Literature Blog

While this is a Postman! Addition, it also qualifies as a SSM 2010 post as today the Postman! Was kind enough to drop off a new package from SMU Press - a new collection from Tracy Daugherty for me to look forward to.

American deserts--real geographical spaces as well as metaphorical areas of emptiness and possibility. The stories are mostly set in the desert Southwest, though the concluding novella, which features a Texas exile, is set in New York City. Several of the stories deal with stars and astronomers; many feature architecture and the built environment. Daugherty's characters struggle with asthma, night fears, inertia, and the sense of being isolated in a world full of people.

Link: http://emergingwriters.typepad.com/emerging_writers_network/2010/05/source-of-lit-the-postman.html

The world’s leading online resource for questions about the meaning of life, ethics and other existential matters has now launched an app for mobile devices such as the iPhone and Android phones.

People don’t stop thinking when they leave their computer terminals,” George says. “When philosophical questions occur to people away from their desks or computer screens they’ll now have the opportunity through their mobile devices to see quickly whether other people have already asked that question and whether it’s received interesting responses.”

Link: http://www.3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily/2010/05/philosophy-question-theres-an-app-for-that.html

I returned from Ann Arbor full of awe and admiration for my friend Khaled Mattawa. Over the three days of the Rawi conference, he managed to take part in two panels, one on translating Arabic poetry and one on style, welcome each participant, handle numerous logistical details, and contribute to several discussions of literature, culture, and politics. And he still had energy left to dance with us on Saturday night! He has done so much for the community and for that I am thankful. I also want to thank Deema Shehabi, Lutfi Hussein, Sahar Mustafa, Debbie Najor, Steven Salaita, Evelyn Alsultany, Kate Middleton, and David Ward, for all their work in putting the meeting together. You are all amazing.

Link:http://lailalalami.com/2010/in-praise-of-khaled-mattawa/

I picked these Blogs because they were both funny and one very informative and showed that I might read a book.