Guys, September is around the corner, and it’s time for “My Friend Alexa”. For those who have no clue who this Alexa is, let me introduce you to Alexa, it is one awesome ranking algorithm which helps you to rank your website based on the traffic and the source and nature of that traffic. There are few more parameters like a source of that traffic, bounce rate, etc. “Google baba” is numero uno. So, closer you get to 1, better is your website rank. It’s that time of the year when everyone in the Blogchatter community starts looking up for the Alexa rankings of our blogs. This year will be my second year to be a part of this campaign with our fantastic and enthusiastic folks of Blogchatter.
Last year’s campaign was a success for me. I had no clue what this Alexa ranking is before this campaign. In Blogchatter’s My Friend Alexa, reading and engaging with your fellow blogger’s work takes the upper edge to you creating and posting your content. As against the April A to Z, where you post a daily content, My Friend Alexa is very less demanding on the creative side. Here you need to post only twice a week. Just 8 posts in a month. So last year I started up with an Alexa rank of around 7.5M. Thanks to lovely folks of Blogchatter, I was able to drop it by almost 3 to 3.5M and with the consistent uploads and love you all readers, my rank kept on improving till the end of this years ‘April A to Z’. As soon as that dredging challenge got over, I reached the bottom of my creative juices. I managed to create only 8-10 pieces in this period which I was saving up for this Alexa campaign.
I checked my rank last week and I was struck with horrifying shock. I had lost my rank. My blog has so less traffic as I was inactive from my side, Alexa couldn’t even rank me at all. Today, it’s ranging in some 19M, thanks to you guys as you showed the same enthusiasm to my latest post even after such a long gap. This year, I would like to take you on the tour showing beauty and sweetness of Marathi language through my poetry and prose. Wait, wait, wait… Non-Marathi fellows don’t leave yaar. I will add the translation and the meaning of my work just for you guys. To make things more exciting and special for you, I have something special on my mind so that you can enjoy the Marathi language more. But let’s keep it a surprise for now. Wait and watch guys, wait and watch. See you soon!
P. S. – If you have not registered for My Friend Alexa yet? What are you waiting for, registrations are open. Come on join in…
Hey guys, last two days you didn’t see me introducing any more author to you. I took these two days to recollect what entire month has offered me as a blogger, writer and most importantly as a bibliophile, a reader. It would not be a lie if I tell you that many of the authors I introduced you through my series ‘Kathaka’, were unknown names for me before I chose this theme. However, this entire month widened my eyes made me read about these 26 fabulous storytellers. Their lives, their style of writing, the time and place they lived in or living in. It was a wonderful journey to know a bit about all of these men and women. I am really looking forward to starting reading the books I mentioned. I wish for this TBR A to Z will become Book Review A to Z for 2019 challenge.
Today, we are at the last stop of our A to Z journey of this 2018 challenge. I would like to introduce you all to Zakaria Tamer, who is a Syrian short story writer. Tamer, born on 2nd January 1931, is one of the most important and widely read and translated short story writer from Arab literary world. Tamer, also known as ‘little pea Ziad’ has been writing short stories since late 50’s and since then he has published eleven short story collections, two collections of satirical articles and several children’s books. Tamer is considered as an influential master of the Arabic-language short story. Tamer continued to teach himself with a voracious reading as he had to quit the school to support the family at the age of thirteen. He became interested in politics and was encouraged by contact with intellectuals to continue his education at night school. With this background, representing the very poor majority of men and women in Syria, with their joyless and restricted existence in his writing became his literary intention.
The book I would like to read and include in this TBR list is one of the two collections which got translated into English. Breaking Knees: Sixty-three Very Short Stories from Syria. As the title suggests, this book as sixty-three very short stories like flash fiction, which comment about corrupt, fearful lives under a violent dictatorship, it is possible to discern echoes of the storm that has brought Syria to near-disintegration. The stories in the book are Wry, satirical and bawdy, and are always informed by his dark view of humanity and of Syrian society in particular. Considering the current situation Syria, this book seems to be the amazing chance to have a sneak peek in Syrian society.