Friday, January 30, 2009

Fiction and real life

Matt Rees links to "The Fiction Writer's Gaza," an article he wrote about the differences between the journalists' Gaza and the one he portrays in his novel A Grave in Gaza (The Saladin Murders in the U.K.). "A Grave in Gaza," Rees writes, "traces many of the same troubles that we're witnessing today in the Gaza Strip — except that I hope it's more entertaining."

Rees discusses his third Omar Yussef novel, The Samaritan's Secret, in a video interview here. He talks about the difficulties of his previous career as a journalist in the Middle East, moving back and forth between two societies: "Each of them, when you're among them, is very convincing. ... As a journalist, I feel like you visit, but as a novelist you have to live with someone. Your novel has to take people inside the society."

Click here for Rees' promotional video, which gives enough history of the Samaritans to make the book a compelling prospect. Read my 2008 interview with Rees here.

© Peter Rozovsky 2009

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2 Comments:

Blogger adrian mckinty said...

Peter

I know this is a serious topic, however I'd just like to segue to a previous post of yours on Harvey Pekar. As we've all mentioned David Letterman dissed Pekar and attempted to made a fool of him on his last appearance on his show. Well, tonight (and I hope this isnt a spoof) according to AICN Letterman "will attempt to make amends to Bill Hicks by airing his final appearance on the show, which has been unaired for the last 14 years." He's also having Hicks's mother as a guest. As Letterman undergoes his midlife crisis, maybe he'll Pekar on soon too.

January 30, 2009  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

The guy interviewing Hicks should have been left on the cutting-room floor of Wayne's World, but what Hicks has to say is interesting. That Letterman could be such a shill and at the same time be thought hip is a great act of sleight of hand. I seem to recall hearing that the man was once a magician. No surprise there.

January 30, 2009  

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