Nafeesa Syeed at Public Books:
Author Zahid Rafiq spent years as a journalist covering Kashmir, one of the world’s most militarized zones. He made the switch to fiction, completing his MFA at Cornell. In his first book, The World With Its Mouth Open, Rafiq explores the lives of contemporary, everyday Kashmiris. In 11 riveting short stories, his taut but knowing prose forces us to see and hear from characters whose voices are rarely included in the geopolitical discussions around the conflict-ridden region.
Rafiq spoke to me recently over Zoom from Srinagar, Kashmir’s capital. He was sandwiched between rows of bookshelves on either side of him. He insists that accepting one’s own foolishness is key as a writer. In developing his own voice, he’s looked to Chekhov, Kafka, and “lots of Russians,” as well as the chatter of shopkeepers and autorickshaw drivers from his youth.
More here.
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