The matchflick column is here: http://www.matchflick.com/column/1882
I reported a little while ago on Atwood not attending a conference in Dubai because the conference censored an author whose book had a gay muslim character. Atwood (and the rest of us) have since learned that the conference says they didn’t censor the book or author, but that they did not choose the book for inclusion in the festival. The author seems to have exaggerated. Atwood is going to appear at the conference via satellite for a panel on censorship.
I think there’s going to be a lot to talk about. Her own book, The Handmaid’s Tale, is still under review by a school system after a challenge. Part of that book was inspired by Atwood’s visit to Islamic countries and her experimentation with a burka.
Also, while the conference says it didn’t censor the other author’s book, one interview I read did say that a conference organizer felt the text was “too controversial.” As we asked in book group last night, what’s the line between “I censor your book!” and “Sorry, due to its content, we won’t work with this book–it’s too controversial/thought-provoking”?
