Jennifer Acker's Blog, page 58
June 13, 2022
Words We Use to Talk About Home: An Interview with Abeer Khshiboon, author of “The Stranger”
ABEER KSHIBOON
Abeer Kshiboon’s short story, “The Stranger” is featured in Issue 23’s portfolio of stories from Palestine. Here, Abeer and translator Nashwa Gowanlock discuss the story’s inspiration and the context in which its events unfold.
Abeer Kshiboon’s short story, “The Stranger” is featured in Issue 23’s portfolio of stories from Palestine. Here, Abeer and translator Nashwa Gowanlock discuss the story’s inspiration and the context in which its events unfold.
June 10, 2022
Podcast: Adrienne G. Perry on “Flashé Sur Moi”
ADRIENNE G. PERRY
Adrienne G. Perry speaks to managing editor Emily Everett about her essay “Flashé Sur Moi,” which appears in The Common’s new spring issue. Adrienne talks about the questions that inspired this essay: questions about memory and friendship and coming of age, questions about what it means to desire.
Adrienne G. Perry speaks to managing editor Emily Everett about her essay “Flashé Sur Moi,” which appears in The Common’s new spring issue. Adrienne talks about the questions that inspired this essay: questions about memory and friendship and coming of age, questions about what it means to desire.
June 8, 2022
A Road, the Sun
CAROLYN KUEBLER
The warmth of the sun, her skin warming up too. Yes, this is it, she says. I have always been and will always be this way. But what way is this? Is it happiness?
The warmth of the sun, her skin warming up too. Yes, this is it, she says. I have always been and will always be this way. But what way is this? Is it happiness?
June 3, 2022
Friday Reads: June 2022
ELLY HONG
In this round of Friday Reads, we hear from two poets whose work was featured in Issue 23 of The Common. Read on for mini reviews of an imaginative and timely poetry collection and essays on the transportive power of that genre.
In this round of Friday Reads, we hear from two poets whose work was featured in Issue 23 of The Common. Read on for mini reviews of an imaginative and timely poetry collection and essays on the transportive power of that genre.
June 2, 2022
Translation: “Soliloquy” by Zhang Qiaohui
ZHANG QIAOHUI
You know where Grandma is buried, but do not know / where Grandma’s Grandma is / Jiaochang Hill’s graves have long been displaced, now covered with lush greenery / In the mortal world, a saying, “to have no resting place even after death” / I stand at the old burial ground.
You know where Grandma is buried, but do not know / where Grandma’s Grandma is / Jiaochang Hill’s graves have long been displaced, now covered with lush greenery / In the mortal world, a saying, “to have no resting place even after death” / I stand at the old burial ground.
May 27, 2022
Podcast: Cheryl Collins Isaac on “Spin”
CHERYL COLLINS ISAAC
Cheryl Collins Isaac speaks to managing editor Emily Everett about her story “Spin,” which appears in The Common’s new spring issue. “Spin” is about two Liberian immigrants making a new life in Appalachia. In this conversation, Cheryl talks about the inspiration behind this story.
Cheryl Collins Isaac speaks to managing editor Emily Everett about her story “Spin,” which appears in The Common’s new spring issue. “Spin” is about two Liberian immigrants making a new life in Appalachia. In this conversation, Cheryl talks about the inspiration behind this story.
May 26, 2022
May 2022 Poetry Feature
By ELIZABETH METZGER
For now, let us choose not to remember / who said History repeats as Tragedy then Farce, / and who else / repeated such nonsense / with variations because, friends, allow me / to be pedantic, just this moment. History repeats / as Tragedy more than once.
For now, let us choose not to remember / who said History repeats as Tragedy then Farce, / and who else / repeated such nonsense / with variations because, friends, allow me / to be pedantic, just this moment. History repeats / as Tragedy more than once.
May 25, 2022
Two Poems by Alejandra Pizarnik
ALEJANDRA PIZARNIK
And it was then / that with a tongue dead and cold in the mouth / he sang the song others allowed him to sing / in this world of obscene gardens and shadows / coming at unseemly hours to remind him / of songs of his youth / in which he could not sing the song he wanted / the song they allowed him to sing
And it was then / that with a tongue dead and cold in the mouth / he sang the song others allowed him to sing / in this world of obscene gardens and shadows / coming at unseemly hours to remind him / of songs of his youth / in which he could not sing the song he wanted / the song they allowed him to sing
May 20, 2022
Friday Reads: May 2022
ELLY HONG
Issue 23 of The Common features work by a wide array of writers from across the globe. Take a look at some of the writing that has inspired them in this month’s round of Friday Reads.
Issue 23 of The Common features work by a wide array of writers from across the globe. Take a look at some of the writing that has inspired them in this month’s round of Friday Reads.
May 19, 2022
My Grandmother’s Radio
CAREY BARAKA
How do I explain to you how much my grandmother loved KBC Radio’s death announcements? Every afternoon she sat there, her face full of impish delight, waiting for her enemies to die. The disembodied voice on the radio shared in her delight.
How do I explain to you how much my grandmother loved KBC Radio’s death announcements? Every afternoon she sat there, her face full of impish delight, waiting for her enemies to die. The disembodied voice on the radio shared in her delight.
