News
I spent a wonderful week in London: I visited dear friends, met with my UK editor, did a reading for the African Writers’ Series, and found time for a couple of trips to the museum. I love this city, so my stay felt far too short. After a brief detour in Rome, I flew to Casablanca, and then on to Rabat, where I still am at the moment. I’ve been busy catching up with family and friends and have had little time to get online.
While I was in London, my essay “Out of the Kitchen,” which is about a recent travel experience in Morocco, came out in the Los Angeles Times. Meanwhile, the Moroccan magazine Le Temps published an interview I did a while back.
Photo above: The Mohamed V Mausoleum in Rabat.
I recently came across Princeton University’s Online Arabic Poetry Project, which presents excerpts from the work of five great Arab poets: Imru al-Qays, Yazid ibn Muawiya, Rabia al-Adawiya, Abu Nuwas, and al-Mutanabbi. You can listen to the poems in the original Arabic and then read the English translation.
I will be doing a reading from Secret Son in London this week, at the invitation of Nii Ayikwei Parkes. Here are the details:
Friday, July 17
7:30 PM
Reading and Discussion
Poetry Cafe
22 Betterton Street
London
If you’re a reader from London, come on out and say hello.
Eleven years ago, the Seattle Public Library launched a program to get people in the city to read and discuss the same book. (This program has since been emulated by many other libraries in cities across the United States.) This year’s pick is my novel, Secret Son, so I will be visiting Seattle next May for readings and discussions centered around the book. I’ll also be giving a public lecture as part of the Seattle Arts and Lectures series.
I’m preparing to go on a rather long trip–to England, Morocco, and Italy–which means that posting in this space will be somewhat sporadic. I will, of course, pop in here as often as I can. I’ve also prepared a few short posts that should go up automatically while I’m away. More soon.