Carlos Fuentes as spy target, International Translation Day, and the Edinburgh book artist
From the protests in Turkey to graduation speeches in the U.S., this week’s lit links cover a lot of ground. We’ve also included several upcoming events and dates we think you should be aware of, so make sure to check out the For Your Calendar section!
News, Reviews, and Interviews
FBI dcouments show that 1983 Puterbaugh Fellow Carlos Fuentes was often a target of spying.
Despite reports of a dismal market for Arabic literature in translation, this article gives assurances and hope that quality translations are in the works.
Neustadt juror Andrew Lam recently gave a graduation speech to the 2013 graduating class of UC Irvine School of Humanities.
If you missed this year’s Poetry International Festival, you can catch everything you missed at the Festival’s official Vimeo page.
Peter Orner contemplates reclusive writing in a social-media world.
The Washington Post wonders if a book’s title—that is, the pronounceability of a book's title—matters in the decision to purchase and read.
Past Neustadt juror Nathalie Handal has a new flash fiction piece up at the PEN American website.
For Your Calendar
You have until July 13 to fund this Indiegogo campaign, aimed at preserving Egypt’s colorful street art in a new photography collection.
The Poetry Foundation recently opened a new photography exhibit in conjunction with the new issue of Poetry, called “Shame Every Rose: Images of Afghanistan.” The exhibit will run until August 24.
Tickets are now on sale for the International Translation Day (September 30) events in London. Make sure to book early!
The new Jan Michalski Foundation library is set to open in Switzerland this Sunday (June 30), and it looks absolutely stunning.
Fun Finds and Inspiration
The mysterious Edinburgh book artist has returned!
Get to know this year’s NSK winner, Naomi Shihab Nye, through this keynote address she gave at a recent writers’ workshop in Alaska.
How’s this for a reading list? 10 Swedish books to read before you die, courtesy of The Local.
If you'd like to send support to the protesters in Turkey, here’s your chance! Solidarity Park Poetry is asking for donations of poems (ones you have written or written by others that inspire you), which you can send through email.
Apparently, women’s backs are the new trend in book cover designs.
Ever wanted to get into rare book collecting? This guide from Publishers Weekly has a few tips for beginners.
This amazing video recaps everything you missed at the London Book Fair this year.
This article on Brainpickings about dogs in books goes perfectly with the subject of the new July issue.
