When the Colombian and American hostages held by the FARC were spectacularly rescued last July, most of the press coverage focused on the French-Colombian politician Íngrid Betancourt. But a couple of days ago, NPR had an intriguing piece about recent memoirs by former hostages, including one book by three Americans:
The book is much more than a survival tale; it also provides intimate details about life in rebel camps, such as petty jealousies between hostages and romances between prisoners. And it paints a not-so-rosy picture of Betancourt, who was considered the most valuable hostage.
Stansell describes her as self-absorbed, even spiteful. He says she hoarded books and food and determined bathing schedules.
“Whether they like it or not, I apologize. I don’t want to offend anybody, but I did not tell any lies,” Stansell says.
The book, which apparently contains an unflattering portrait of Betancourt, has been excerpted by some publications in Colombia and will be published there once it is translated into Spanish.
The Arabesque Festival was a lot of fun and a great opportunity to get to know the twenty-five writers who were taking part in the Literary Series. There were some whose work I was very familiar with (like Ahdaf Soueif) and others whose novels I read just before the festival (like Anouar Benmalek, pictured below.) I had a lovely surprise when I arrived at the Kennedy Center for one of my panels: hardcover copies of Secret Son, apparently shipped straight from the warehouse, were waiting for me. It was wonderful to hold the book in my hands and to read a short excerpt from it. (I didn’t get to keep a copy since we sold out of them, but of course I don’t mind.) Many thanks to all those who came out. It was great meeting you.
I’m so, so, so tired, especially because I had to finish a book review on the plane back, came home to a pile of student papers to grade, and have to start preparations for (another) move.
Here are details for the two events I’ll be doing at the Arabesque Festival in Washington DC this weekend. On Saturday, March 7:
In Other Words: Expatriate Arab Literature
With: Anouar Benmalek, Jamal Mahjoub, and Ahdaf Soueif. Moderated by Laila Lalami
Saturday, March 7, 2009
4 – 5:30 pm
Family Theater
Kennedy Center
My publisher has set up a book trailer for Secret Son. Take a look:
I had never even heard about book trailers when my first book was published in 2005, but with so much new technology, I’m sure there will be many more differences between that launch and this one.
As the publishing date for Secret Son comes closer, I find myself struggling to keep up with everything that is happening in the background: tour events, promotional trailer, advance reviews, foreign editions, and so on. Here, for instance, is the final cover for the novel, with bigger fonts and a more streamlined look:
You can pre-order it here, here, or here. And of course it will be in bookstores on April 21.
