whose lives are altered by a flood that devastates their Syrian village.
- [Lagardere-IMA Award of Arabic Literature: Mansoura Ezeldin and Samar Yazbek are amongst the 12 finalists!](https://rayaagency.org/2023/07/lagardere-ima-award-of-arabic-literature-mansoura-ezeldin-and-samar-yazbek-are-amongst-the-12-finalists/) - Created in 2013, the Lagardere-IMA Award for Arabic literature is one of the rare French prizes dedicated to Arabic literary creation. The award of 10,000 EUR promotes the work of a writer, citizen of one of the countries of the Arab league, translated into, or originally written in, French, between September 2022 and September 2023.
- [Khalifa's "No one prayed over their graves" is on the longlist of the National Book Award!](https://rayaagency.org/2023/09/khalifas-no-one-prayed-over-their-graves-is-on-the-longlist-of-the-national-book-award/) - The National Book Award, New York, announced its longlist. The shortlist will be revealed on October 3rd, and the winner announced on November 15. Khaled Khalifa's "No one prayed over their graves", translated by Leri Price, published by FSG in the USA is amongst the longlisted. Khalifa's previous novel "Death is hard work" was shortlisted
- ["Breathtaking" and "Magnificent" is how The Brooklyn Rail describes Khalifa's "No one prayed over their graves"!](https://rayaagency.org/2023/09/breathtaking-and-magnificent-is-how-the-brooklyn-rail-describes-khalifas-no-one-prayed-over-their-graves/) - A review by John Domini for The Brooklyn Rail, Published September 2023 From the first, the Syrian novelist Khaled Khalifa scores his latest for full orchestra. The opening page considers the grim aftermath of a devastating Euphrates flood, not far from Aleppo, back in 1907, and it summons every instrument, from tuba to triangle, in
- [Read Mathias Enard's beautiful review of Khoury's "Stella Maris"](https://rayaagency.org/2023/10/read-mathias-enards-beautiful-review-of-khourys-stella-maris/) - By Mathias Enard, for L'Orient Le Jour, October 6th, 2023 The destiny of the Palestinians throughout the second half of the 20th century inhabits the work of the Lebanese novelist Élias Khoury. Stella Maris (second volume and therefore the center of the Children of the Ghetto trilogy, the first part of which, My Name is Adam,
- [A small epic that blends magic realism with grim realities, always memorably.](https://rayaagency.org/2023/10/a-small-epic-that-blends-magic-realism-with-grim-realities-always-memorably/) - Published in Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 2023 An elegantly written multigenerational novel set in 19th- and early-20th-century Syria. Khalifa, the most prominent Syrian writer at work today (albeit in exile), opens with a scarifying moment from history: a 1907 flood that swept away a small town along the Euphrates River. There are few survivors. Two
- [“No One Prayed Over Their Graves” is an ode to the Syrian city that has been ruined by conflict](https://rayaagency.org/2023/10/no-one-prayed-over-their-graves-is-an-ode-to-the-syrian-city-that-has-been-ruined-by-conflict/) - A review in The Economist, published on July 13th 2023 Khaled khalifa, a Syrian writer, lives in Damascus even though state authorities have banned his books and, on one occasion, beaten him up. His previous novel, “Death Is Hard Work”, dealt with the carnage of his country’s civil war, which began in 2011. “No One
- [Khalifa’s partnership with Leri Price is one of the most fruitful writer-translator pairings in literature today.](https://rayaagency.org/2023/10/khalifas-partnership-with-leri-price-is-one-of-the-most-fruitful-writer-translator-pairings-in-literature-today/) - A review by Sam Sacks for The Wall Street Journal, Published on July 21, 2023 “Why travel if all the world is coming to Aleppo, the capital of it all?” says a character in Khaled Khalifa’s spacious historical novel “No One Prayed Over Their Graves.” This is the Aleppo of the Ottoman Empire at the
- [‘No One Prayed Over Their Graves’ is a gorgeous new novel from Khaled Khalifa, one of Syria’s most celebrated novelists](https://rayaagency.org/2023/10/no-one-prayed-over-their-graves-is-a-gorgeous-new-novel-from-khaled-khalifa-one-of-syrias-most-celebrated-novelists/) - A Review by Sarah Cypher, in The Washington Post, July 18 2023 “Cities can die just like people,” wrote Aleppo native Khaled Khalifa in his second novel, “No Knives in the Kitchens of This City” (2013). The line would be prescient: As Khalifa was writing his new novel, “No One Prayed Over Their Graves,” during
- [Elias Khoury Stella Maris: a lyrical and melancholic Palestinian epic](https://rayaagency.org/2023/11/elias-khoury-stella-maris-a-lyrical-and-melancholy-palestinian-epic/) - A review by Sébastien Lapaque for Le Figaro, published in October 2023 In French, Adam is a four-letter first name. In the translation of Elias Khoury's novel, he is made of flesh and blood, clay and divine breath. Adam. Such is the name of "Stella Maris"'s main protagonist, born in 1948 in Haifa, the capital of northern Israel, a
- [Elias Khoury presents the French version of 'Stella Maris'](https://rayaagency.org/2023/11/elias-khoury-presents-the-french-version-of-stella-maris/) - Elias Khoury, author of "Stella Maris", published at Actes Sud, talks about his book. Listen to him here
- [Stella Maris: "The task of this novel, which is brimming with stories, is to put them in perspective and bring them together in the same hymn"](https://rayaagency.org/2023/11/stella-maris-the-task-of-this-novel-which-is-brimming-with-stories-is-to-put-them-in-perspective-and-bring-them-together-in-one-song/) - Published in Politis, 19 October 2023 In Stella Maris, Elias Khoury tells the story of Adam, a Palestinian man living in Israel, born in 1948 in the Lodz Ghetto and, by force of circumstances, suffering from identity problems. Lebanese born in 1948 in Beirut in a neighborhood Christian, citizen Elias Khoury took action and
- [L'Humanite reviews Stella Maris by Elias Khoury, "the tragic story of the wandering Palestinian"](https://rayaagency.org/2023/11/lhumanite-reviews-stella-maris-by-elias-khoury-the-tragic-story-of-the-wandering-palestinian/) - By Muriel Steinmetz in L'Humanité, 9 Nov. 2023 Elias Khoury, in a novel with current resonances by the force of circumstances, brings to its height the paradox of the one who is lost, by simulating being the other who has despoiled his people. The omniscient narrator of Elias Khoury's latest novel – Stella Maris. Children of
- [Le Monde reviews Stella Maris, by Elias Khoury: "A magnificent epic"](https://rayaagency.org/2023/11/le-monde-reviews-stella-maris-by-elias-khoury-a-magnificent-epic/) - Richard Jacquemond reviews Stella Maris in Le Monde, November 2023 An Israeli Palestinian tries to find his place in a society that marginalizes him. “Stella Maris”, by Elias Khoury, is a magnificent epic. The new book of the great Lebanese novelist Elias Khoury is the second volume of a trilogy titled Children of the Ghetto. This title,
- [Barakat's novel "Night post" was recently published in Iran, by Nashr Saless, and praised by the press!](https://rayaagency.org/2020/06/barakats-novel-night-post-was-recently-published-in-iran-by-nashr-saless-and-praised-by-the-press/) - “This is the story of a noble people, rooted in the plains of civilization and the park of history" "Expressing his satisfaction with the success of the translation of “Night Post”, the translator Seyed Hamid Reza Mohajerani said: “I must say that I consider translating ”Night Post “(Barid Al-Layl) by Hoda Barakat to be one of
- ["Strong" "beautiful" "much intensity" - Wannous' The Frightened](https://rayaagency.org/2019/09/strong-beautiful-much-intensity-wannous-the-frightened/) - By Lilia Tak-Tak, in La madeleine des livres, Septemner 2019 "The frightened" is a very beautiful, very strong novel, which depicts with a lot of intensity the fear, anguish, and suffering of a young woman, a young man and by extension those of a people. Feelings that feed each other and create a system of communicating
- [Khalifa's "Death is hard work" is "intensely readable" "wryly compelling" - Financial Times](https://rayaagency.org/2019/05/khalifas-death-is-hard-work-is-intensely-readable-wryly-compelling-financial-times/) - A review by Financial Times, May 10th 2019 Despite its relentlessly bleak subject matter, Death Is Hard Work is intensely readable. As the pages turn, one is impelled to keep up with the al-Salim siblings as they race against time... Wryly compelling, despite the author’s pessimistic outlook, Death Is Hard Work may be Khalifa’s
