Podcast appearances and mentions of Laila Lalami

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Best podcasts about Laila Lalami

Latest podcast episodes about Laila Lalami

Auscast Literature Channel
Episode 53: “Landfall” by James Bradley & “Panic” by Catherine Jinx

Auscast Literature Channel

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2025 38:03


James Bradley introduces his latest novel; one of crime in a time of climate crisis. The desperate search for a missing child is set against a terrifying Sydney of the future, where sea levels are rising with the temperature and the social divide has become a chasm. + Catherine Jinks, known for her children’s fiction, has turned her deft writer's hand to adult thrillers. In ‘Panic’ her main character Bronwyn leaves town when the fallout from a misjudged text inflames the wrath of social media. However, worse awaits her in the country where conspiracy theorists and escapees from society have created a hell of their own. + Our young random reader Arlo recommends The Star Wars trilogy and anything by Roald Dahl. Guests James Bradley, author of “Landfall”. His other books include the novels “Wrack”, “The Deep Field”, “Clade” and “Ghost Species”, a book of poetry, “Paper Nautilus”, and a work of non-fiction, “Deep Water”. Catherine Jinks, author of “Panic”. Her other thrillers include “The Attack” and “Shelter”. Her children’s books include “Traitor’s Mask” and “Demon Thief”. Other books that get a mention: Michaela’s been reading “The Accident” by Fiona Lowe. You can find Sarah’s interview with Fiona in Episode 40 of Tsundoku. As part of her judging gig for the Ned Kelly Awards, Cath has discovered “Home Truths” by Charity Norman and “Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter” by Nicci French. James Bradley mentions “Dream Hotel” by Laila Lalami, “Human Nature”by Jane Rawson and “Is a River Alice” by Robert Macfarlane INSTAGRAM @penguinbooksaus@ghostspecies @catherinejinksauthor @text_publishingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TV Told Me
Adult Book Club

TV Told Me

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2025 19:20


Ade and Kelly give their summer reading lists, but don't worry we are still watching our shows! Summer shows, just need to be a little different to fit our outside plans. We got you covered from shows that need focus and those that help you get that summer cleaning done that didn't happen this spring-Spoilers ahead for The Last of Us (HBO) season that just wrapped, Sirens(Netflix), Nine Puzzles(Hulu) and Shogun(Hulu). Books: The Tenant by Frieda McFadden, The Husbands by Holly Gramazio, The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods, The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden, The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami.

Book Squad Goals
BSG #107: Reading: Do You? With Jenna / The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami

Book Squad Goals

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2025 66:48


It's time to read with (?) Jenna again! Join us for a discussion of The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami. We talk about surveillance, the unfortunate parallels to our present moment, the novel's structure, the characters, and of course, Jenna Bush Hagar and her book club antics. Then we dig into some listener feedback and chat about what's up next! Watch The Wedding Banquet and tune in on June 24th for our next Othersode featuring Susie Dumond, author of Bed and Breakup! Then read along with us for our next Bookpisode on Megan Abbott's new novel, El Dorado Drive, on July 8th! Check out our Patreon and consider supporting your fav indie pod for just $3 a month!TOC:30 – Hello! And Icebreaker10:20 – Book intro12:00 – So, this is prison, right? Data tracking and surveillance18:50 – Dreams and old fears27:02 – Jenna Reads (maybe)34:59 – Pacing… and more Jenna51:10 – Ratings54:20 – Feedback about Hum (spoiler warning)58:45 – What's up next?

Book Squad Goals
Othersode #106: Good American Duplass / Good American Family with Mary Kay McBrayer

Book Squad Goals

Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025 81:44


Author and pal Mary Kay McBrayer joins us to talk all things Madame Queen, AKA Stephanie St. Claire, mysterious criminal mastermind and numbers genius. Before we jump into discussing Mary Kay's latest book, Madame Queen: The Life and Crimes of Harlem's Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair, we discuss Hulu's Good American Family, another tale of crime, scams, and a case of a misrepresented age. We dig into the story of Natalia Grace, the way this series compares to the documentary and real-life details of the case, and our general affection for Mark Duplass. If you love true crime, organized crime, or really, any old kind of crime, this is an episode you won't want to miss.On June 10, come on back for a discussion of The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami, and on June 24 Susie Dumond will be here to discuss The Wedding Banquet – and more importantly, her new book, Bed and Breakup!TOC:30 – Welcome, Mary Kay McBrayer! And icebreaker9:25 – Show intro11:06 – Shifting perspectives19:42 – Acting and casting36:05 – Thoughts on the real case42:15 – Interview with Mary Kay!1:13:07 – Feedback1:16:26 – What's up next?The Greatest True Crime Story Ever Told: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-greatest-true-crime-stories-ever-told/id1718699612Madame Queen: https://www.amazon.com/Madame-Queen-Underground-Racketeer-Stephanie/dp/0778310655

Book Squad Goals
BSG #106: Don't Trust the Government / When the Wolf Comes Home

Book Squad Goals

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 87:54


None will be spared…when we talk about When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy! Join the Book Squad for a chat about this wild ride of a novel—we talk about the action and pacing, horror subgenres, the characters, mom/dad stuff, and goodness vs. badness. Then we finally read some really old feedback from husband of the pod, Ben (sorry about that, Ben). Tune in on May 27 as special guest Mary Kay McBrayer (author of Madame Queen) drops by to talk about her new book and Good American Family (Hulu). Then read along with us for our next Bookpisode about The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami on June 10. Don't forget to check out our Patreon and leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts while you're at it!TOC:30– Welcome!10:47–Book intro12:30–Pacing18:30– What's actually happening?24:49– Theme of Nat Cassidy's “trilogy”30:40–The Afterward40:05–Characters49:00– The power of improv51:39– Let's talk about the dad1:02:00– Was there any other ending that could've happened?1:14:19–Ratings1:19:25–Feedback1:22:23–what's up next?

Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine
THE DREAM HOTEL by Laila Lalami, read by Frankie Corzo, Barton Caplan

Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine

Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025 6:38


Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Alan Minskoff talk about Laila Lalami's dystopian novel, set in an uncomfortably near future. It's narrated by an exceptional Frankie Corzo, who voices an innocent woman incarcerated for her dreams. Much of the narrative is the protagonist Sara's thoughts, feelings, and reactions. The novel is reminiscent of Kafka and Orwell, had they lived in the Internet Age. Sara and her cohorts' mysterious plight seem frighteningly possible. This eloquently written, Earphones Award-winning audiobook lingers with the listener.   Read our review of the audiobook at our website Published by Random House Audio Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile's website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All Of It
Get Lit: Laila Lalami on 'The Dream Hotel'

All Of It

Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 32:45


Author Laila Lalami discusses her new book, The Dream Hotel, which follows a woman detained after an AI algorithm analyzes her dreams and determines she's at risk of harming her husband. The novel was our April selection for our Get Lit with All Of It book club.

All Of It
Imal Gnawa Performs (Get Lit)

All Of It

Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 17:00


Our April Get Lit book club pick, The Dream Hotel, comes from Moroccan author Laila Lalami and its protagonist is the daughter of Moroccan immigrants to the United States. At Lalami's request, we closed our event with music from Morocco as well. Hear performances from New York-based band Imal Gnawa and conversation with bandleader Atlas Phoenix.

KQED’s Forum
Night of Ideas: Author Laila Lalami on her Dystopian 'Dream Hotel'

KQED’s Forum

Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 57:44


Laila Lalami's new novel, “The Dream Hotel,” imagines a dystopian future where even our dreams are under surveillance. AI tools can scan our dreams to determine whether we're likely to commit a crime, then we're sent away to so-called “retention centers” to be monitored in the name of “safety.” Mina sat down with Lalami in April at Night of Ideas in San Francisco to talk about the timeliness and inspiration behind her story about a Los Angeles mother, caught in a web of government surveillance, detainment without charges and AI tools. We'll hear that conversation. Guest: Laila Lalami, author of the new novel, "The Dream Hotel;" she's the author of five other books including "The Moor's Account" and "The Other Americans" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All Of It
Author Laila Lalami Previews This Month's 'Get Lit' Book

All Of It

Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 13:27


[REBROADCAST FROM April 10, 2025] In the new novel The Dream Hotel, one woman's dreams are analyzed by AI, interpreted, and used against her.The novel is the first work of speculative fiction from acclaimed author Laila Lalami. It follows a woman named Sarah, who is detained by members of the Risk Assessment Administration. They claim that her dreams reveal that she is likely about to harm her own husband, a man she loves dearly. We've selected The Dream Hotel as our April Get Lit with All Of It Book Club selection, and Laila Lalami discusses the novel in a preview conversation ahead of our May 6 event.To find out how to borrow your e-copy of the novel from the New York Public Library, and to snag your free tickets to our Get Lit event, click here.

Writers and Company from CBC Radio
What if your dreams could land you in jail?

Writers and Company from CBC Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2025 36:29


In The Dream Hotel, Laila Lalami imagines a world where the government has access to data about people's dreams … and uses it to decide if someone is likely to commit a crime. When Laila's protagonist, Sara, is flagged as high risk, she's sent to a retention centre and subjected to constant surveillance. Laila talks to Mattea Roach about her interest in dreams, the dangers of invisible data collection and her multilingual journey to writing. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes:We can still avoid a tech dystopia — here's howNnedi Okorafor: Bringing a writer to life in Death of the Author

Fresh Air
Best Of: 'The Pitt' Star Noah Wyle / 'Sinners' Director Ryan Coogler

Fresh Air

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2025 48:43


Oscar-nominated filmmaker Ryan Coogler's movies include both Black Panther films and Creed. His latest fillm, Sinners, is a vampire thriller about twins, both played by Michael B. Jordan, opening a juke joint in 1930s Mississippi. The film explores race, faith, and American history through the lens of horror. Also, Noah Wyle talks about his starring role in the MAX series The Pitt, about life at a Pittsburgh hospital emergency room. He also played a doctor on the long-running hit ER. Plus, contributor Carolina Miranda reviews Laila Lalami's suspenseful new novel, The Dream Hotel.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Fresh Air
Best Of: 'The Pitt' Star Noah Wyle / 'Sinners' Director Ryan Coogler

Fresh Air

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2025 48:43


Oscar-nominated filmmaker Ryan Coogler's movies include both Black Panther films and Creed. His latest fillm, Sinners, is a vampire thriller about twins, both played by Michael B. Jordan, opening a juke joint in 1930s Mississippi. The film explores race, faith, and American history through the lens of horror. Also, Noah Wyle talks about his starring role in the MAX series The Pitt, about life at a Pittsburgh hospital emergency room. He also played a doctor on the long-running hit ER. Plus, contributor Carolina Miranda reviews Laila Lalami's suspenseful new novel, The Dream Hotel.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Fresh Air
Ryan Coogler Paid A Steep Price For The Films He Made

Fresh Air

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 43:50


The director of Black Panther and Creed talks about his new genre-bending vampire movie that takes place in the Jim Crow South. It's called Sinners and it stars Michael B. Jordan as twins working a juke joint in Mississippi. He spoke with Tonya Mosley about blues music, the supernatural, and why he wanted to own the movie outright after 25 years. Also, book critic Carolina Miranda reviews The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Fresh Air
Ryan Coogler Paid A Steep Price For The Films He Made

Fresh Air

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 43:50


The director of Black Panther and Creed talks about his new genre-bending vampire movie that takes place in the Jim Crow South. It's called Sinners and it stars Michael B. Jordan as twins working a juke joint in Mississippi. He spoke with Tonya Mosley about blues music, the supernatural, and why he wanted to own the movie outright after 25 years. Also, book critic Carolina Miranda reviews The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

