As part of the "Criticism" series, the Union of Iraqi Writers has released a new book "Inakha fi Madareb al-Nakd" by Iraqi writer and critic Shakib Kazem, featuring critical studies and articles that looked into a number of Iraqi, Arab, and western novels, and story collections.
The introduction of the book reads: "As we see our peers leaving this world, we feel encouraged to make further efforts. But the time and fate didn't leave us the power for perseverance. We had to take some of the works we published in newspapers and magazines and put them in books to leave a trace in this hustling world; the world of printed letters, the world of books. It's like a flash in a world full of lights."
Among the figures covered in the book are the late writer Hayat Sharara, novelist Maysalun Hadi, novelist Taha Hamed al-Shabib, author and novelist Saad Mohammed Raheem, Zayd al-Shahid, in addition to Daisy al-Amir "who was neglected by critics and forgotten by life"; Ghanem al-Dabbagh and his only work "Noise in the Alley"; Iraqi author Abd al- Malik Nuri "who looked for fairness in others"; Ibtissam Abdulla and her experience in story writing, novel, and translation; late author and novelist Mohammed Alwan Jabr; Ali Khyoum; and Hanoun Majid.
It also explores the works of Arab novelists including Ihsan Abdel Quddous, Yasmina Khadra, Amin Maalouf, Faisal Hourani, Jamil Atiyah Ibrahim, Edwar al-Kharrat, and Emil Habibi; in addition to western novelists including American William Faulkner, French Françoise Sagan, and British-Japanese Kazuo Ishiguro.