- [Mediapart on Barakat's "The night post": "A writer of her time" who signs an "original and powerful" novel](https://rayaagency.org/2019/01/mediapart-on-barakats-the-night-post/) - Review and interview by Antoine Perraud and Faiza Zerouala for Mediapart, January 8th, 2019. The Lebanese writer Hoda Barakat, captures the torments of refugees, their exile, their dispossession and the challenge posed to our societies, in an original and powerful epistolary novel, Courrier de nuit (Actes Sud). A serious and essential encounter. She wanted to
- [A "formidable" narrative - Le Monde des Livres honours Yazbek's The Crossing](https://rayaagency.org/2016/04/a-formidable-narrative-le-monde-des-livres-honours-yazbek-s-the-crossing/) - Jean Hatzfeld for Le Monde des Livres, April 15 2016 Les Portes du néant, à la frontière turque, s’ouvrent une première fois sur la route qui mène à la région d’Idlib, dans le nord-ouest de la Syrie. Samar Yazbek les franchit en août 2012, en se faufilant dans un trou creusé sous des barbelés. Une voiture l’attend,
- [Liberation draws Yazbek's portrait and reviews The Crossing, a "Colossal work"](https://rayaagency.org/2016/03/liberation-draws-yazbeks-portrait-and-reviews-the-crossing-a-colossal-work/) - By Jean-Louis Le Touzet, for Liberation, March 20, 2016 Photo credit: Mathieu Zazzo, Liberation Men make war. But a woman, blonde, cat-eyed, 46-year old Syrian of high education was needed to paint Syria's death. No other brush was ever dipped in as many tears to tell the intoxication of brutality in a country under the yoke of a double punishment:
- ["A strikingly truthful book" - L'Express on Yazbek's The Crossing](https://rayaagency.org/2016/03/a-strikingly-truthful-book-lexpress-on-yazbeks-the-crossing/) - Interview by Christian Makarian for l'Express, Published March 9, 2016 Below are excerpts translated into English. In a strikingly truthful book, The Crossing (Stock), Samar Yazbek tells the daily atrocities of the war in Syria. She also explores the irreversible mechanisms of ultra-violence... How do you define yourself facing the dislocation of Syria? I am a
- [Douaihy and Khalifa among the FT's meaningful contemporary authors with a "powerful style of fiction"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/10/douaihy-and-khalifa-among-the-fts-meaningful-contemporary-authors-with-a-powerful-style-of-fiction/) - This article was written by Heba Saleh for the Financial Times. Only a few excerpts are featured below. For the full article, please refer to the Financial Times' website. Published on October 6th 2015. Photo credit: The Guardian, Sedat Suna As the Arab world grapples with unrest across many of its countries, the Arab novel, a form
- [NRC Handelsblad Cultuur reviews Khalifa's "There are no knives": "Feeling the ground fall from under our feet"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/09/nrc-handelsblad-cultuur-reviews-khalifas-there-are-no-knives-feeling-the-ground-fall-from-under-our-feet/) - A review by Margot Djikgraaf, for NRC Handelsblad, April 22, 2015 "Characters are staged at a breakneck pace, disappear and reappear, while previously described events come along again, as if in a spiral that will make the reader lose grip of the story, and feeling the ground fall from under her feet. This is exactly Khalifa's purpose. This is
- ["This book is brave, moving and devastating" - Yazbek's The Crossing, according to The Press & Journal](https://rayaagency.org/2015/08/this-book-is-brave-moving-and-devastating-the-crossing-according-to-the-press-journal/) - Review by The Press & Journal, July 29th, 2015 The Crossing documents [Yazbek's] three return visits to Syria between 2012 and 2013. This was a period during which the Syrian people were desperately fighting for survival, both against the Assad regime and the brutal and unforgiving force of emerging Jihadist groups. This book is brave, moving and devastating. Yazbek’s simple prose
- [Arte "Alwan's Beavers is a literary UFO"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/06/arte-alwans-beavers-is-a-literary-ufo/) - Very few Saudi writers are translated in Europe. Here is a UFO published by Le Seuil: The Beaver, Mohammed Hasan Alwan, paints a portrait of Saudi Arabi tainted with humour. The society is weighed down by traditions, religion, but is also changing with a very young population that aspires to change. See more here. Très peu d'écrivains saoudiens
- [Marc Coiteux, Radio Canada, loves Alwan's "Beavers"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/05/marc-coiteux-radio-canada-loves-alwans-beavers/) - To listen to the program, click on this link.
- [Beavers is out in French!  And featured in Radio France Culture as the "Saudi Houellebecq"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/02/beavers-is-out-in-french-and-featured-in-radio-france-culture-as-the-saudi-houellebecq/) - Mohamad Hasan Alwan's novel "Beavers" (Al Qondos, Dar al saqi) was recently published in France by le Seuil. The national French cultural radio "France culture" featured it in its show "Le temps des libraires", or, "Book sellers' moment". Bookseller Pierre Morize, from the French Liragif bookshop, offers a brief excellent review.
- [Jabbour Douaihy on the IPAF's longlist for the third time! - for "American Neighborhood"](https://rayaagency.org/2015/01/jabbour-douaihy-on-the-ipafs-longlist-for-the-third-time-for-american-neighborhood/) - For the third time, the Lebanese novelist Jabbour Douaihy is on the long list of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction. This time, it's for his novel "American Neighborhood", published at Dar al Saqi. Another of Dar al Saqi's titles is long-listed: The Daughter of Suslov, bu Yemeni novelist Habib Abdulrab Sarori. Other
- [Il Sole 24 Ore "Pellico, Solzhenitsyn, Primo Levi, but also and above all Kafka" are in The Shell - Mostafa Khalifa](https://rayaagency.org/2014/09/il-sole-24-ore-pellico-solzhenitsyn-primo-levi-but-also-and-above-all-kafka-are-in-the-shell-mostafa-khalifa/) - Only the narrative of horror seems to cancel the cultural diversity among the most impermeable Western civilisation and the Arab one
- [La Repubblica, The Shell is "a bitter reflection on the horrors of which humans are guilty" - Mostafa Khalifa](https://rayaagency.org/2014/09/la-repubblica-the-shell-is-a-bitter-reflection-on-the-horrors-of-which-humans-are-guilty-mostafa-khalifa/) - Mostafa Khalifa's book is not only a complaint, but also bitter reflection on the horrors of which humans are guilty.
- [Read/Listen to NPR's review of Khalifa's "In praise of hatred"](https://rayaagency.org/2014/09/readlisten-to-nprs-review-of-khalifas-in-praise-of-hatred/) - "Overall, if you can muster the patience, this novel will teach you some important things"
- [Douaihy and his "Chased away" at the Mediterranean Festival of Literature, Italy](https://rayaagency.org/2014/09/douaihy-and-his-chased-away-at-the-mediterranean-festival-of-literature/) - Taken from Viaggioadoriente, by Francesca Del Vecchio, (and loosely translated). September 2014. The Mediterranean Festival of Literature, in its 12th edition this year, has tackled the narration of "Identity". And who better than the Lebanese novelist Jabbour Douaihy could represent the essence of this argument, using a text whose starting point is precisely that of
- [Wannous in New York](https://rayaagency.org/2014/04/wannous-in-new-york/) - Beyond the thrill of the play and Noor Theater’s wonderful production, I was equally impressed by how several quality institutions had come together to offer the public this reading and the illuminating discussion that followed. The Martin Segal Theater Center, at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, hosted the event, under the able leadership of executive director Frank Hentschker. The English translation of the play and its first production in Beirut a few months ago largely reflected the work of two professors at the American University of Beirut – Robert Myers and Sahara Assad – along with Nada Saab at the Lebanese American University.
- [Al Quds Douaihy "has achieved an accurate characterisation of our reality artfully"](https://rayaagency.org/2014/03/al-quds-douaihy-achieved-an-accurate-characterisation-of-our-reality-artfully/) - The novel has achieved through its narrative techniques an accurate characterisation of our current reality artfully, promoting the humane while nevertheless deploring the different manifestations of terrorism. The book also successfully uncovers the political and social roots of the phenomenon [of djihadism], which threatens our contemporary societies with destruction and collapse.
- [Al Nahar on Douaihy's American Neighborhood](https://rayaagency.org/2014/03/al-nahar-on-douaihys-american-neighborhoo/) - Douaihy draws the portrait of society, in his new novel "American neighborhood ", where each sentence imprints on the reader's mind an evocative primeval image.
