Temples for the literary pilgrim, Castro’s influence on Latin American literature, and more

December 9, 2016

by WLT

Munro’s Books in Victoria, British Columbia. Photo: ThreeFishSleeping/Flickr

News, Reviews, and Interviews

Quartz examines the “giant influence” that Fidel Castro had on Latin American literature. The Guardian expands on how Gabriel García Márquez sent many of his books to Castro to receive factual and grammatical notes before submitting them to his publisher.

PEN has announced its 2017 Pen America Literary Awards longlists.

One of Poetry Daily’s featured poets this week was Paula Meehan, whose new book, Geomantic, was published last month. She won WLT’s readers’ choice poll in 2012 with her poem “In Memory, Joanne Breen.”

What does a novel look like before it’s a novel? Via Literary Hub, several contemporary authors including Porochista Khakpour, Kathleen Alcott, and Jami Attenberg share their writing methodology, what they listen to while writing, and more.

Turkey’s crackdown on writers “curiously spares the literary world.” Since the coup attempt this summer, some 120 journalists have been jailed along with hundreds of academics and thousands of teachers.

The Chronicle of Social Change highlights how NSK laureate Katherine Paterson’s experiences as a foster parent influenced her book The Great Gilly Hopkins.

Best Translated Book Award judge Steph Opitz writes about how her experience has been a “great education in world books.”

For the New Yorker, Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie pens a stirring call to action in the wake of the US election for literary and nonliterary people.

New York City independent bookstore BookCourt is closing its doors after thirty-five years.

Newly established Noir Press is aiming to introduce new Lithuanian literature to an English-reading audience.