NPR's Book of the Day
Two new novels explore a world where technology has even greater access to our minds

NPR's Book of the Day

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025 19:25


Two new novels explore technology's increasing access to our most intimate thoughts. First, the protagonist in The Mechanics of Memory can't remember her last year. Hope has found herself in a too-perfect mental health facility where she participates in questionable treatment, some involving virtual reality. Audrey Lee's novel follows Hope as she slowly starts to recall pieces of her life and questions what to believe. In today's episode, Lee joins Here & Now's Scott Tong for a conversation about memory and identity – and the extent to which our memories are malleable. Then, a new book by Laila Lalami imagines a world in which dreams are surveilled through special implants designed to aid sleep. The Dream Hotel is about a woman who's pulled aside when her dreams indicate she's on the verge of committing a crime. In today's episode, Lalami speaks with NPR's Emily Kwong about coming face to face with the surveillance state and the author's efforts to untether herself from certain technology.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

All Of It
Get Lit Preview: 'The Dream Hotel' by Laila Lalami

All Of It

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 13:01


The new novel The Dream Hotel is the first work of speculative fiction from acclaimed author Laila Lalami. It follows a woman named Sarah, who is detained by members of the Risk Assessment Administration, which probes people's dreams with Artificial Intelligence. They claim that Sarah's dreams reveal that she is likely to harm her own husband, a man she loves dearly. The Dream Hotel is our April Get Lit with All Of It Book Club selection, and Laila Lalami discusses the novel in a preview conversation ahead of our May 6 event. To find out how to borrow your e-copy of the novel from the New York Public Library, and to snag your free tickets to our Get Lit event, click here.

RNZ: Saturday Morning
Laila Lalami: The Dream Hotel

RNZ: Saturday Morning

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2025 26:27


Laila Lalami is the author of five books, and her latest work, The Dream Hotel is a gripping speculative mystery about the seductive dangers of the technologies that are supposed to make our lives easier.

Strong Sense of Place
LoLT: The ‘Order Up' Word Game and Two New Books

Strong Sense of Place

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 13:18


In this episode, we get excited about three new books: The Café with No Name by Robert Seethaler & Katy Derbyshire (translation) and The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami. Then Mel recommends starting the day with the new word game ‘Order Up. Links The Café with No Name by Robert Seethaler, Katy Derbyshire (translator) The Tobacconist by Robert Seethaler, Charlotte Collins (translator) The Field by Robert Seethaler, Charlotte Collins (translator) The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar Order Up Adam Wagner: Patreon and Twitter BBC: The Deepest Hole We Have Ever Dug Orion Magazine: Inside the Deepest Artificial Hole on Earth Wordle Connections Transcript of this episode. The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Join our FREE Substack to get our (awesome) newsletter and join in chats with other people who love books and travel. Do you enjoy our show? Do you want to make friends with other (lovely) listeners? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can find us at: Our site Instagram Substack Patreon Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio! Some effects are provided by soundly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Poured Over
Laila Lalami on THE DREAM HOTEL

Poured Over

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 56:10


The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami is an engrossing, dire and dystopian story about authoritarianism, survival and the fight for privacy in a surveillance state. Lalami joins us to talk about the idea that inspired the novel, worldbuilding, creating her characters and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                      New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.  Featured Books (Episode):  The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami  The Other Americans by Laila Lalami  The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa  True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey  The Moor's Account by Laila Lalami  

Speaking Out of Place
A Conversation with Laila Lalami on The Dream Hotel: dreaming beyond the algorithmic state

Speaking Out of Place

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 41:35


Today on Speaking Out of Place I talk with award-winning novelist Laila Lalami about her new novel, The Dream Hotel. What happens when the state, with the pretext of protecting public safety, can detain indefinitely certain individuals whose dreams seem to indicate they may be capable of committing a crime?  Set in a precarious world where sleep-enhancing devices and algorithms provide the tools and formulae for making one's unconscious a witness to one's possible waking life, this novel touches on a myriad of political, philosophical, and moral concerns as they particularly connect to issues of gender, race, ethnicity, privacy, and  the security state.Laila Lalami is the author of five books, including The Moor's Account, which won the American Book Award, the Arab-American Book Award, and the Hurston / Wright Legacy Award. It was on the longlist for the Booker Prize and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction. Her most recent novel, The Other Americans, was a national bestseller, won the Joyce Carol Oates Prize, and was a finalist for the National Book Award in Fiction. Her books have been translated into twenty languages. Her essays have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, The Nation, Harper's, the Guardian, and the New York Times.  She has been awarded fellowships from the British Council, the Fulbright Program, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the Radcliffe Institute at Harvard University.  She lives in Los Angeles.  

Fully Booked by Kirkus Reviews
Best March Books With Laila Lalami

Fully Booked by Kirkus Reviews

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 50:30


On our Best March Books episode, Kirkus' editors share their top titles for the month. Then Pulitzer Prize finalist Laila Lalami joins us to discuss her latest novel, The Dream Hotel (Pantheon, March 4). Kirkus: “A woman is detained under an American regime where even dreams are being surveilled….An engrossing and troubling dystopian tale” (starred review).

Writers on Writing
Laila Lalami, author of THE DREAM HOTEL

Writers on Writing

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 58:43


Laila Lalami's fifth novel, The Dream Hotel, is a dystopian story for our time. Set in Los Angeles in the near-distant future, the novel follows Sara –– a museum archivist and mother — who just landed at LAX from London and is retained by the Risk Assessment Administration for a crime they believe she might commit based on data and algorithms the government uses to track its citizens through their dreams. Lalami, a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist, has been hailed a “maestra of literary fiction” by NPR. She joins Marrie Stone to talk about writing dystopian fiction during a time when reality might be moving faster than fantasy. She discusses her research process, her tendency to begin her novels in the middle and write to the outsides, how she trained to become a novelist by dissecting fiction, and much more. Along the way, Lalami references Jane Smiley's article on revision, which can be found here. For more information on Writers on Writing and to become a supporter, visit our Patreon page. For a one-time donation, visit Ko-fi. You can find hundreds upon hundreds of past interviews on our website. If you'd like to support the show and indie bookstores, consider buying books at our bookstore on bookshop.org. We've stocked it with titles from our guests, as well as some of our personal favorites. And on Spotify, you'll find to an album's worth of typewriter music like what you hear on the show. Look for the artist, Just My Type. Email the show at writersonwritingpodcast@gmail.com. We love to hear from our listeners! (Recorded on February 20, 2025) Host: Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Host: Marrie Stone Music: Travis Barrett (Stream his music on Spotify, Apple Music, Etc.)