- [Al Hayat "Douaihy catches a furtive moment of transition" in American neighborhood](https://rayaagency.org/2014/03/al-hayat-douaihy-catches-a-furtive-moment-of-transition-in-american-neighborhood/) - Al hayat, January 2014 It is as if the reader is walking in the city's markets, inhaling the smell of raw fish mixed with that of soap, of the waste piled on the dirty river banks, and the scent of tobacco: «It is called American Neighborhood in reference to the abandoned Evangelical School... it overlooks
- [Al Akhbar, about Douaihy's "American neighborhood" : 'The art of details par excellence'](https://rayaagency.org/2014/03/al-akhbar-about-douaihys-american-neighborhood-the-art-of-details-par-excellence/) - By Rami Tawil, for Al Akhbar January 2014 With his masterly narrative skills, the author of « June Rain » tell the story of Tripoli with great art, through a travel in time taking the reader back to the early twentieth century. Douaihy's characters are created in the city's spirit and its words, thereby creating
- [Booklist, US, reviews Khalifa's In praise of hatred](https://rayaagency.org/2014/03/booklist-us-reviews-khalifas-in-praise-of-hatred/) - Add this one to the growing list of thought-provoking novels about Muslim women caught in the crossfire of politics and personal life.
- ["Soriyat for Development" - founded by Yazbek](https://rayaagency.org/2013/10/soriyat-for-development-founded-by-yazbek/) - The idea of “Syrian women for human development” SFD, came from the heart of the Revolution, the depth of tragedy and resistance against the oppression of the dictatorship on the one hand and that of religious fundamentalism on the other, when the word became insufficient.
- [Listmuse picks Khalifa and Abdelmeguid in its top 100 books of all times!](https://rayaagency.org/2013/09/listmuse-picks-khalifa-and-abdelmeguid-in-its-top-100-books-of-all-times/) - A website dedicated to creating stimulating lists of books, films and music, Listmuse has recently published a list of the best 100 books of all times. It is with great pleasure that I found in that list Khaled Khalifa's In praise of hatred, and Ibrahim Abdelmeguid's No one sleeps in Alexandria.
- [Interviewing Samar Yazbek - at PEN Hay festival 2013](https://rayaagency.org/2013/06/interviewing-samar-yazbek-at-pen-hay-festival-2013/) - http://www.hayfestival.com/p-5748-samar-yazbek-talks-to-jo-glanville.aspx
- [Yazbek's Cinnamon in French! A first review](https://rayaagency.org/2013/02/yazbek-s-cinnamon-in-french-a-first-review/) - Baffling, poignant and disturbing, this novel will not leave you indifferent.
- [The Independent reviews Khaled Khalifa's In praise of hatred](https://rayaagency.org/2012/10/the-independent-reviews-khaled-khalifas-in-praise-of-hatred/) - While the story is ostensibly a domestic one about the narrator and her wealthy household of aunts who must choose between a life of self-denying spinsterhood or rebellious marriage, at its core it is about violence: the religiously motivated violence of the Muslim Brotherhood, and the counter-violence inflicted by a secular government. The two forces are locked into a mutual cycle of hatred, each atrocity sparking the next.
- [Jabbour Douaihy in Torino, at Alessandro Baricco's Holden School](https://rayaagency.org/2012/10/jabbour-douaihy-in-torino-at-alessandro-bariccos-holden-school/) - Douaihy's novel, Chased away, is out in Italian (Feltrinelli)! The author was in Torino, Italy, for the launch of his book, and was invited to give the inaugural lecture at the prestigious Holden School of Writing and Storytelling, established by Alessandro Baricco in 1984. From the School's website: "The Scuola Holden begins its new year
- [Yazbek's In the crossfire - n#1 on Amazon in its own category!](https://rayaagency.org/2012/10/yazbeks-in-the-crossfire-n1-on-amazon-in-its-own-category/) - As an outcome of her successful tour in the US, Samar Yazbek's book was on September 16th, ranked #1 in its category!
- [The Guardian's review of Khalifa's In praise of hatred](https://rayaagency.org/2012/09/the-guardians-review-of-khalifas-in-praise-of-hatred/) - The aunts are gloriously vivacious and nuanced creations, from Maryam, at war with her own "filthy and rebellious" body, to Marwa, a Juliet figure, chained to her bed to prevent her marrying an officer of the other sect. As party spies multiply, a geography teacher has her clothes torn off for failing a pupil from a Mukhabarat family. In the siege of Aleppo, a fugitive throws himself into a red-hot bakery furnace rather than risk torture. A secret police chief modelled on the president's brother is a chilling cameo.
- [Mashallah interviews Samar Yazbek](https://rayaagency.org/2012/07/mashallah-interviews-samar-yazbek/) - You often mention in the diary how blurry the frontiers between reality and fiction are; how reality often looks like a screenplay, a ferocious fiction. Would you say that this type of political environment makes fiction irrelevant? The political environment didn’t necessarily make fiction irrelevant. What I was trying to say is that the horror I saw surpassed any kind of fiction imaginable.
- [A thousand stories in a story - Douaihy](https://rayaagency.org/2012/07/a-thousan-stories-in-a-story-douaihy/) - Jabbour Douaihy's novels remain, for the non Lebanese readers, works of pure fiction; minute jewelry made by the imagination of a man of talent ranging between modesty and compassion, the most refined sarcasm and bitterness the most painful and understandable. Douaihy tells the story of his Lebanon, and does not submit her to judgments, nor to philosophy or psychoanalysis. The reader rooms around, or rather, he roams jubilant in Douaihy's imaginary multi-facetted world, with all its contradictions and conflicts, which, as a mosaic, does not reveal its beauty unless it is viewed from a distance. This is the meaning of the virtual camera Douaihy's look...
- [Saadallah Wannous' "Rituals of a metamorphosis" at Gerhart, AUC](https://rayaagency.org/2012/06/saadallah-wannous-rituals-of-a-metamorphosis-at-gerhart-auc/) - The AUC Gerhart theater produced Saadallah Wannous' play, 'Rituals of a metamorphosis' in the fall of 2011 that was a great success. Below, a review by Farah Montasser, Al Ahram Online, October 28th, 2011.
- [War -or no war- in the Lebanese literature: Hilal Chouman as a figure of a new trend](https://rayaagency.org/2012/05/war-or-no-war-in-the-lebanese-literature-hilal-chouman-as-a-figure-of-a-new-trend/) - In the prestigious Mulhaq Annahar Lebanese cultural supplement (April 24th, 2012), Aasem Badr Al Din asserts that the Lebanese war is dead. Analyzing cultural expressions such as cinema and fiction, the journalist argues that a new trend is perceptible in Lebanon. An important figure of this new trend is Hilal Chouman: "If the Lebanese novel,
- [Samar Yazbek on Arte TV](https://rayaagency.org/2012/03/samar-yazbek-on-arte-tv/) - http://videos.www4.arte.tv/de/videos/samar_yazbek_schrei_nach_freiheit-6561098.html (In German)
- [Süddeutsche Zeitung reviews Yazbek's 'In the crossfire'](https://rayaagency.org/2012/03/suddeutsche-zeitung-reviews-yazbeks-in-the-crossfire/) - "Yazbek's language is at times poetic, but mostly straightforward, with the factual sound of someone familiar with the various places of Syria"
- ['In the crossfire' on the best sellers' list in Switzerland!](https://rayaagency.org/2012/03/in-the-crossfire-on-the-best-sellers-list-in-switzerland/) - Samar Yazbek's 'In the crossfire', German version, is in this week-end's best seller's list in Switzerland! 18th position on a list of 20 non fiction books.
- [Women's day, March 8th - Samar Yazbek on France Inter](https://rayaagency.org/2012/03/womens-day-march-8th-samar-yazbek-on-france-inter/) - http://www.franceinter.fr/emission-le-79-8-mars-8-femmes
- [Swiss TV: short film on Syria and Samar Yazbek](https://rayaagency.org/2012/03/swiss-tv-short-film-on-syria-and-samar-yazbek/) - In German - http://www.videoportal.sf.tv/video?id=e808ebbc-1c1d-4574-b94f-bf77ab287092
- [Yazbek's 'Syrian revolution diaries' beautifully announced in Germany](https://rayaagency.org/2012/02/yazbeks-syrian-revolution-diaries-beautifully-announced-in-germany/) - "I will only believe what I see with my own eyes" - Samar Yazbek with that intent, begins her diary immediately after the outbreak of the Syrian uprising in the small town of Dara'a. In the Alawite community, she will henceforth be regarded as a traitor, vilified and threatened. Nevertheless, she goes boldly on the road, traveling through the country, writes down what she sees and hears. Again and again she get news of deaths, casualties, arrest of friends. She speaks with protesters as well as with police officers, interviews dissidents released from prison.
