Freedom to Write Lecture
Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie delivers the 2015 PEN World Voices Arthur Miller Freedom to Write Lecture and then participates in a Q&A with Andrew Solomon, who was recently named President of the PEN American Center.
Catch her lecture and the Q & A that follows it this Sunday, June 14 at 7:45pm EDT on C-SPAN 2.
Nnedi Okorafor announced her newest book on Twitter.
I'm in the final editing phase of my forthcoming children's book CHICKEN IN THE KITCHEN. pic.twitter.com/Tm1TCehBDX
The Library of Congress just unveiled this year's poster for the National Book Festival, to be held in Washington, DC on September 5. Since it's Labor Day weekend, it's a perfect time to visit DC and stalk your favorite authors like Walter Mosley, Kwame Alexander, Ellen Oh, Ishamel Reed, Annette Gordon-Reed, Marlon James, Beverly Jenkins, Lalita Tademy and Ha Jin.
Remember how much the streets loved Omar Tyree back in the 90s? When Flyy Girl hit the shelves in 1993, it became must read lit for a whole generation of readers. Personally, I can't remember much about it other than everyone I knew loved it. I low key hold him responsible for the re-emergence of street lit. Anywho, it turns out Sanaa Lathan was a fan of the book back in the day and is working on a film adaptation. Will you check it out?
In this collection of short stories from Ha Jin, winner of the National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award, readers are treated to plenty of tongue in cheek humor. Of the 12 shorts, it would be hard to pick just one favorite. I'd have to say In the Kindergarten and After Cowboy Chicken Came to Town are tied for first.
In In the Kindergarten, little Shaona hates that she's been sent away to kindergarten, sure that her parents will forget her now that her mother has given birth to a new baby. Between being bullied by Dabin, the biggest boy in the class, and being tricked by her teacher, Shaona is at her wit's end. But when she sees a chance to get revenge, she takes it and the results are hilarious.
When a Western fast food place makes its way to Muji City, its presence is met with glee by some and disdain by others. For the workers at Cowboy Chicken, there's much confusion over traditional Chinese ways and the foreign, western way of doing things. While "the customer is always right" may be the corporate motto, it doesn't go over well with the employees. As the employees continue to work at Cowboy Chicken, they become more disgruntled with the actions of their American boss, Mr. Shapiro, and Peter, their Chinese born/American educated manager. As the employees plot and plan their coup, they have no idea what's in store for them.
Written just over 10 years ago, it seems hard to believe that some of the stories in The Bridegroom are supposed to be set in present day. In fact, it was only because of references to modern day technology that I was able to tell that the stories weren't set during the reign of Chairman Mao. Regardless of the time period in which the stories take place, I found them all to be enjoyable.