Sarah's Book Shelves Live
Ep. 185: Winter 2025 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide)

Sarah's Book Shelves Live

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 55:27


Welcome to the Winter 2025 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books!   Today, Catherine and Sarah share 16 of their most anticipated books releasing January through March.   This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Announcement One of the many benefits to joining the Patreon Community is gaining access to several bonus podcast episode series, including Book Preview Extras! In these episodes, Catherine and Sarah share at least 4 bonus books we are excited about that were not shared in the big show preview episode. Get more details about all the goodies available to all Superstar patrons and sign up here! Highlights Catherine and Sarah share some big releases coming this winter (lightning round style). Catherine's theme this season is “balance,” with 4 debuts and 4 repeat authors. Sarah's choices seem to fall into some micro genres she loves, featuring 5 debuts. Again, Sarah brings in a few shorter books under 300 pages. Sarah has already read and rated two of her picks! Plus, their #1 picks for the winter. Big Winter Releases [1:51]  Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson (Jan 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [2:28] Show Don't Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld (Feb 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [2:37] Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Mar 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:44] One Good Thing by Georgia Hunter (Mar 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [2:51] We Do Not Part by Han Kang (Jan 21) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:14] Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (Jan 21) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:22] We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes (Feb 11) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:32] The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue (Mar 18) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:38] The Heart of Winter by Jonathan Evison (Jan 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:42] Three Days in June by Anne Tyler (Feb 11) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [4:00] The Antidote by Karen Russell (Mar 11) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [4:03] The Human Scale by Lawrence Wright (Mar 11) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [4:10] Back After This by Linda Holmes (Feb 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [4:20] Backlist Titles Mentioned Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson [2:32] We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter [3:03] Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros [3:27] Room by Emma Donoghue [3:41] Swamplandia by Karen Russell [4:05] Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell [4:07] Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes [4:25] Winter 2025 Book Preview [4:32] January Sarah's Picks The Favorites by Layne Fargo (Jan 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:06] Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor (Jan 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[15:34] Catherine's Picks All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall (Jan 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[13:20] Those Fatal Flowers by Shannon Ives (Jan 21) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:22] Call Her Freedom by Tara Dorabji (Jan 21) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [24:19]  Too Soon by Betty Shamieh (Jan 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:19] Other Books Mentioned Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë [9:22]  Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel [14:38]   Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin [17:46] Yellowface by R. F. Kuang [17:50] Babel by R. F. Kuang [17:51] February Sarah's Picks Yours, Eventually by Nura Maznavi (Feb 18) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:16] Penitence by Kristin Koval (Feb 18 – moved to 1/28 after recording) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[spp-timestamp time="25:56"] Crush by Ada Calhoun (Feb 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:39] The Strange Case by Jane O by Karen Thompson Walker (Feb 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:25] The Grand Scheme of Things by Warona Jay (Feb 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[41:04] Catherine's Pick This Is a Love Story by Jessica Soffer (Feb 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:34] Other Books Mentioned Persuasion by Jane Austen [23:21]  Defending Jacob by William Landay [27:49] All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay [27:51]   Why We Can't Sleep by Ada Calhoun [32:02]   Wedding Toasts I'll Never Give by Ada Calhoun [32:05]  Last Couple Standing by Matthew Norman [33:14]  The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker [36:55]  The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker [37:00]  By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult [42:04]  March Sarah's Pick Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (Mar 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:35] Catherine's Picks The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami (Mar 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:35] Kate & Frida by Kim Fay (Mar 11) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:56] Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh (Mar 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:58] Other Books Mentioned The Moor's Account by Laila Lalami [38:45]  Love & Saffron by Kim Fay [45:08]  The Go-Between by L. P. Hartley [47:42]  The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller [48:15]  Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh [50:49]  Kill For Me, Kill For You by Steve Cavanagh [52:56]  Other Links Instagram | Harper Voyager: Deluxe Limited Edition for Death of an Author by Nnedi Okorafor 

The Novel Tea
The Other Americans by Laila Lalami : memory and protection

The Novel Tea

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 48:25


In this episode, Shruti and Neha discuss The Other Americans by Laila Lalami, a novel about an immigrant family that includes a romance, family drama, and a mystery. After a quick discussion of the It Ends With Us drama, we share a quick summary and dive into some themes we noticed in The Other Americans, including memory, regret, and protection. We talk about some of the key relationships and conflicts, major plot points, and Lalami's writing style.Shelf DiscoveryThe Night Watchman by Louise ErdrichThe Namesake by Jhumpa LahiriIf you would like to get more in-depth analysis, book recommendations, and cultural commentary, subscribe to our free newsletter.We love to hear from listeners about the books we discuss - you can connect with us on Instagram or by emailing us at thenovelteapod@gmail.com.This episode description contains links to Bookshop.org, a website that supports independent bookstores. If you use these links we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zócalo Public Square
Can Decolonization Explain Everything?