- [New title by Samar Yazbek](https://rayaagency.org/2012/01/in-the-crossfire-revolution-diaries/) - In the months spanning from March to July, Samar Yazbek, then in Damascus, kept a diary, where she took note of events she witnessed, people she talked to, and her impressions. This diary is now turned into a book.
- [Coming up: Sharjah International Book Fair - we'll be there!](https://rayaagency.org/2011/11/coming-up-sharjah-international-book-fair-well-be-there/) - For the 30th year, Sharjah is getting ready to welcome its international book exhibit. Starting on November 16th through the 26th, readers in the Emirates will be able to attend talks, events, and buy books from all over the Arab world and more. This year, the fair's international flavor is enhanced. An important delegation of
- [International Prize of Arabic Fiction 2012: Jabbour Douaihy on the long list!](https://rayaagency.org/2011/11/international-prize-of-arabic-jabbour-douaihy-on-the-long-list/) - Since 2008, the International Prize for Arabic fiction, also known as the Arab Man Booker Prize, has been a reference in the literary scene. The long list for the 2012 prize was announced yesterday, and Jabbour Douaihy's Chased away is in it! The long list is: Sarmada, by Fadi Aazam (Syrian), at Thaqafa li al
- [Morgenbladet's review of Thabit's Terrorist no.20](https://rayaagency.org/2011/10/morgenbladet-s-review-of-thabits-terrorist-no-20/) - It is fascinating how religion acts as a shield against the tyranny of the family: the Quranic authority overthrows his father's, releases him from the structure Zahi grew up with. Only gradually is this freedom limited again: It is for example forbidden to cheer during football matches, because only God can be honored and love for the team is blasphemy. The religious conversations are themselves increasingly darker: visions of hell take over the paradisiacal vistas, intimacy and contemplation is replaced by the aggressive proselytizing and moral campaigns.
- [Khalifa in Le Monde: A new Arab democracy will be born on the ruins of the regime in Damascus](https://rayaagency.org/2011/06/khalifa-in-le-monde-a-new-arab-democracy-will-be-born-on-the-ruins-of-the-regime-in-damascus/) - he president is not the young man who was said to have modern and reformist tendencies, but a dictator like the others, unable to understand what was happening in front his eyes, ready to kill half of his people to remain in power, thinking he is the only one to have the right to decide what reforms the country needs and when to grant them to his subjects as a reward.
- [A book of infinite sadness | Le Soir](https://rayaagency.org/2011/06/a-book-of-infinite-sadness-le-soir/) - Brought up in frustration and taboos, the narrator of Khaled Khalifa's fresco, has, very young, praised hatred.
- [Three reasons why a literary piece gets censored - 'In Praise of hatred'](https://rayaagency.org/2011/05/three-reasons-why-a-literary-piece-gets-censored-in-praise-of-hatred/) - The reasons for censoring this book were the ways in which the writer gave a human face to the religious extremists, the harshness with which he described the oppression and, above all, the way in which he has explained violence against the Alauliti, religious group to which the family of al- Assad belongs.
- [Khalifa in Liberazione 'The Syrian society is tearing down the wall of fear'](https://rayaagency.org/2011/05/khalifa-in-liberazione-the-syrian-society-is-tearing-down-the-wall-of-fea/) - The book describes the bloody crackdown in 1980 by the regime of Hafez Al Assad, father of the current Syrian president and "founder" of the clan in power that has dominated the last half-century Damascus, and stood against an attempted revolt led by the Muslim Brotherhood. It is this story that Khalifa tells through the voices the characters of his novel, members of Syrian ordinary families, with their stories of love, hope and betrayal, who found themselves caught between fundamentalism and a police corrupt regime. In the background, unfolds the moral and material destruction of an entire country. "The city (of Aleppo), one time proud to be called the Vienna of the East, had become a fortress in ruins, inhabited by ghosts who were afraid".
- [Douaihy in Algiers](https://rayaagency.org/2011/05/douaihy-in-algiers/) - Diwan Dar Abdellatif welcomes Jabbour Douaihy in Algiers on May 7th. Diwan Dar Abdellatif are cultural events organized by the AARC, or Algeria's agency for cultural diffusion, and Actes Sud's, French publishing house. Literary events are regularly hosted in this venue, where authors from around the world are invited to meet their readers. From February
- [RAYA proudly represents Kalimat!](https://rayaagency.org/2011/03/raya-proudly-represents-kalimat/) - Starting March 2011, RAYA agency is proud to announce that it represents the UAE based children literature publishing house Kalimat for world translation rights.
- [Remembering the old days - An emotional retrospect ignited by Douaihy's latest novel](https://rayaagency.org/2011/01/remembering-the-old-days-douaihys-latest-novel/) - Jabbour Douaihy's recent novel, from the perspective of an old leftist, represents an important opportunity to rediscover ourselves
- [Yazbek on sectarianism - A review by Al hayat](https://rayaagency.org/2010/12/yazbek-on-sectarianism-a-review-by-al-hayat/) - The novel's stake is on digging deep into sectarianism - another aspect of its greatness. It is bound to provoke some commotion, but also to encourage dialogue. The full review, in Arabic, below, by Nabil Suleiman for Al hayat. سمر يزبك تبحث عمّـا وراء المرأة ‎١/٠٩/٢٠١٠ ‎نبيل سليمان يروم عنوان الرواية أن يدل إلى بؤرتها،
- [Samar Yazbek at the Beirut book fair!](https://rayaagency.org/2010/12/samar-yazbek-at-the-beirut-book-fair/) - Beirut book fair's opening is scheduled for this evening, as officials make speeches and honor its alleys. Samar Yazbek is in Beirut on that occasion! She will be signing her new book 'Laha Maraya', (In her mirrors) on December 8th, starting 5:00 pm at her publisher's stand, Dar al adab. On another note, I was
- [#Mashallah disOriented news](https://rayaagency.org/2010/11/mashallah-disoriented-news/) - Have you heard of Mashallah? I've been following Mashallah project through distant Facebook messages, to find out that 'Mashallah project' turned into 'Mashallah News' on November 25th -- It seems that the site is launched! And a 'new media is born' indeed. Made up of a team of journalists, bloggers, graphic designers and photographers, Mashallah
- [L'Humanité: an apprenticeship novel](https://rayaagency.org/2010/10/lhumanite-an-apprenticeship-novel/) - Terrorist no.20, by Muriel Steinmetz for L'Humanité Terroriste numero 20, par Muriel Steinmetz pour l'Humanité (03.2010) Il aurait pu être l'un des dix-neuf kamikazes de l'attentat du 11 septembre 200l contre les tours jumelles du World Trade Center. Lui, c'est le personnage central du livre le Terroriste n°20, d'Abdullah Thabit. Ce premier roman de l'auteur
- [Insight into Thabit's story, Le Figaro](https://rayaagency.org/2010/10/insight-into-thabit-s-story-le-figaro/) - Abdullah lights Marlboros one after the other, in a restaurant in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. A few years ago, he would have thought himself doomed for smoking just one. He also would've beaten up anyone refusing to put his cigarette off before him. This was the time when Abdullah righted the wrongs
- [La Vie Littéraire reviews Abdullah Thabit's novel](https://rayaagency.org/2010/10/la-vie-litteraire-reviews-abdullah-thabit-s-novel/) - Beside its inherent literary quality, this books presents the main interest of being the work of a writer of Arabic language, borne in the country that gave birth to Al-Qaeda.
- [Le Figaro on Abdullah Thabit](https://rayaagency.org/2010/09/le-figaro-on-abdullah-thabit/) - Abdallah raconte le destin de ces jeunes devenus djihadistes Pierre Prier, envoyé spécial à Djedda, Le Figaro 15/01/2008 Devenu professeur de lettres, il revient sur les racines du terrorisme dans un roman autobiographique. Adolescent, Abdallah Thabet portait une barbe fournie et s'attaquait aux «mécréants», par exemple à des femmes qui laissaient dépasser des mains non
- [Jabbour Douaihy's new book coming up!](https://rayaagency.org/2010/09/jabbour-douaihys-new-book-coming-up/) - Watch out for Douaihy's new book, Charid al manazel, or Chased away, to appear at Dar an-nahar soon.
- [Attending Frankfurt 2010 on 7th and 8th of October](https://rayaagency.org/2010/09/attending-frankfurt-2010-on-7th-and-8th-of-october/) - Yasmina Jraissati is attending Frankfurt 2010 on Thursday 7th and Friday 8th! - No table at the agents' center though.
