She showed us it was real people being hurt by this horrific war. With the internet, we are now able to read accounts of war by noncombatants who are not journalists while the war is happening, even as armies invade and bombs fall someone has called iraq the first postmodern war in that we get simultaneous reports of what is happening from many different points of. Riverbend, in her blog baghdad burning, discusses the ways in which womens lives were impacted by the occupation. Before the united states occupation of iraq she was a computer programmer.
This acclaimed book by richard brookhiser is available at in several formats for your ereader. Riverbends blog entries ended suddenly in 2007but recently, antiwar author michael schwartz discovered a final farewell entry at baghdad burning. Oct 10, 2017 in august 2003, the world gained access to a remarkable new voice. Riverbend, girl blog from iraq as she dubs herself, was a computer programmer before the war not any more. Riverbend is an iraqi woman of 24 who survived the war. University of british columbia british columbia, canada v6t. Girl blog from iraq by riverbend, published by the feminist press. Riverbend anonymous iraqi womans blog gives a human face to war and occupation. The book is a collection of blog entries that rougly span the. The tears had stopped about an hour after wed left baghdad.
To the internet archive community, time is running out. Riverbend is the pseudonymous author of the blog baghdad burning, launched august 17, 2003. Baghdad burning is a quotidian chronicle of riverbend s life with her family between april 2003 and september of 2004. In august 2003 a young iraqi blogger began reporting her experien. In 2003, a twentyfouryearold woman from baghdad began blogging about life in the city under the pseudonym riverbend. While world leaders debate and the official media embed, the author, a blogger in baghdad, continues her keen reporting on what passes for everyday life in iraq.
The book account of baghdad burning is unlike most other novels with characters, plot, and a significant resolution towards the end. In the essay, i attune to two themes found on the blog. The systematic connections between neoliberalism and late modern. What happened in the south in 1991 is similar to what happened in baghdad in 2003 burning, looting and attacks.
Its been months, well probably years since i last time opened riverbends blog. Apr 11, 2005 riverbend is the pseudonym of a young iraqi blogger. Online blog entries are available up to october 2008. She describes rolling blackouts, intermittent water access, daily explosions, gas shortages and travel restrictions. Riverbend, the pseudonymous recipient of a lettre ulysses award for the art of literary reportage, continues her chronicle of daily life in occupied baghdad. Riverbend s identity is carefully hidden, but the weblog entries suggest that riverbend is a young iraqi woman from a mixed shia and sunni family, living with her parents and brother in baghdad. Including diary entries covering the release of the torture pictures of abu ghraib and bushs state of the union speech as well as a more critical analysis of key players during the war and in its aftermath, baghdad burning offers a highly personal narrative on life since the us occupation that is at once disturbing and insightful. Once a computer programmer who enjoyed considerable personal freedom, after baghdads fall, riverbend finds herself unemployed and largely restricted to. It was in the period of 2003 2007 that her blog opened my eyes and the eyes of many, showing us what liberation is like to iraqi people. Girl blog from iraq by riverbend in august 2003, the world gained access to a remarkable new voice. This essay examines the blog baghdad burning written by iraqi woman riverbend. In her diary of the occupation, she describes the new, confined way of life.
Riverbend is the pseudonym of a young iraqi blogger. Baghdad burning by riverbend overdrive rakuten overdrive. University of british columbia british columbia, canada. Riverbends identity is carefully hidden, but the weblog entries suggest that riverbend is a young iraqi woman from a mixed shia and sunni family, living with her parents and brother in baghdad. Many of you have pointed out a fake baghdad burning site at riversbend. In august 2003, the world gained access to a remarkable new voice. By the time we were out of baghdad, my heart was no longer aching as it had been while we were still leaving it. April 9, 20 marks ten years since the fall of baghdad. For the new vanguard performance, magnes read the entries before each of her pieces. Once a computer programmer who enjoyed considerable personal freedom, after baghdad s fall, riverbend finds herself unemployed and largely restricted to the safety of her familys home. Two years ago i never would have dreamed of living like this now this lifestyle has become the norm and i can barely remember having lived any other way. Riverbend blogger writing styles in baghdad burning. Rent baghdad burning girl blog from iraq 1st edition 9781558614895 and save up to 80% on textbook rentals and 90% on used textbooks. In the midst of a foreign occupation and a rising and divisive religious tide, she.
Riverbend s aim is to raise understanding between iraqis and americans while she stands up against stereotypes on both sides. Just seeing the dirty streets, the ruins of buildings and houses, the smokefilled horizon all helped me realize how fortunate i was to have a chance for something safer. Calling herself riverbend, she offered searing eyewitness accounts of the everyday realities on. Gregory baghdad burning neoliberalism and the countercity. Riverbend is the pseudonymous author of the blog baghdad burning, launched august 17. The account of baghdad burning is in fact a collection of blog articles, comments, and diary entries by an anonymous iraqi woman who called herself riverbend.
Since the fall of bagdad, womens voices have been largely erased, but four months after saddam husseins statue fell, a 24 yearold woman from baghdad began blogging. She reveals for us most sharply the fate of iraqi women, whose rights and freedoms are falling victim to rising fundamentalisms. Girl blog from iraq riverbend blogger this study guide consists of approximately 37 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of baghdad burning. Baghdad burning girl blog from iraq 1st edition rent. I gasped and held my breath not believing as we watched baghdad burning.
Jun 24, 2014 riverbend s blog entries ended suddenly in 2007but recently, antiwar author michael schwartz discovered a final farewell entry at baghdad burning. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read baghdad burning. August through december 2003 january through march 2004 april through september 2004 presents the internet blog entries of a young iraqi woman living in baghdad as she chronicles the hardships and complexities of daily life and the intricacies of the political situation during the first year of the iraqi 2003 invasion. Review of baghdad burning ii 9781558615298 foreword. Her command of the english language, and her knowledge of the western world and of her own culture, make this book even more precious. Girl blog from iraq riverbend in august 2003, the world gained access to a remarkable new voice. In august 2003, the world english gained access to a remarkable new voice. Baghdad burning is a quotidian chronicle of riverbends life with her family between april 2003 and september of 2004.
Girl blog from iraq by baghdad burning requirementsepub reader, 1. With the internet, we are now able to read accounts of war by noncombatants who are not journalists while the war is happening, even as armies invade and bombs fall someone has called iraq the first postmodern war in that we get simultaneous reports of what is happening from many different. Jun 17, 2005 riverbend, girl blog from iraq as she dubs herself, was a computer programmer before the war not any more. If anything happened to her, it will be the end of hope for iraq in many of our minds. Riverbends aim is to raise understanding between iraqis and americans while she stands up against stereotypes on both sides. Riverbend, baghdad burning, 28 august 2003 all this chaos has somehow become uncomfortably normal. Riverbends existence and identity remain a mystery, but the weblog entries suggest that she is a young iraqi woman from a mixed shia and sunni family, living with her parents and brother in baghdad. Girl blog from iraq riverbend, author, aliyah mamduh, author, james ridgeway, introduction by, foreword by ahdaf soueif, intro. Riverbends blog, baghdad burning, collected here for the first time, responds to events both personal and political from the impact on her family of the invasions aftermath to the abu ghraib prison abuses. The area fell into chaos after the republican guard was pulled out to different governorates for the duration of the war. It is not being run by me in parallel to my own site i knew it existed for some time now a friend pointed it out to me in late september. The women in this area were particularly affected as fundamental islamic principles grew within their country.