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Reverse-Gentrification of the Literary World

Akashic Books

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December 2013 News & Features

“Omphaloskepsis” by Nina Puro

Leaving you was like the way some doors have to be open a bit to lock. Meeting you was an accidental brush at the nape of the neck in a crowd: that thrum coupled with fear. To know each other, we need to take something in together; to trust, we must pass dangerous objects, sharp or burning, palm to cupped palm. We talk this way . . .

Ricardo Maldonado: On Collateral

To celebrate the release of Colaterales/Collateral by Dinapiera Di Donato, winner of the National Poetry Series’ Paz Prize for Poetry, we asked Ricardo Maldonado, the translator of Colaterales, to talk about his process and his experience with the collection.

“A Bilingual Battle” by Richard Priebe

“Put them on,” says Alma, my wife’s aunt, extending a pair of pink and sparkly shoes with two Velcro straps that remind me of something my great-grandfather would have worn if they were a different color and weren’t twinkling like one of my daughter’s glitter projects . . .

“The Cat has Claws” by Joanne C. Hillhouse

“No, man, this heat ah try kill people!”

Goldine paused in her walk up the bumpy path to Pastor Williams’s house. She removed the straw hat keeping company with her soaking wet head kerchief; fanned with it, for all the good that did. She looked up the road to where the house stood alone, alabaster white against the green hills rolling away from it. The crotons, bougainvillea, pussy tail, and other foliage in the expansive yard looked limp . . .

“first datE” by Robin Som

Are you ready? Here’s a bottle of water, just a sip will do. What’s that? Oh yes, my name of course, how rude of me. Well, that’s actually an interesting question, I have a few. There’s Edward, or Molly. Or Mandy. Me, I like Mandy—because I came and I gave without taking! Sorry, bad joke. Though somewhat true. It’s nice to finally meet you. Of course, you want to know more about me . . .

Randall Robinson Remembers Nelson Mandela (Videos)

Videos: With Mandela’s recent passing, CBS, Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer, and Democracy Now! invited Randall Robinson to speak about his fight for Nelson’s freedom as well as his interactions with the former president of South Africa.