- [June Rain reviewed in Tunisian magazine](https://rayaagency.org/2010/09/june-rain-reviewed-in-tunisi/) - Rafik Darragi, for Jet Set magazine, Tunisia "Such is the true merit of this book. The novel is a subtle reminder of the human condition, and characters are depicted with great precision" Pluie de juin, nominé en 2008 pour le Prix international du roman arabe, parut à Beyrouth en 2006 sous le titre Matar huzayrân.
- [L'Unita, Italy interviews Jabbour Douaihy](https://rayaagency.org/2010/09/lunita-italy-interviews-jabbour-douaihy/) - "C'era una volta, in un paese piccino e lontano adagiato sulla riva orientale del Mediterraneo, un luogo zeppo di pini dritti come donne in lutto" scrive Jabbour Douaihy.
- [La Stampa's review of Douaihy's June Rain](https://rayaagency.org/2010/09/la-stampas-review-of-douaihys-june-rain/) - Tutto Libri, the cultural supplement of Turin's famous daily, La Stampa, reviewed Douaihy's June Rain
- [Le Canard enchaîné's review of Douaihy's June Rain](https://rayaagency.org/2010/08/le-canard-enchaines-review-of-douaihys-june-rain/) - "Guerre intime du Liban", by David Fontaine, Le Canard Enchaîné (11.08.2010) La pluie de juin providentielle a-t-elle marqué le début du bain de sang ou a-t-elle douché les tueurs? L'ondée fut-elle un signe prémonitoire de la vengenace des hommes, comme dans une tragédie grecque, ou bien a-t-elle manifesté "la colère" (al-ghadab) du Dieu, des chrétiens
- [Italian review of Douaihy's June Rain, in Awenire](https://rayaagency.org/2010/08/italian-review-of-douaihys-june-rain-in-awenire/) - "Nel paese dei mitra et dei cedri", a review by Fulvio Panzeri. "E decisamente una sopresa questa che arriva dalla letteratura del mondo arabo, la scoperta di un autore forte che sa raccontarci, in un romanzo entro il quale agiscono molte voci e molti caratteri, la complesità della cultura libanese, ma soprattutto è in grado
- [Beirut International Book Fair](https://rayaagency.org/2009/11/beirut-international-book-fair/) - Beirut's international Book fair will be held from December 11th to 24th, 2009, at the BIEL exhibit center.
- [Swiss paper on Khalifa (German)](https://rayaagency.org/2009/10/swiss-paper-on-khalifa/) - Syriens ungeliebte Söhne, Susanne Schanda Wie regimekritische Autoren an der Zensur vorbeischreiben Überdimensionierte Porträts des Präsidenten Bashar al-Asad blicken in ganz Syrien von Plakatwänden und Hausfassaden. Sie scheinen die Untertanen daran zu mahnen, dass seinem wachsamen Auge nichts entgeht. Der Geheimdienst mit seinem Heer von Spitzeln sieht und hört alles. Dies ist besonders für unabhängig
- [Beirut's francophone book fair](https://rayaagency.org/2009/09/beiruts-francophone-book-fair/) - The 16th edition of le 'Salon du livre francophone de Beyrouth', previously known as 'Lire en français et en musique', will be taking place from October 22, 2009 to November 1st, at the BIEL exhibition center in Beirut. Beirut's francophone book fair was instigated by the French Embassy in 1992, and quickly turned out to
- [Politis, France, on Douaihy's Ayn Warda](https://rayaagency.org/2009/05/politis-on-douaihys-ayn-warda/) - Maison en ruine 'Politis', 7 mai 2009 Seules les familles déchues sont itéressantes. Les Baz, famille de la bourgeoisie chrétienne installée dans le bourg d'Ayn Wardeh, sur les hauteurs de Beyrouth, ont eu leur heure d'opulance, du temps de feu le patriarche Francis, qui a failli être élu député. mais à l'image d'un pays détruit
- [Cairo book fair 2009](https://rayaagency.org/2009/01/cairo-book-fair-2009/) - The 41st edition of the Cairo book fair is held this year from January 21st to February 2nd, with the UK as a guest of honour.
- [Babelmed, on Ayn Warda](https://rayaagency.org/2009/01/babelmed-on-ayn-warda/) - Histoire d'une famille autant que fresque sociale, ce roman, le quatrième de Jabbour Douaihy, se distingue par un va-et-vient constant entre la gravité du propos et l'humour le plus diabolique. Il a été salué à sa parution en arabe par une presse unanime.
- [Khalifa on BBC](https://rayaagency.org/2008/12/khalifa-on-bbc/) - I was trying to buy a banned book in Damascus by one of Syria's top literary figures, and to my surprise it seemed to be going rather well.
- [Samar Yazbek: a defying butterfly](https://rayaagency.org/2008/10/samar-yazbek-a-defying-butterfly/) - Un papillon défiant les lignes de l’écriture Dans son nouveau livre, Le Mont aux lis : histoires de songes (Dar Al-Mada), Samar Yazbek (1970) pose tout d’abord des questions liées au genre littéraire. Le lecteur, qui l’a connue nouvelliste dans Baqet kharif (bouquet d’automne, Dar Al-Gundi, 1999), Moufradat imraa (les mots d’une femme, Dar Al-Kounouz
- [Interview with Rania Samara](https://rayaagency.org/2007/11/interview-with-rania-samara/) - (in the Belles Etrangeres 2007 press file) In French, 3 questions to Rania Samara, Professor of literature, Paris III translator Lebanese/French En quoi la littérature libanaise se différencie-t-elle des autres littératures arabes ? Depuis la fin du XIXème siècle et le début du XXème siècle, la renaissance arabe, la Nahda, le Liban a été à
- [Interview with Jabbour Douaihy](https://rayaagency.org/2008/03/interview-with-jabbour-douaihy/) - Interview by Zahra Hankir, NOW Lebanon NOW Lebanon: Your novel, June Rain, has received much praise. The work tackles one of the trickier aspects of the development of civil conflict in Lebanon: the 1957 rivalry in Zghorta between the Douaihy family and the Franjiehs and Mouawads which led to the Meziara church killing. Why did
- [Mohammad Abisamra, guest of honor of 'Les belles etrangeres 2007'](https://rayaagency.org/2007/11/mohammad-abisamra-guest-of-honor-of-les-belles-etrangeres-2007/) - The literary event 'Les belles etrangeres' which, each year in France promotes foreign literature is dedicated to Lebanon in its 2007 edition. Mohammad Abisamra is among the 12 authors chosen for this event.
- [Khalifa in Reuters](https://rayaagency.org/2007/07/khalifa-in-reuters/) - Syrian author clashes with censors, urges liberty Tue Jul 3, 2007 By Tom Perry DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Author Khaled Khalifa tested the limits of freedom of expression in Syria with a novel exploring the government's battle against Islamist militants in the 1980s. His "In Praise of Hatred", published in Beirut, is officially banned in his

## Pages

- [Home Page](https://rayaagency.org/) - RAYA agency for Arabic literature. Reliable communication channels between Arab quality books production and the international publishing industry.
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## Books

- [Of loss and lavender](https://rayaagency.org/book/of-loss-and-lavender/)
- [Ghazala and the Sheikh's seven](https://rayaagency.org/book/ghazala-and-the-sheikhs-seven/)
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- [Dead Fish Breathing Lemon Peels](https://rayaagency.org/book/dead-fish-breathing-lemon-peels/)
- [Gaza residents: Your presence is a danger to your life](https://rayaagency.org/book/gaza-residents-your-presence-puts-your-life-in-danger/)
- [May vanishes](https://rayaagency.org/book/may-vanishes/)
- [Death is hard work](https://rayaagency.org/book/death-is-hard-work/)
- [Deeper Down the Well](https://rayaagency.org/book/deeper-down-the-well/)
- [Symphony of the South](https://rayaagency.org/book/symphony-of-the-south/)
- [A Man Like Me - Children of the ghetto 3](https://rayaagency.org/book/a-man-like-me-children-of-the-ghetto-3/)
- [Stella Maris - Children of the ghetto 2](https://rayaagency.org/book/stella-maris-children-of-the-ghetto-2/)
- [My name is Adam](https://rayaagency.org/book/my-name-is-adam-children-of-the-ghetto-1/)
- [The king of India](https://rayaagency.org/book/the-king-of-india/)
- [The orchards of Basra](https://rayaagency.org/book/the-orchards-of-basra/)
- [The days of the Rising Sun](https://rayaagency.org/book/the-days-of-the-rising-sun/)
- [In praise of hatred](https://rayaagency.org/book/in-praise-of-hatred/)
- [Cinnamon](https://rayaagency.org/book/cinnamon/)
- [Ritual for a metamorphosis](https://rayaagency.org/book/ritual-for-a-metamorphosis/)
- [In her mirrors](https://rayaagency.org/book/in-her-mirrors/)
- [Terrorist no.20](https://rayaagency.org/book/terrorist-no-20/)
- [In the crossfire: Syrian revolution diaries](https://rayaagency.org/book/in-the-crossfire-syrian-revolution-diaries/)
- [The Shell](https://rayaagency.org/book/the-shell/)
- [The pomegranate alone](https://rayaagency.org/book/the-pomegranate-alone/)
- [Pearls on a branch](https://rayaagency.org/book/pearls-on-a-branch/)
- [The blue pen](https://rayaagency.org/book/the-blue-pen/)
- [The raven's claw](https://rayaagency.org/book/the-ravens-claw/)
- [And the family devoured its men](https://rayaagency.org/book/and-the-family-devoured-its-men-wannous-dima/)
- [Some achieve greatness](https://rayaagency.org/book/some-achieve-greatness/)
- [The life of butterflies](https://rayaagency.org/book/the-life-of-butterflies/)
- [Gate of the sun](https://rayaagency.org/book/gate-of-the-sun/)
- [Ave Maria](https://rayaagency.org/book/ave-maria/)
- [Index](https://rayaagency.org/book/index/)
- [The frightened](https://rayaagency.org/book/the-frightened/)
- [Ayn Warda (Rose Fountain)](https://rayaagency.org/book/ayn-warda-rose-fountain/)
- [American neighborhood](https://rayaagency.org/book/american-neighborhood/)
- [Printed in Beirut](https://rayaagency.org/book/printed-in-beirut/)
- [Chased away](https://rayaagency.org/book/chased-away/)
- [June rain](https://rayaagency.org/book/june-rain/)
- [There are no knives in the kitchens of the city](https://rayaagency.org/book/there-are-no-knives-in-the-kitchens-of-the-city/)
- [19 women: Tales of resilience from Syria](https://rayaagency.org/book/19-women-tales-of-resilience-from-syria/)
- [The crossing](https://rayaagency.org/book/the-crossing/)
- [Mister N](https://rayaagency.org/book/mister-n/)
- [Poison in the air](https://rayaagency.org/book/poison-in-the-air/)
- [The notebooks of the Bohemians](https://rayaagency.org/book/the-notebooks-of-the-bohemians/)
- [Clay](https://rayaagency.org/book/clay/)

## Co-Agents

- [Anatolia Lit](https://rayaagency.org/co-agent/anatolia-lit/)
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## Image Galleries

- [The Mystery of Humanity 
How We Became Who We Are](https://rayaagency.org/image-gallery/the-mystery-of-humanity-how-we-became-who-we-are/)

## Person

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## Categories

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## Tags

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- [Mascate](https://rayaagency.org/tag/mascate/)
- [Makkawi Said](https://rayaagency.org/tag/makkawi-said/)
- [The swan's last song](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-swans-last-song/)
- [Torino](https://rayaagency.org/tag/torino/)
- [Libération](https://rayaagency.org/tag/liberation/)
- [El Quds](https://rayaagency.org/tag/el-quds/)
- [Politis](https://rayaagency.org/tag/politis/)
- [New York](https://rayaagency.org/tag/new-york/)
- [Najwa Barakat](https://rayaagency.org/tag/najwa-barakat/)
- [Censorship](https://rayaagency.org/tag/censorship/)
- [Neue Zürcher Zeitung](https://rayaagency.org/tag/neue-zürcher-zeitung/)
- [Publishing perspectives](https://rayaagency.org/tag/publishing-perspectives/)
- [R A Y A](https://rayaagency.org/tag/raya/)
- [Sharjah](https://rayaagency.org/tag/sharjah/)
- [Add new tag](https://rayaagency.org/tag/add-new-tag/)
- [The Independent](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-independent/)
- [La Repubblica](https://rayaagency.org/tag/la-repubblica/)
- [Abdo Khal](https://rayaagency.org/tag/abdo-khal/)
- [Beirut 39](https://rayaagency.org/tag/beirut-39/)
- [IO Donna](https://rayaagency.org/tag/io-donna/)
- [Books In Motion](https://rayaagency.org/tag/books-in-motion/)
- [Denise Maroney](https://rayaagency.org/tag/denise-maroney/)
- [NYU](https://rayaagency.org/tag/nyu/)
- [Grazia](https://rayaagency.org/tag/grazia/)
- [Etudes](https://rayaagency.org/tag/etudes/)
- [Awenire](https://rayaagency.org/tag/awenire/)
- [Le Canard Enchaîné](https://rayaagency.org/tag/le-canard-enchaine/)
- [Geo](https://rayaagency.org/tag/geo/)
- [RAYA News](https://rayaagency.org/tag/raya-news/)
- [La Stampa](https://rayaagency.org/tag/la-stampa/)
- [Rabih Jaber](https://rayaagency.org/tag/rabih-jaber/)
- [Yasmina's reviews](https://rayaagency.org/tag/yasminas-reviews/)
- [Il Manifesto](https://rayaagency.org/tag/il-manifesto/)
- [Mantova Festivaletteratura](https://rayaagency.org/tag/mantova-festivaletteratura/)
- [Gioia](https://rayaagency.org/tag/gioia/)
- [Arab publishing](https://rayaagency.org/tag/arab-publishing/)
- [L'Unita](https://rayaagency.org/tag/lunita/)
- [Book](https://rayaagency.org/tag/book/)
- [Digital](https://rayaagency.org/tag/digital/)
- [Frankfurt bookfair](https://rayaagency.org/tag/frankfurt-bookfair/)
- [Washington Post](https://rayaagency.org/tag/washington-post/)
- [Lire](https://rayaagency.org/tag/lire/)
- [BQF](https://rayaagency.org/tag/bqf/)
- [La vie littéraire](https://rayaagency.org/tag/la-vie-litteraire/)
- [L'Humanité](https://rayaagency.org/tag/lhumanite/)
- [Arabic](https://rayaagency.org/tag/arabic/)
- [Festival](https://rayaagency.org/tag/festival/)
- [Literature](https://rayaagency.org/tag/literature/)
- [Media](https://rayaagency.org/tag/media/)
- [Arab Booker](https://rayaagency.org/tag/arab-booker/)
- [Al nahar](https://rayaagency.org/tag/al-nahar/)
- [Mohammad Barrada](https://rayaagency.org/tag/mohammad-barrada/)
- [Nabil Suleiman](https://rayaagency.org/tag/nabil-suleiman/)
- [Melhem Chaoul](https://rayaagency.org/tag/melhem-chaoul/)
- [Abbas Baydoun](https://rayaagency.org/tag/abbas-baydoun/)
- [Hassan Daoud](https://rayaagency.org/tag/hassan-daoud/)
- [Samir Atallah](https://rayaagency.org/tag/samir-atallah/)
- [Prize](https://rayaagency.org/tag/prize/)
- [Tayeb Saleh](https://rayaagency.org/tag/tayeb-saleh/)
- [Bye Bye Babylone](https://rayaagency.org/tag/bye-bye-babylone/)
- [Lamia Ziade](https://rayaagency.org/tag/lamia-ziade/)
- [Aala al Aswany](https://rayaagency.org/tag/aala-al-aswany/)
- [Politics](https://rayaagency.org/tag/politics/)
- [Al safir](https://rayaagency.org/tag/al-safir/)
