Archives for October 2007

The BBC News relays the sad story.

“Women’s bodies have become part of the terrain of conflict, according to a new report by Amnesty International.

“Rape and sexual abuse are not just a by-product of war but are used as a deliberate military strategy, it says.

“The opportunistic rape and pillage of previous centuries has been replaced in modern conflict by rape used as an orchestrated combat tool.

“And while Amnesty cites ongoing conflicts in Colombia, Iraq, Sudan, Chechnya, Nepal and Afghanistan, the use of rape as a weapon of war goes back much further.”

It’s not exactly news. But stories like this are traditionally kept as footnotes—if that—in the histories of war. Is it indifference? Discomfort? Disbelief? Why is it so unlikely for rape’s uses in war to be discussed?

Posted by Anna at 10:23 AM
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Didn’t get enough of Amy Bloom when she came to Cambridge last month? Me either. So it was a pleasure to invite the author of the new novel Away to share some words on how she came to make her life as writer, how her background in psychotherapy influences her work—and what she thinks of that nasty gender byline gap.

Amy Bloom is the author of two novels, two collections of short stories, and a nominee for both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her stories have appeared in Best American Short Stories, Prize Stories: The O. Henry Awards, and numerous anthologies here and abroad. She has written for the New Yorker, the New York Times Magazine, the Atlantic Monthly, Vogue, Slate, and Salon, among many other publications, and has won a National Magazine Award. Her first book of nonfiction, Normal: Transsexual CEOs, Crossdressing Cops, and Hermaphrodites with Attitude, is an exploration of the varieties of gender. A practicing psychotherapist, she lives in Connecticut and teaches at Yale University—an experience she draws from in her role as writer and producer for the Lifetime television show, ‘State of Mind.’

Having just finished Away this weekend, I can testify that it’s a tremendously smart, gorgeous, and innovative piece of fiction. If you don’t believe me, check out the terrific reviews following Amy around—from NPR to The Guardian to the LA Times and far beyond.

Here’s Amy:

Continue reading "Amy Bloom on Writing, Byline Gaps, and 'Away'" »

Posted by Anna at 10:16 AM
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For months, we’ve been bringing you interviews with smart, groundbreaking feminist writers and activists. But today we’re doing one better: making you the interviewer! In preparation for her appearance at CNW this Thursday, bestselling author Ana Castillo (So Far from God, Peel My Love Like an Onion) will be on hand today only to answer your questions about The Guardians (her gorgeous new novel about immigrant life on the US border with Mexico), and anything else you’ve always wanted to know but never had the chance to ask. Just use the comments section of this thread to post your question, and Ms. Castillo will respond right here as well!

Posted by CNW at 09:58 AM
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