The blogger who writes Baghdad Burning is in the running for the BBC Four Samuel Johnson book award, reported The Guardian today. The 26-year-old Iraqi woman, who writes under the pseudonym Riverbend, has been blogging about life in Iraq since 2003. The first year’s posts were published in hard copy by Marion Boyars in the UK last year as a biography/memoir. Baghdad Burning: Girl Blog from Iraq is now up for the £30,000 literary prize.

Response from bloggers to Riverbend’s longlisting for the book award has been positive:

Disjointed Ruminations (Austin, Texas)

While I was quite shocked initially due to the industry’s tight reign on literary propriety and genres, with the creation of online books and such, I am not surprised that blogs are being looked at in a new light these days. I’m very excited to see what else is recognized; a merging of blog readers and book readers could be an exciting thing.

The Nether-World (London)

I really like her blog and I hope it wins.

Baghdad Burning has already won the third place Lettre Ulyeese prize for Reportage. A sample of congratulations from the blogosphere:

Magpie (United Kingdom)

Her work at Baghdad Burning combines a shrewd analysis of current events in Iraq with an eye for the details of what ‘normal’ life has been like for Baghdadis since the invasion. When something happens in Iraq, we always look first to Riverbend to see if she’s posted about it yet.

Olive Branch Optimism (Perth, Australia)

I have said it once, and I will say it again. This girl is brilliant.

Wampum (United States)

…this is a book worth giving. Not just as a blogger’s gift to a semi- or non-neterite relative or lover, but to the boards of school districts, because this is the real deal, the real banned in the land of the free literature that every high school English Lit teacher could be putting in the hands of her (and his) students. If only to teach English.

Democracy for California (United States)

Her commanding gift for observation, her intelligence and her extraordinary language skills make her account of the life of a normal Iraqi family … one of the most uniquely critical documents of life in this abused country under the conditions of the war and the US military occupation. Bravo Riverbend!

Milfuegos (unknown)

Gua, gua, as they say in Iraq. More power to you, Riverbend.

Truth About Iraqis (unknown)

I’ve said it before - that one young Iraqi woman makes the rest of us look like upstarts. … Allow me to take this space and express my heartfelt congratulations and steadfast appreciation for all you have done for your people and your country.