World news – CA – Suvankham Thamaphungsa wins the Geller Prize for his debut novelist titled How to Spell a Knife

The Canadian Press
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Thammavongsa received a $ 100,000 Monday night tribute for her first feature feature, « How to Pronounce Knife, » published by McClelland and Stewart.

Thamafungsa smiled as she showed off the trophy to her two friends at her home in Toronto in her acceptance speech, thanking her parents for providing the inspiration for the title clip in the short story collection

She said to the camera, « Thank you mom and dad. » « Thirty-six years ago, I went to school and mispronounced the word » knife « and didn’t get an award, but tonight there is one.

In their quote, the jury hailed the book as « an astonishing collection of stories depicting the experience of immigrants in beautiful, painful prose »

Born in Lao Refugee Camp in Nong Khai, Thailand and raised in Toronto, Thamafungsa tracks the stories of immigrants building a new life away from their home countries, tense with the mores of both societies as they search for a sense of belonging.

The characters of « How to Pronounce Knife » @ stuck in this cultural rendezvous: Mother became infatuated with country singer Randy Travis; A failed boxer replaces his gloves with a nail file in his sister’s salon.

The story « Slingshot » which is part of the group and won the U Samkraha O Henry Prize for Short Literature, a 70-year-old woman finds herself in love with her 32-year-old neighbor

Received a Trillium Book Award for Poetry for her 2013 volume « Light » Her 2007 collection, « Found, » inspired by her father’s scrapbook, has been transformed into a short film

Thamafungsa’s writing has also appeared in reputable publications such as Harper’s, Paris Review and Atlantic. She has received numerous grants, including $ 25,000 from the Canadian Council of Arts for her upcoming debut novel

The contestant for the first time beat several Giller regulars to win the award, including former winner David Bergen, who was nominated for a fifth time through the story collection « Here The Dark » published by Biblioasis

Four-time shortlisted, Shani Muto, shortlisted for her novel about the « Polar Vortex » love triangle published by Book, press Hug

Also among the runners are newcomers Jill Adamson, for « Ridgerunner » (House of Anansi Press), and Emily St, who grew up in British Columbia and is based in New York. John Mandel, for « The Glass Hotel » (HarperCollins Publishers)

Geller nominees were honored in a virtual ceremony Monday evening in place of the usual Toronto literary assignments

Geller’s Executive Director, Ilana Rabinowitz, said organizers have spent months working to keep the evening’s signature « buzzing » within the public health restrictions of COVID-19

The televised ceremony featured a mixture of pre-recorded and live elements Candidates presented their books, while frontline workers read excerpts from each title

Canadian actor Eric McCormack hosted the ceremonies from the Vancouver Library, while jazz artist Diana Krall gave a performance to the public

Finalists were selected by jury members Mark Sakamoto, Eden Robinson, David Shariandy, Tom Rachman and Claire Armetstead

The long list of 14 titles announced in September features some of the big names that have not succeeded, including Thomas King, Emma Donogo, and Lyn Coady

Founded in 1994, Giller awards $ 100,000 annually to the author of the best Canadian novel, graphic novel, or short story collection published in the English language, and $ 10,000 to each of the finalists

Geller Prize, Suvankham Thamaphungsa, for publishing, McClelland & Stewart, Literature, David Bergen