Zócalo Public Square

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2023 56:49


Recorded live from ASU California Center at the historic Herald Examiner Building: Artist Serge Attukwei Clottey, and essayists and novelists Laila Lalami and Pankaj Mishra visited Zócalo to discuss why the English-speaking world can't seem to fully absorb one of the central events of the recent past, and what it all means for our collective future. This event was presented in partnership with UCI Forum for the Academy and the Public and moderated by international relations expert Kal Raustiala. Visit https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/ to read our articles and learn about upcoming events. Follow along on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thepublicsquare Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepublicsquare/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zocalopublicsquare LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/z-calo-public-square

Moroccan/American
The Moor's Account with Laila Lalami

Moroccan/American

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2023 44:05


In the summer of 1527, an expedition of approximately 600 men and women set off from Spain to explore what is now the US coast of the Gulf of Mexico and claim it for the Spanish crown. Among this group was a Moroccan slave by the name of Estebanico, from the city of Azemmour, just south of Casablanca, on Morocco's Atlantic coast.The Narvaez Expedition, as it's now known, was an unmitigated disaster: death, disease, infighting, along with widespread destruction of the Native American populations they encounter. Only four people survived, appearing 9 years later in northwestern Mexico after an incredible journey that took them across the Mississippi River and across the whole of what is now Texas.Of course, one of these survivors was Estebanico. In our first episode, we welcome author Laila Lalami, to talk about The Moor's Account, her historical reimagining of the extraordinary life and travels of Estebanico through what is now the southern United States and Mexico. The Moor's Account won the American Book Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Ein Buch
Laila Lalami: Der verbotene Bericht

Ein Buch

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2023 8:42


Eine spanische Eroberungsexpedition kämpft sich im Jahr 1527 mühsam durch das heutige Florida und Texas. Nur vier Teilnehmer überleben das gefährliche Unternehmen. Einer von ihnen, ein Sklave aus Marokko berichtet aus seiner Perspektive.

Lannan Center Podcast
Laila Lalami | 2022-2023 Readings & Talks

Lannan Center Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2022 62:47


On Tuesday, November 15, 2022, the Lannan Center hosted a reading and conversation with writer Laila Lalami and moderated by Aminatta Forna. Laila Lalami was born in Rabat and educated in Morocco, Great Britain, and the United States. She is the author of five books, most recently, Conditional Citizens: On Belonging in America, which was shortlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. Her other books include, The Moor's Account, which won the American Book Award, the Arab-American Book Award, and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award. It was on the longlist for the Booker Prize and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction. Her most recent novel, The Other Americans, was a national bestseller and a finalist for the Kirkus Prize and the National Book Award in Fiction. Her essays and criticism have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, The Nation, Harper's, the Guardian, and the New York Times. She has been awarded fellowships from the British Council, the Fulbright Program, and the Guggenheim Foundation and is currently a distinguished professor of creative writing at the University of California at Riverside. She lives in Los Angeles.Music: Quantum Jazz — "Orbiting A Distant Planet" — Provided by Jamendo.

Papierstau Podcast
Folge 228: Denkt doch mal an die Kinder! („Die leuchtende Republik“ - Andrés Barba, „Gleißen“ - Anuschka Roshani, „Der verbotene Bericht“ - Laila Lalami)

Papierstau Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2022 52:50


In dieser Folge mit Meike, Robin und Anika: „Die leuchtende Republik“ von Andrés Barba, „Gleißen: Wie mich LSD fürs Leben kurierte“ von Anuschka Roshani und „Der verbotene Bericht“ von Laila Lalami. Diese Folge wird Euch präsentiert von Holzkern, einem Familienunternehmen, welches nachhaltig produzierte Uhren aus natürlichen Materialien wie Holz, Stein und Perlmutt herstellt - und nicht nur das: Bei Holzkern gibt es auch Schmuck für alle Geschlechter, selbstverständlich ebenso nachhaltig hergestellt.

First Pages Readings Podcast
Episode 45: Fiction

First Pages Readings Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2022 8:24


In this episode, the first page of three novels will be read:Gardens in the Dunes by Leslie Marmon SilkoThe Gangster We Are All Looking For by Le Thi Diem ThuyThe Other Americans by Laila Lalami

Open Form
Episode 36: Laila Lalami on The Godfather

Open Form

Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2022 34:30


Welcome to Open Form, a weekly film podcast hosted by award-winning writer Mychal Denzel Smith. Each week, a different author chooses a movie: a movie they love, a movie they hate, a movie they hate to love. Something nostalgic from their childhood. A brand-new obsession. Something they've been dying to talk about for ages and their friends are constantly annoyed by them bringing it up. In this episode of Open Form, Mychal talks to Laila Lalami (Conditional Citizens) about the 1972 film The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, and Robert Duvall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The afikra Podcast
LAILA LALAMI | The Other American & The Moor's Account | Conversations

The afikra Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2022 56:16


Laila Lalami talked about her award-winning books, The Other American, The Moor's Account, Secret Son, Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits & Conditional Citizens.Laila Lalami was born in Rabat and educated in Morocco, Great Britain, and the United States. She is the author of five books, including The Moor's Account, which won the American Book Award, the Arab-American Book Award, and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award. It was on the longlist for the Booker Prize and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction. Her most recent novel, The Other Americans, was a national bestseller and a finalist for the Kirkus Prize and the National Book Award in Fiction. Her essays and criticism have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, The Nation, Harper's, the Guardian, and the New York Times. She has been awarded fellowships from the British Council, the Fulbright Program, and the Guggenheim Foundation and is currently a professor of creative writing at the University of California at RiversideCreated and hosted by Mikey Muhanna, afikra Edited by: Ramzi RammanTheme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/About the afikra Conversations:Our long-form interview series features academics, arts, ‎and media experts who are helping document and/or shape the history and culture of the Arab world through their ‎work. Our hope is that by having the guest share their expertise and story, the community still walks away with newfound curiosity - and maybe some good recommendations about new nerdy rabbit holes to dive into headfirst. ‎Following the interview, there is a moderated town-hall-style Q&A with questions coming from the live virtual audience ‎on Zoom.‎ Join the live audience: https://www.afikra.com/rsvp   FollowYoutube - Instagram (@afikra_) - Facebook - Twitter Support www.afikra.com/supportAbout afikra:‎afikra is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region- past, present, and future - through conversations driven by curiosity. Read more about us on  afikra.com

Well-Read
Well-Read Episode 102 - Immigrant and Refugee Stories

Well-Read

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2022 40:38


We're exploring fiction that depicts the immigrant and refugee experience, and we'll end with what we're reading this week.   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann's picks: How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez (buy from Bookshop) Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (buy from Bookshop) – Titanic (film) – Ruta Sepetys books The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo (buy from Bookshop) – The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (buy from Bookshop) – Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (buy from Bookshop) Halle's picks: Exit West by Mohsin Hamid (buy from Bookshop) – Exit West (film) The Other Americans by Laila Lalami (buy from Bookshop) – Liz Moore books – Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (buy from Bookshop) The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henríquez (buy from Bookshop) – Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (buy from Bookshop) What We're Reading This Week: Ann: The Art of Escapism Cooking: A Survival Story, with Intensely Good Flavors by Mandy Lee (buy from Bookshop) – Mandy Lee's Flattening the Bird – Lady and Pups (blog) – @ladyandpups Halle: The Verifiers by Jane Pek (buy from Bookshop) – Book of the Month Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram

Melbourne Writers Festival
Viet Thanh Nguyen: The Committed

Melbourne Writers Festival

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2022 56:14


The Committed is Viet Thanh Nguyen‘s keenly awaited follow-up to the Pulitzer Prize–winning The Sympathizer. A journey through the underworld of 1980s Paris, it shares the same narrator, a Vietnamese-French communist spy, as its predecessor and has drawn praise as ‘a treatise of global futurity in the aftermath of colonial conquest’ (Ocean Vuong) and ‘a deep, compelling and humorous portrait of how we are shaped by fictions others have for us’ (Laila Lalami). He speaks with Leah Jing McIntosh about a literary thriller spiked with absurdist humour that shines a forensic light on empire and capitalism. Recorded for MWF in 2021.Support MWF: https://mwf.com.au/donate/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

VOMENA at KPFA
VOMENA Nov 17 2021- Megan Mylan's SIMPLE AS WATER doc and Laila Lalami's Conditional Citizens

VOMENA at KPFA

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2021 58:04


VOMENA Nov 17 2021- Megan Mylan's SIMPLE AS WATER doc and Laila Lalami's Conditional Citizens by VOMENA Team at KPFA

The Hollywood Chai
105 | The 3B Syndrome (featuring the work of Mera Nino)

The Hollywood Chai

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2021 24:13


Hollywood (and Western media) has a consistent record of Arab stereotyping and bashing. Some film academics, particularly of Arab descent (i.e., Laila Lalami & Dr. Jack Shaheen, whose work will be mentioned in this post), call this the “3 B Syndrome” which is frequently used to describe Arabs in the mass media: as bombers, billionaires or belly dancers. These depictions are referred to as tropes of empire - a familiar and repeated theme, character, narrative, etc., which performs ideological work through the use of language (metaphor, figurative, non-literal) and discourse. “The work done by the perpetuation and ubiquity of these tropes is manifested in the way they essentialize (characterise by unchanging essences), otherize (essentialized characteristics polar opposites of Western characteristics), and create absences (‘other' is depicted as lacking in positive traits) in the subject.” The Arab community in North America is vibrant and thriving but is in distress over these issues. We are doctors, business people, engineers, scientists, judges, humanitarians, advocates for human rights, and in short a productive segment of the fabric of this great society. Thankfully, the “3 B Syndrome” is slowly disintegrating and tropes of empire are being brought out of the shadows where they can be exposed and destroyed, BUT, there is so much more work to do. From the independent studios to the big powerhouse studios (I'm looking at you Disney). Remember, #ArabsBreakHollywood & #MiddleEasternsBreakHollywood. Some useful links provided below! --- Follow us on Instagram: @thehollywoodchai and Twitter: @ChaiHollywood https://www.ibiblio.org/prism/jan98/anti_arab.html#:~:text=Hollywood%20has%20had%20a%20consistent,%2C%20belly%20dancers%2C%20or%20billionaires. https://hegemonyremedy.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/the-three-b-syndrome/ --- This episode is sponsored by: Dalia Web Design - for all your website designing needs and maintenance: http://www.daliawebdesign.com/ ZENA Creations - for customizable gifts, merchandise and whatever you need: https://www.instagram.com/zena.creation --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-hollywood-chai/support

WDR 5 Scala
WDR 5 Scala - Ganze Sendung

WDR 5 Scala

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2021 38:17


heute u.a. Lesetipp von Recklinghausens Buchhändler Patrick Musial: "Die Anderen" von Laila Lalami; Haus Mödrath zeigt "When we were Monsters"; Gespräch mit Konstantin Wecker über sein Buch "Poesie und Widerstand in stürmischen Zeiten"; Jeff Bezos tritt bei Amazon als CEO ab; Bühne: Abschluss der Theater-Saison in NRW; WDR5 - Ein Gedicht: "Ausflug nach Tirol" von Joachim Ringelnatz; Moderation: Sebastian Wellendorf.

普通读者
Ep 21. 深度剧透!来聊聊《克拉拉和太阳》

普通读者

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2021 69:24


感谢收听“普通读者”的播客节目! 这一期我们只聊一一本书:石黑一雄的《克拉拉与太阳》,会有关于本书(以及Never Let Me Go《别让我走》)的大量剧透,请谨慎收听! 本期嘉宾: 顾予美,在北美的社科学生,爱读书更爱睡觉,关心女性和不平等议题。 豆瓣:https://www.douban.com/people/77301863/ 时间节点: 01:40 小说故事梗概 02:33 机器人的叙述视角 12:46 小说的世界观 15:28 关于“lifted”(“提升”)这个词 21:27 Josie父亲和他的“法西斯倾向” 26:17 小说世界观和现实的照应 36:17 机器人是否有灵魂? 48:01 书中的太阳的寓意 54:22 和《别让我走》一书的对比 1:06:13 整体评价 提到的书影和作家: Conditional Citizens, by Laila Lalami 弗朗西斯·福山《历史的终结与最后的人》 石黑一雄《别让我走》(Never Let Me Go) Ali Smith的四季四部曲 收听和订阅渠道: 墙内:小宇宙App,喜马拉雅,网易云“普通-读者” 墙外: Apple Podcast, Anchor,Spotify,Pocket Casts,Google Podcast,Breaker, Radiopublic 电邮:commonreader@protonmail.com 微博: 普通读者播客 欢迎关注播客豆瓣: https://www.douban.com/people/commonreaders/ 片头音乐credit: Flipper's Guitar - 恋とマシンガン- Young, Alive, in Love - 片尾音乐credit:John Bartman - Happy African Village (Music from Pixabay)

WDR 2 Lesen
Laila Lalami: Die Anderen

WDR 2 Lesen

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2021 5:11


Ein Rund-um-sorglos-Buch für die ruhigen Oster-Tage. Es ist alles drin: Familien, Liebe, Tod, Verbrechen, sogar gutes Wetter. Eine ziemlich perfekte Mischung.

Feiste Bücher
Feiste Bücher 51: Laila Lalami

Feiste Bücher

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2021 11:28


Feiste Bücher verlost zum zweiten Geburtstag 10 Bücher, die ich euch gern schenken möchte, und 2 Lesungskarten, die wunderbarerweise Stephanie Krawehl von der Hamburger Buchhandlung „Lesesaal“ spontan gestiftet hat. Sucht euch eines der Bücher aus, die ich im Podcast oder auf Instagram vorgestellt habe. Mailt mir bis zum 17. April, was euer Wunschbuch ist an: FeisteBuecher@gmx.de oder schreibt mir euren Wunsch auf Insta unter den Post zu Folge 51. Außerdem wäre ich euch dankbar, wenn ihr „Feiste Bücher“ bei euren Podcatchern abonnieren könntet, denn das hilft mir, wahrgenommen zu werden. Bei Instagram findet ihr unter @Stephanie_Krawehl unser Gespräch im Rahmen von Stephanies Interviewreihe „Stephanie fragt nach“. Literarisch geht es heute mal wieder in die USA, nach Kalifornien, in eine Kleinstadt am Rand der Mojave-Wüste. Die junge Komponistin Nora erfährt, dass ihr Vater bei einem Autounfall mit Fahrerflucht ums Leben gekommen ist. Aber war es wirklich ein Unfall  – oder war es ein Hassverbrechen, denn Noras Eltern stammen aus Marokko ... „Die Anderen“ von Laila Lalami spielt mit Elementen des Krimis, es ist aber ebenso sehr ein Familien- und Gesellschaftsroman, eine starke Liebesgeschichte – und eine Kleinstadtgeschichte, in der sich die Globalisierung spiegelt. „Die Anderen“ von Laila Lalami ist bei Kein & Aber erschienen. Michaela Grabinger hat die 432 Seiten aus dem Amerikanischen übersetzt. Das Hardcover kostet 24 €. Die New York Times hat mit ihr gesprochen: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/03/books/review/laila-lalami-on-the-other-americans.html?searchResultPosition=3 PBS hat 2019 ein kurzes Interview mit ihr am Rand des National Book Festival geführt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml-L7CmWEQw Folge direkt herunterladen

The American Writers Museum Podcasts
Episode 3: Laila Lalami

The American Writers Museum Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2020 23:35


This week we are pleased to present Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist Laila Lalami, who chats with American Writers Museum President Carey Cranston about her forthcoming book Conditional Citizens. We hope you enjoy entering the mind of a writer. Listen to more episodes here.

Living in the USA
John Nichols: Wisconsin votes--or tries to; plus Bob Edelman on Cold War Sports and Laila Lalami

Living in the USA

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2020 58:27


Republicans forced Wisconsin to go ahead with an election on Tuesday, despite the coronavirus, after rejecting the proposals to extend voting by mail. John Nichols reports -- he says it's a frightening example of what they will try to do in November to reduce the Democratic vote. Also: The Cold War was fought in many ways: it was a traditional political and military confrontation, but it was also a cultural contest, on a global scale – and one of the most important arenas in the cultural contest was sports. historian Robert Edelman explains: he's co-editor of the new book The Whole World Was Watching: Sport in the Cold War." Plus: Nation columnist Laila Lalami talks about her novel “The Other Americans." it's about the suspicious death of a Moroccan immigrant in a small town in California. It's a family saga, a murder mystery, and a love story. And it's out now in paperback.

Living in the USA
Trump and Immigrants: Laila Lalami; Michael Walzer on Organizing; Michael Ames on Bowe Bergdahl

Living in the USA

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2019 45:34


Trump's target in the 2020 election will be immigrants, ‘The Other Americans'—that's the title of the new novel by Laila Lalami. Her last novel, “The Moor's Account,” won the American book award and was a Pulitzer finalist. She's written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, Harper's, and The Guardian, and she's a columnist for The Nation. Plus: we talk about organizing to defeat Trump--about movement strategies and tactics, & political issues and campaigns. Our guest is Michael Walzer -- His new book is “Political Action: A practical guide to Movement politics.” Also: during the presidential campaign, Donald Trump often talked about an American soldier in Afghanistan who became the longest-held American POW since Vietnam. Trump said was quote “a dirty rotten traitor” who should be shot or thrown from a plane. He was talking about Bowe Bergdahl, that story is told in a new book, “American Cypher”--we'll speak with the co-author, Michael Ames.

Bookworm
Laila Lalami: The Other Americans

Bookworm

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2019 29:29


 Laila Lalami's The Other Americans is a polyphonic novel about social class and identity, with a revelation in every chapter.

Living in the USA
Joe Biden has One Thing in Common with Donald Trump: Harold Meyerson; plus Laila Lalalami

Living in the USA

Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2019 30:06


Joe Biden has one thing in common with Donald Trump: a campaign promising “restoration” of a lost past, rather than the kind of transformation we need to deal with our current problems—that's what Harold Meyerson says. Of course, the past Biden wants to restore is not the white man's 1950s, but rather the pre-Trump America of the Clintons and Obama. Harold is executive editor of The American Prospect and a regular contributor to the LA Times op-ed page. And we talk about immigrants with Nation magazine columnist Laila Lalami—her new novel is 'The Other Americans,' about the suspicious death of a Moroccan immigrant in a small town in California. It's a family saga, a murder mystery, and a love story.

The Bookshelf
On Ali Smith's Spring, Mark Haddon's The Porpoise, Laila Lalami's The Other Americans & how digital is disrupting reading

The Bookshelf

Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2019 54:07


Kate Evans is joined by broadcaster Sarah Kanowski, writer Justine Hyde and Catherine Keenan from The Story Factory to discuss new fiction from Ali Smith, Mark Haddon and Laila Lalami; and Julianne Schultz from the Griffith Review reflects on reading for 'digital natives'.

The Mixed Experience
S2: Ep. 13: Laila Lalami, Award-winning Writer

The Mixed Experience

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2015


I'm excited to speak with award-winning writer Laila Lalami author of The Moor's Account.

Skylight Books Author Reading Series
LAILA LALAMI reads from THE MOOR'S ACCOUNT

Skylight Books Author Reading Series

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2014 49:33


The Moor's Account (Pantheon) Tonight's reading is part of the Los Angeles/Islam Arts Initiative (LA/IAI). From the author of Secret Son and Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits comes  The Moor's Account, the imagined memoirs of the New World's first explorer of African descent, a Moroccan slave known as Estebanico. In 1527, Panfilo de Narvaez sailed from Spain with a crew of six hundred men, intending to claim for the Spanish crown what is now the Gulf Coast of the United States. But from the moment the expedition reached Florida, it met with ceaseless bad luck--storms, disease, starvation, hostile natives--and within a year there were only four survivors, including the young explorer Andres Dorantes and his slave, Estebanico. After six years of enslavement by Native Americans, the four men escaped and wandered through what is now Florida, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The Moor's Account brilliantly captures Estebanico's voice and vision, giving us an alternate narrative for this famed expedition. As this dramatic chronicle unfolds, we come to understand that, contrary to popular belief, black men played a significant part in New World exploration, and that Native American men and women were not merely silent witnesses to it. In Laila Lalami's deft hands, Estebanico's memoir illuminates the ways in which stories can transmigrate into history, even as storytelling can offer a chance at redemption and survival. Praise for The Moor's Account “A beautiful, rousing tale that would be difficult to believe if it were not actually true. Lalami has once again shown why she is one of her generation's most gifted writers.” —Reza Aslan, author of Zealot “¡Qué belleza! Laila Lalami has given us a mesmerizing reimagining of one of the foundational chronicles of exploration of the New World and an indictment of the uncontainable hubris displayed by Spanish explorers—told from the point of view of Estebanillo, an Arab slave and Cabeza de Vaca's companion in a trek across the United States that is as important as that of Lewis and Clark. The style and voice of sixteenth-century crónicas are turned upside down to subtly undermine our understanding of race and religion, now and then. The Moor's Account is a worthy stepchild of Don Quixote de la Mancha.”—Ilan Stavans, author of On Borrowed Words: A Memoir of Language and general editor of The Norton Anthology of Latino Literature “A novel of extraordinary scope, ambition and originality. Laila Lalami has given voice to a man silenced by for five centuries, a voice both convincing and compelling. The Moor's Account is a work of creativity and compassion, one which demonstrates the full might of Lalami's talent as a writer.”—Aminatta Forna, the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and Hurston Prize Legacy Award winning author of The Memory of Love, Ancestor Stones, and The Devil That Danced on the Water Laila Lalami was born and raised in Morocco. She attended Université Mohammed V in Rabat, University College in London, and the University of Southern California, where she earned a Ph.D. in linguistics. She is the author of the short story collection Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits, which was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award, and the novel Secret Son, which was on the Orange Prize longlist. Her essays and opinion pieces have appeared in Newsweek, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Nation, The Guardian, The New York Times, and in numerous anthologies. Her work has been translated into ten languages. She is the recipient of a British Council Fellowship, a Fulbright Fellowship, and a Lannan Foundation Residency Fellowship, and is currently an associate professor of creative writing at the University of California at Riverside. This reading is a part of the Los Angeles / Islam Arts Initiative (LA/IAI) Launching this fall, the Los Angeles / Islam Arts Initiative (LA/IAI) brings together nearly 30 cultural institutions throughout Los Angeles to tell various stories of traditional and contemporary art from multiple Islamic regions and their significant global diasporas. LA/IAI is the first-of-its kind, wide-scale citywide initiative on Islamic arts producing and presenting programming such as art exhibitions, panels, discussions, and performances. Anchoring LA/IAI are two connected exhibitions, Doris Duke's Shangri La: Architecture, Landscape, and Islamic Art and the contemporary art exhibition, Shangri La: Imagined Cities commissioned by the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) to be held at DCA's Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (LAMAG) at Barnsdall Park from October 26 to December 28, 2014. Los Angeles' substantial populations from areas with strong Islamic roots make LA a compelling location for this initiative. LA/IAI casts a wide net, being inclusive and welcoming, with art as its central focus. The term “Islamic art” includes work created by non-Muslim artists from Muslim-dominant countries, work by Muslims creating art in non-Muslim dominant countries, and work by artists culturally influenced by Islam. Designed to build a greater understanding of the role of Islamic arts, LA/IAI seeks to stimulate the global conversation in connection to cultural, political, and social issues. The celebration of Islamic art and culture is presented by DCA with major support from the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Community Foundation, the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), and the Barnsdall Park Foundation. For more information, please visit:  http://www.laislamarts.org/