BANIPAL 42
In the last few years I’ve come across loads of excellent writing from the Arab world. Partly because of my job, partly because I think there’s a renaissance going on. The Beirut39 collection of work […]
Ben East
NICHOLSON BAKER REVIEW
The best thing about reviewing for The Observer – ok, not the best thing, the most amusing thing – is that you suddenly become fair game for the millions of cross commenters who can’t believe […]
SEBASTIAN BARRY INTERVIEW
As the Booker prize approaches, I’m making my way through the shortlist. And as much as I’ve enjoyed the likes of Esi Edugyan’s Half-Blood Blues, I can’t help thinking the omission of Sebastian Barry’s On […]
Mohammed Hanif interview
A Case Of Exploding Mangoes was one of those breakout hits, a strangely witty tale about a presidential assassination featuring a walk on role for Osama Bin Laden which won Hanif plenty of plaudits and […]
HOLLINGHURST/TOIBIN AT MANCHESTER LITERATURE FESTIVAL
Yesterday was the first event in the 2011 Manchester Literature Festival, which I blogged on for the festival’s own site. Alan Hollinghurst was, of course, somewhat controversially omitted from the Booker shortlist – and Toibin […]