Female Iraqi Blogger Nominated For UK Prize
Baghdad Burning, a book based on the blog by the same name, has made the longlist for the Samuel Johnson, Prize for contemporary non-fiction. The blogger, known only as Riverbend, has been blogging since August of 2003. The winner of the prize will be announced on June 14th.
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Article comments
1 - Dave Nalle
Gah, as a fan of Iraqi blogs, I can attest that Riverbend is just awful. It's not the worst - that goes to some of the fake propaganda blogs from Baathist exiles like Raed Jamal, but it's intermittent, relentlessly negative and not terribly informative.
Dave
2 - deano
I disagree with your assessment or Riverbend as "awful". It is a different take then you get reading the milblogs or the blogs written by Iraqi "professionals". I certainly don't find Riverbend to be someone I agree with politically but her writing does offer a more cognizent glimpse into the chaos of life in Baghdad. I suspect her viewpoint and opinions are probably more in tune with the average Iraqi's mixed views of the situation then some of the other Iraqi blogs.
It is also worthy of note and recognition because she is a young woman, posting in what is becoming a steadily more repressive environment for young woman.
3 - Dave Nalle
And she's better than that Iraqi teen girl who posts nothing but pictures of cats.
Dave
4 - Deano
I doubt the Iraqi cat girl has to worry about getting "fatwa'd" by some medieval hard-liner because she posted something they didn't agree with. With her success and visibility, Riverbend is a target. The nomination is well-deserved.
5 - Dave Nalle
I guess my point is that I find it incomprehensible that she could win the award over Iraq the Model or Hamurabbi who are really exceptional in the information they provide on a much more regular and comprehensive basis.
Dave