World Picks From the Editors, Sept 29—Oct 15, 2023
A Markaz Review bi-weekly roundup of our editors' favorite selections from within the global arts and culture scene.
TMR Weekly
The Mystery of Enayat al-Zayyat in Iman Mersal’s Tour de Force
Selma Dabbagh reviews a masterpiece that gives insight into the life of a remarkable woman artist striving to live on her own terms.
Donkeys and Mules—Motors of the High Atlas Mountains
Aomar Boom describes the centrality of donkeys and mules to life in the unforgiving earthquake-shattered terrain of the High Atlas Mountains.
Disaster and Language—the Disarticulation of Seismic Pain in Tamazight
Brahim El Guabli argues that Morocco's disaster survivors must be able to communicate in their mother tongue.
Saqi’s Revenant: Sahar Khalifeh’s Classic Nablus Novel Wild Thorns
Noshin Bokth reviews a Palestinian literary classic set in Nablus about resignation and resistance under Israeli military occupation.
Illegitimate Literature—Interview with Novelist Ebru Ojen
Nazlı Koca interviews novelist Ebru Ojen and her translators on the creative process of bringing her latest book into English.
Kurdish Novel Explores Nightmarish Isolation in Eastern Anatolia
Kaya Genç reviews Ebru Ojen's newly translated novel, an exploration of a Kurdish mother grappling with the sacrifices of motherhood.
Memory Art: Water and Islands in the Work of Hera Büyüktaşçıyan
Arie Amaya-Akkermans does a deep dive into the fascinating career of Istanbul-born Greek Armenian artist Hera Büyüktaşçıyan.
Anatolian Journey: a Writer Travels to Sultan Han to Witness a Postmodern Installation
Matt Hanson, an art writer in Turkey, drives across the high plains between Ankara and Konya to see a site-specific art installation.
Special World Picks Sept 15-26 on TMR’s Third Anniversary
TMR publishes World Picks special edition on its third anniversary, including events from Sept. 15-26, 2023.
When the Earth Shook: Notes From a Marrakesh Survivor
Renowned record producer Sir Robin Millar reports from Marrakesh, 45 miles from the epicenter of Morocco’s devastating earthquake.
Death is a Traitor: Living the Morocco Earthquake from the US
Moroccan Amazigh scholar Brahim El Guabli learned that his family in Ouarzazate lost their home in the earthquake that hit Friday night.
Resilience Amidst the Ruins: Nfis Valley Endures After the Quake
A Moroccan scholar from the earthquake region, Aomar Boum, and his UCLA colleague Sarah A. Stein, provide more context on the Atlas Mountains communities hit by the temblor.
“The Beggar King”—a short story by Michael Scott Moore
Michael Scott Moore channels veteran experiences through a wily cat as an Iraq war vet tries to readapt to life in Calaveras, California.
The Fall of Kabul: Parwan Detention Facility, Bagram District, Parwan Province
In his new book, Andrew Quilty relates some of the blowback after 9/11 brought about the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan.