Snubbing poetry, the tortured genius myth, and the dangers of reading in bed
This week's News, Reviews, and Interviews section is chock-full of new poetry, prose, and translations from around the world. Make sure you get your fill!
News, Reviews, and Interviews
You can now read an excerpt of Mo Yan's "Bull" at the New Yorker.
The Hungarian Association of Literary Translators is currently facing severe spending and funding setbacks.
Is there really a difference between a "page" and a "stage" poet? Thomas Lux gives his answer at the Poets & Writers website.
Joan Acocella maintains that many of what are considered to be the "world's best novels" have terrible endings. Do you agree?
The Transfiction blog has an interview with Clemens Setz's American translator, Ross Benjamin, about why Setz is such a compelling author.
The newest issue of Words Without Borders is dedicated to crime fiction—that is, non-Scandinavian crime fiction.
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) recently interviewed two 2013 literature recipients, Suzanne Buffam and Srikanth Reddy.
Did the New York Times snub poetry by including only two poetry collections in its 100 Notable Books of 2012 list?
The Arabic Literature (in English) blog has a lovely list of new Arabic poetry and fiction available for reading online.
For Your Calendar
SAND, an English language literary magazine based in Germany, is looking for translation submissions for their next issue.
The Oxford-Weidenfeld Translation Prize is open to entries until the end of December.
Fun Finds and Inspiration
Can poetry really benefit the businessmen and women of today's high-speed world?
Have you hugged your editor today? They may or may not be drowning in their work.
Charles Bukowski recently shared his view of the "tortured genius" myth through verse at the Brain Pickings website.
The Guardian recently reached back into its archives to retrieve an article (dated 1908) that claims reading in bed is "dangerous."
Wondering who represents the most popular foreign authors for Chinese readers? 1972 Neustadt Laureate Gabriel García Márquez is number two!