- [Roula Hassan](https://rayaagency.org/tag/roula-hassan/)
- [Publishing](https://rayaagency.org/tag/publishing/)
- [Tweets from Tahrir](https://rayaagency.org/tag/tweets-from-tahrir/)
- [Kalimat](https://rayaagency.org/tag/kalimat/)
- [Youth literature](https://rayaagency.org/tag/youth-literature/)
- [Al Quds](https://rayaagency.org/tag/al-quds/)
- [Damascus](https://rayaagency.org/tag/damascus/)
- [Jadaliyya](https://rayaagency.org/tag/jadaliyya/)
- [Incroci di civilita](https://rayaagency.org/tag/incroci-di-civilita/)
- [CNN](https://rayaagency.org/tag/cnn/)
- [Algiers](https://rayaagency.org/tag/algiers/)
- [Hussein Al Barghouti](https://rayaagency.org/tag/hussein-al-barghouti/)
- [I will be among the almond trees](https://rayaagency.org/tag/i-will-be-among-the-almond-trees/)
- [Memorial](https://rayaagency.org/tag/memorial/)
- [The Guardian](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-guardian/)
- [The Jordan Times](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-jordan-times/)
- [Turin](https://rayaagency.org/tag/turin/)
- [Corriere della sera](https://rayaagency.org/tag/corriere-della-sera/)
- [Le Nouvel Observateur](https://rayaagency.org/tag/le-nouvel-observateur/)
- [Liberazione](https://rayaagency.org/tag/liberazione/)
- [Sheikh Zayed Award](https://rayaagency.org/tag/sheikh-zayed-award/)
- [Avvenire](https://rayaagency.org/tag/avvenire/)
- [Libero](https://rayaagency.org/tag/libero/)
- [Drukproef](https://rayaagency.org/tag/drukproef/)
- [Le Soir](https://rayaagency.org/tag/le-soir/)
- [Translation](https://rayaagency.org/tag/translation/)
- [Jeune Afrique](https://rayaagency.org/tag/jeune-afrique/)
- [L'Espresso](https://rayaagency.org/tag/lespresso/)
- [Vanity Fair](https://rayaagency.org/tag/vanity-fair/)
- [La Gazette](https://rayaagency.org/tag/la-gazette/)
- [The Globad Dispatches](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-globad-dispatches/)
- [Courrier International](https://rayaagency.org/tag/courrier-international/)
- [RFI](https://rayaagency.org/tag/rfi/)
- [Dagbladet](https://rayaagency.org/tag/dagbladet/)
- [Morgenbladet](https://rayaagency.org/tag/morgenbladet/)
- [Time Out](https://rayaagency.org/tag/time-out/)
- [Hanna Wakim Prize](https://rayaagency.org/tag/hanna-wakim-prize/)
- [Clients](https://rayaagency.org/tag/clients/)
- [Dar al saqi](https://rayaagency.org/tag/dar-al-saqi/)
- [Hawra Al Nadawi](https://rayaagency.org/tag/hawra-al-nadawi/)
- [Politiken](https://rayaagency.org/tag/politiken/)
- [Under the Copenhagen sky](https://rayaagency.org/tag/under-the-copenhagen-sky/)
- [Al Akhbar](https://rayaagency.org/tag/al-akhbar/)
- [Al Qondos](https://rayaagency.org/tag/al-qondos/)
- [Kamal Al Riahi](https://rayaagency.org/tag/kamal-al-riahi/)
- [Die Zeit](https://rayaagency.org/tag/die-zeit/)
- [Assafir](https://rayaagency.org/tag/assafir/)
- [Oman Daily](https://rayaagency.org/tag/oman-daily/)
- [Arab spring](https://rayaagency.org/tag/arab-spring/)
- [The king of Galilee](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-king-of-galilee/)
- [The King is the King](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-king-is-the-king/)
- [PEN](https://rayaagency.org/tag/pen/)
- [Annahar](https://rayaagency.org/tag/annahar/)
- [AUC](https://rayaagency.org/tag/auc/)
- [Mashallah](https://rayaagency.org/tag/mashallah/)
- [La voz de Galicia](https://rayaagency.org/tag/la-voz-de-galicia/)
- [Der Freitag](https://rayaagency.org/tag/der-freitag/)
- [SIBF](https://rayaagency.org/tag/sibf/)
- [The National](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-national/)
- [Frankfurter](https://rayaagency.org/tag/frankfurter/)
- [Oxfam-Novib](https://rayaagency.org/tag/oxfam-novib/)
- [King of Galilee](https://rayaagency.org/tag/king-of-galilee/)
- [Time of white horses](https://rayaagency.org/tag/time-of-white-horses/)
- [Independent Foreign Fiction Prize](https://rayaagency.org/tag/independent-foreign-fiction-prize/)
- [A time of white horses](https://rayaagency.org/tag/a-time-of-white-horses/)
- [Comedie Francaise](https://rayaagency.org/tag/comedie-francaise/)
- [Hay festival](https://rayaagency.org/tag/hay-festival/)
- [Ways With Words](https://rayaagency.org/tag/ways-with-words/)
- [Yazbek](https://rayaagency.org/tag/yazbek/)
- [Sveriges radio](https://rayaagency.org/tag/sveriges-radio/)
- [Mubtada wa khabar](https://rayaagency.org/tag/mubtada-wa-khabar/)
- [Awards](https://rayaagency.org/tag/awards/)
- [Guernica](https://rayaagency.org/tag/guernica/)
- [Matthew Davis](https://rayaagency.org/tag/matthew-davis/)
- [Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature](https://rayaagency.org/tag/naguib-mahfouz-medal-for-literature/)
- [Ibrahim Abdelmeguid](https://rayaagency.org/tag/ibrahim-abdelmeguid/)
- [Boston Globe](https://rayaagency.org/tag/boston-globe/)
- [Asymptote](https://rayaagency.org/tag/asymptote/)
- [The Atlantic](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-atlantic/)
- [The White Review](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-white-review/)
- [Mostafa Khalife](https://rayaagency.org/tag/mostafa-khalife/)
- [NPR](https://rayaagency.org/tag/npr/)
- [El Pais](https://rayaagency.org/tag/el-pais/)
- [Libros](https://rayaagency.org/tag/libros/)
- [Il Fatto Quotidiano](https://rayaagency.org/tag/il-fatto-quotidiano/)
- [Il Sole 24 Ore](https://rayaagency.org/tag/il-sole-24-ore/)
- [Ya Maryam](https://rayaagency.org/tag/ya-maryam/)
- [Publishers Weekly](https://rayaagency.org/tag/publishers-weekly/)
- [Reviewlab](https://rayaagency.org/tag/reviewlab/)
- [Library Journal](https://rayaagency.org/tag/library-journal/)
- [Habib Abdulrab](https://rayaagency.org/tag/habib-abdulrab/)
- [The daughter of Suslov](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-daughter-of-suslov/)
- [France Culture](https://rayaagency.org/tag/france-culture/)
- [Radio](https://rayaagency.org/tag/radio/)
- [Prizes](https://rayaagency.org/tag/prizes/)
- [Radio Canada](https://rayaagency.org/tag/radio-canada/)
- [International Man Booker 2015](https://rayaagency.org/tag/international-man-booker-2015/)
- [my love](https://rayaagency.org/tag/my-love/)
- [My master](https://rayaagency.org/tag/my-master/)
- [The stone of laughter](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-stone-of-laughter/)
- [The tiller of waters](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-tiller-of-waters/)
- [Assises Internationale du Roman](https://rayaagency.org/tag/assises-internationale-du-roman/)
- [FranceInter](https://rayaagency.org/tag/franceinter/)
- [Arte](https://rayaagency.org/tag/arte/)
- [The Observer](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-observer/)
- [Refugees](https://rayaagency.org/tag/refugees/)
- [Award](https://rayaagency.org/tag/award/)
- [Audio](https://rayaagency.org/tag/audio/)
- [RTS](https://rayaagency.org/tag/rts/)
- [Qantara](https://rayaagency.org/tag/qantara/)
- [Svetlana Alexievich](https://rayaagency.org/tag/svetlana-alexievich/)
- [Ibn Rushd](https://rayaagency.org/tag/ibn-rushd/)
- [Orwell](https://rayaagency.org/tag/orwell/)
- [Medicis](https://rayaagency.org/tag/medicis/)
- [Smile you are in Tunisia!](https://rayaagency.org/tag/smile-you-are-in-tunisia/)
- [Al Owais](https://rayaagency.org/tag/al-owais/)
- [Kirkus Reviews](https://rayaagency.org/tag/kirkus-reviews/)
- [World Literature Today](https://rayaagency.org/tag/world-literature-today/)
- [Asian Review of Books](https://rayaagency.org/tag/asian-review-of-books/)
- [pan Asia](https://rayaagency.org/tag/pan-asia/)
- [asharq al-awsat](https://rayaagency.org/tag/asharq-al-awsat/)
- [The Arab Edition](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-arab-edition/)
