Abstract

In this interview, Leila Aboulela candidly discusses her role as a writer and the responsibilities it entails. She touches upon several issues pertaining to immigrant life and its associated crises. Having lived for over a decade in the West, she delves deep into the identity crisis of Muslims, especially those living as immigrants in the West post 9/11 who are dealing with burgeoning Islamophobia. However, the element of faith per se in Islam constitutes a unique element in her literary pursuits. An avid reader, educated in a completely different discipline, she took up writing as a passion and made it into a full-time profession. Writing gradually became a mode of being connected to her roots, culture, and home. Undeterred by labels that attempt to limit literary possibilities, she refuses to take criticism personally. She defines an author as someone who is not bothered to look over their shoulder and is reluctant to follow trends set by others. Ideally, the writer is one who sets trends as a leader.

摘要

在这次采访中，莱拉·阿布莱拉 (Leila Aboulela) 坦率地讨论了她作为作家的角色及其承担的责任。她谈到了与移民生活及其相关危机有关的几个问题。在西方生活了十多年后，她深入研究了穆斯林的身份危机，尤其是那些在 9/11 事件后生活在西方的移民，他们正在应对日益严重的伊斯兰恐惧症。然而，伊斯兰教信仰本身构成了她文学追求中的一个独特元素。作为一名狂热的读者，她接受的是完全不同的学科教育，她对写作充满热情，并将其作为全职职业。写作逐渐成为一种与她的根、文化和家庭联系在一起的方式。没有被试图限制文学可能性的标签吓倒，她拒绝接受针对个人的批评。她将作者定义为不愿回头看，也不愿追随他人设定的趋势的人。理想情况下，作家是引领潮流的人。