The novel is called Citizens of Beauty, after a poem by one of its main characters, Jean Senac. It’s set in Algiers in 1969 and it’s about revolution and love and poetry and jazz. And also Lalla Meryem, Our Lady of Africa, who looks out over the sea with her arms open for all.
The history of the French is Algeria is a shitshow (read Frantz Fanon, watch the Battle of Algiers!) but there is always something to salvage from the disasters we endure.
This led to the building of a gorgeous neo-byzantine church on this hill overlooking the Mediterranean, later designated as a Basilica. There is a French inscription above the icon here that reads ‘Our Lady of Africa, pray for us and the Muslims’
He spoke of Lalla Meryem, referring to the icon of the Virgin Mary on the altar. In the late 1800s, a small but fierce interfaith Marian devotion came about on a hill above the bay of Algiers, led by two young French settler girls.
It is SO unbelievably kind of Pope Leo to take time away from attempting to coax Trump out of darkness to visit an important location in my new novel, shortly going on submission 👀
This is the Basilica of Notre Dame d’Afrique in Algiers, where Leo gave a message of interfaith solidarity yesterday
I don't think we are talking enough about the astounding historical twist that one of the most powerful institutions standing up to defend liberal democracy around the world today is the Papacy
🥳 congratulations!!
Stumbled upon this in my feed, quite by chance and what a lovely surprise! Thank you so much
Thank you so much to Richie for such a lovely conversation about The Apple and The Pearl!
open.spotify.com/episode/2f8c...
Metallic Realms, Death of the Author, and Mise En Abyme: @rymkechacha.bsky.social reads some recent metafictional SF novels together to think about how works-within-works...work!
ARB fundraiser, coming soon! We'd love your support in taking the magazine to the next level, and just spreading the word helps a ton!
Such a deep pleasure to be read so thoroughly!! Thank you to the BtGS team
www.breakingtheglassslipper.com/2026/02/26/t...
This is only Labour’s worst fear if you only conceive of politics as power. If you think of politics as making people’s lives better this is great for Labour, as they realise (18months too late!) that these are the policies that will help the country and, ironically, help them remain in government.
You can’t smell this #bloomscroll which is a tragedy so you’ll have to take my word for it, it’s heaven. Spring is coming!
The Apple and the Pearl by Rym Kechacha: Review by Niall Harrison locusmag.com/review/...
It was my excellent good fortune to fall into the hands of @georgesandison.bsky.social right off the bat with my first book and when I read his work I feel so grateful all over again. Absolutely loved this!!
reactormag.com/agency-georg...
Thank you so much! 😊 It’s so thrilling to be read so closely and sensitively, I’m so grateful.
Huge thanks for this lovely and perceptive review!!
I read the first part last year and loved it, I have this on hold at the library. I think she’s brilliant, one of the few literary writers really meeting the moment. And her playfulness with language is beautiful too!
Mamdani’s just going for it. He’s not concerned about the nay sayers, he doesn’t need their votes. This is a lesson that could be applied here!!!
I think one thing keeping (so far, it’s early days!) on a good path is that he can never be president. So often politicians (in all countries) keep half an eye on the top job, so they never put any serious policies in place in case someone calls them a communist in a decade’s time.
Thank you!
So glad to hear that, thank you!
Very much hope you enjoy!
Thank you!!
Thank you!!
Thank you!!
From starting ballet at four to starting writing this in 2021, it’s been a long and winding road but…
The Apple and The Pearl is out TODAY from @titanbooks.bsky.social !!!