- [Literatur Spiegel](https://rayaagency.org/tag/literatur-spiegel/)
- [Süddeutsche Zeitung](https://rayaagency.org/tag/suddeutsche-zeitung/)
- [Ansa Med](https://rayaagency.org/tag/ansa-med/)
- [bresciaoggi](https://rayaagency.org/tag/bresciaoggi/)
- [Baghdad Eucharist](https://rayaagency.org/tag/baghdad-eucharist/)
- [The Christian Century](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-christian-century/)
- [La Marcheuse](https://rayaagency.org/tag/la-marcheuse/)
- [Livres Hebdo](https://rayaagency.org/tag/livres-hebdo/)
- [Books Without Borders](https://rayaagency.org/tag/books-without-borders/)
- [Words Without Borders](https://rayaagency.org/tag/words-without-borders/)
- [Forlagsliv](https://rayaagency.org/tag/forlagsliv/)
- [L'Express](https://rayaagency.org/tag/lexpress/)
- [Femina Award](https://rayaagency.org/tag/femina-award/)
- [Naguib Mahfouz](https://rayaagency.org/tag/naguib-mahfouz/)
- [Nobel](https://rayaagency.org/tag/nobel/)
- [The whisper of stars](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-whisper-of-stars/)
- [Transfuges](https://rayaagency.org/tag/transfuges/)
- [Los Angeles Times](https://rayaagency.org/tag/los-angeles-times/)
- [Wall Street Journal](https://rayaagency.org/tag/wall-street-journal/)
- [London Book Fair](https://rayaagency.org/tag/london-book-fair/)
- [Children of the ghetto](https://rayaagency.org/tag/children-of-the-ghetto/)
- [Los Angeles Review of Books](https://rayaagency.org/tag/los-angeles-review-of-books/)
- [Haaretz](https://rayaagency.org/tag/haaretz/)
- [En attendant Nadeau](https://rayaagency.org/tag/en-attendant-nadeau/)
- [Mediapart](https://rayaagency.org/tag/mediapart/)
- [L'Orient Litteraire](https://rayaagency.org/tag/lorient-litteraire/)
- [Viduité](https://rayaagency.org/tag/viduite/)
- [Toute la culture](https://rayaagency.org/tag/toute-la-culture/)
- [Financial Times](https://rayaagency.org/tag/financial-times/)
- [New York Review of Books](https://rayaagency.org/tag/new-york-review-of-books/)
- [Sentence to Hope](https://rayaagency.org/tag/sentence-to-hope/)
- [Yale University Press](https://rayaagency.org/tag/yale-university-press/)
- [Arab News](https://rayaagency.org/tag/arab-news/)
- [The book of collateral damage](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-book-of-collateral-damage/)
- [Innocence](https://rayaagency.org/tag/innocence/)
- [FSG](https://rayaagency.org/tag/fsg/)
- [National Book Award](https://rayaagency.org/tag/national-book-award/)
- [Gallimard](https://rayaagency.org/tag/gallimard/)
- [FAZ](https://rayaagency.org/tag/faz/)
- [Le Point](https://rayaagency.org/tag/le-point/)
- [International Excellence Awards](https://rayaagency.org/tag/international-excellence-awards/)
- [3Sat](https://rayaagency.org/tag/3sat/)
- [Irish times](https://rayaagency.org/tag/irish-times/)
- [The Paris Review](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-paris-review/)
- [Voices of the lost](https://rayaagency.org/tag/voices-of-the-lost/)
- [KSA](https://rayaagency.org/tag/ksa/)
- [Poland](https://rayaagency.org/tag/poland/)
- [PEN Transmissions](https://rayaagency.org/tag/pen-transmissions/)
- [Frankfurter Allgemeine](https://rayaagency.org/tag/frankfurter-allgemeine/)
- [Literary Hub](https://rayaagency.org/tag/literary-hub/)
- [Earthquake](https://rayaagency.org/tag/earthquake/)
- [Zeit](https://rayaagency.org/tag/zeit/)
- [Les Echos](https://rayaagency.org/tag/les-echos/)
- [France 5](https://rayaagency.org/tag/france-5/)
- [TV5](https://rayaagency.org/tag/tv5/)
- [L'Orient Le Jour](https://rayaagency.org/tag/lorient-le-jour/)
- [Via Books](https://rayaagency.org/tag/via-books/)
- [Transfuge](https://rayaagency.org/tag/transfuge/)
- [Le Monde des livres](https://rayaagency.org/tag/le-monde-des-livres/)
- [Mare Nostrum](https://rayaagency.org/tag/mare-nostrum/)
- [Le Regard Libre](https://rayaagency.org/tag/le-regard-libre/)
- [Orient XXI](https://rayaagency.org/tag/orient-xxi/)
- [Chicago Review of Books](https://rayaagency.org/tag/chicago-review-of-books/)
- [The Brooklyn Rail](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-brooklyn-rail/)
- [The Economist](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-economist/)
- [Mathias Enard](https://rayaagency.org/tag/mathias-enard/)
- [A minor detail](https://rayaagency.org/tag/a-minor-detail/)
- [Adania Shibli](https://rayaagency.org/tag/adania-shibli/)
- [Frankfurt Book Fair](https://rayaagency.org/tag/frankfurt-book-fair/)
- [Freedom of speech](https://rayaagency.org/tag/freedom-of-speech/)
- [Words Without Borders USA](https://rayaagency.org/tag/words-without-borders-usa/)
- [Dagens Nyheter](https://rayaagency.org/tag/dagens-nyheter/)
- [Svenska Dagbladet](https://rayaagency.org/tag/svenska-dagbladet/)
- [Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung](https://rayaagency.org/tag/frankfurter-allgemeine-zeitung/)
- [Germany](https://rayaagency.org/tag/germany/)
- [Syria](https://rayaagency.org/tag/syria/)
- [Samar Yazbek](https://rayaagency.org/tag/samar-yazbek/)
- [Sweden](https://rayaagency.org/tag/sweden/)
- [The wind's abode](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-winds-abode/)
- [Elias Khoury](https://rayaagency.org/tag/elias-khoury/)
- [Stella Maris](https://rayaagency.org/tag/stella-maris/)
- [Palestine](https://rayaagency.org/tag/palestine/)
- [Lebanon](https://rayaagency.org/tag/lebanon/)
- [France](https://rayaagency.org/tag/france/)
- [Sinan Antoon](https://rayaagency.org/tag/sinan-antoon/)
- [Of loss and lavender](https://rayaagency.org/tag/of-loss-and-lavender/)
- [Iraq](https://rayaagency.org/tag/iraq/)
- [Jabbour Douaihy](https://rayaagency.org/tag/jabbour-douaihy/)
- [Poison in the air](https://rayaagency.org/tag/poison-in-the-air/)
- [The blue pen](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-blue-pen/)
- [Turkiye](https://rayaagency.org/tag/turkiye/)
- [Le Journal du Dimanche](https://rayaagency.org/tag/le-journal-du-dimanche/)
- [Le telegramme](https://rayaagency.org/tag/le-telegramme/)
- [Le Courier de l'Atlas](https://rayaagency.org/tag/le-courier-de-latlas/)
- [USA](https://rayaagency.org/tag/usa/)
- [UK](https://rayaagency.org/tag/uk/)
- [Where the wind calls home](https://rayaagency.org/tag/where-the-wind-calls-home/)
- [Japan](https://rayaagency.org/tag/japan/)
- [The crossing](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-crossing/)
- [Asmaa Alatawna](https://rayaagency.org/tag/asmaa-alatawna/)
- [Gaza](https://rayaagency.org/tag/gaza/)
- [A long walk from Gaza](https://rayaagency.org/tag/a-long-walk-from-gaza/)
- [Mansoura Ez-Eldin](https://rayaagency.org/tag/mansoura-ez-eldin/)
- [The orchards of Basra](https://rayaagency.org/tag/the-orchards-of-basra/)
- [A sleepless giraffe in Damascus](https://rayaagency.org/tag/a-sleepless-giraffe-in-damascus/)
- [Khalil Alrez](https://rayaagency.org/tag/khalil-alrez/)
- [Turkey](https://rayaagency.org/tag/turkey/)
- [Ave Maria](https://rayaagency.org/tag/ave-maria/)
- [Brazil](https://rayaagency.org/tag/brazil/)
- [May vanishes](https://rayaagency.org/tag/may-vanishes/)
- [Tahar Al-Noor](https://rayaagency.org/tag/tahar-al-noor/)
- [Chad](https://rayaagency.org/tag/chad/)
- [ArabLit](https://rayaagency.org/tag/arablit/)
- [Tahir Annour](https://rayaagency.org/tag/tahir-annour/)
- [Deeper down the well](https://rayaagency.org/tag/deeper-down-the-well/)
- [Gaza residents: Your presence is a danger to your life](https://rayaagency.org/tag/gaza-residents-your-presence-is-a-danger-to-your-life/)
- [Yasmina Jraissati](https://rayaagency.org/tag/yasmina-jraissati/)
- [Husam Hilali](https://rayaagency.org/tag/husam-hilali/)
- [Sudan](https://rayaagency.org/tag/sudan/)
- [Sonia Nimr](https://rayaagency.org/tag/sonia-nimr/)