Twenty years after the disastrous and mendacious US invasion of Iraq, we take a look at writing from Iraq: memoirs, poems and blog posts. Shalash the Iraqi is a collection of such posts – a satirical, surreal, and affecting panorama in life in a Shia suburb of Baghdad in the early years of the occupation. Show Notes:An excerpt from Gaith Abdul-ahad’s memoir ... Show More
Jul 16
Books by Rabih Alameddine, May Ziadeh, Samar Yazbek, Lamia Ziadé and More
Marcia is publishing the first English translation of early 20th century woman of letters and feminist icon May Ziadhe; Ursula has been working on a review of the award-winning Lebanese novelist Rabih Alameddine. We also talk about a devastating book based on interviews with Gaz ... Show More
1h 2m
Apr 2026
Unlocking Palestine: Sara Yasin on editing The Key
The Key is a new online publication dedicated to covering Palestine as “the core issue at the heart of the modern world.” We’re joined by its editor-in-chief, Sara Yasin, former managing editor of the LA Times. The Key is an outgrowth of PalFest, an annual traveling literature f ... Show More
1h 15m
