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How to Pronounce Knife cover art

How to Pronounce Knife

Written by: Souvankham Thammavongsa
Narrated by: James Tang,Kulap Vilaysack
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Publisher's Summary

WINNER OF THE 2020 SCOTIABANK GILLER PRIZE
WINNER OF THE 2021 TRILLIUM BOOK AWARD
FINALIST FOR THE 2021 NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD, the PEN AMERICA OPEN BOOK AWARD, and the DANUTA GLEED AWARD
#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER

Named one of
Time's Must-Read Books of 2020, and featuring stories that have appeared in Harper's, Granta, The Atlantic, and The Paris Review, this revelatory book of fiction from O. Henry Award winner Souvankham Thammavongsa establishes her as an essential new voice in Canadian and world literature. Told with compassion and wry humour, these stories honour characters struggling to find their bearings far from home, even as they do the necessary "grunt work of the world."

A young man painting nails at the local salon. A woman plucking feathers at a chicken processing plant. A father who packs furniture to move into homes he'll never afford. A housewife learning English from daytime soap operas. In her stunning Giller Prize-winning debut book of fiction, Souvankham Thammavongsa focuses on characters struggling to make a living, illuminating their hopes, disappointments, love affairs, acts of defiance, and above all their pursuit of a place to make their own. In spare, intimate prose charged with emotional power and a sly wit, she paints an indelible portrait of watchful children, wounded men, and restless women caught between cultures, languages, and values. As one of Thammavongsa's characters says, "All we wanted was to live." And in these stories, they do—brightly, ferociously, unforgettably.

A daughter becomes an unwilling accomplice in her mother's growing infatuation with country singer Randy Travis. A former boxer finds a chance at redemption while working at his sister's nail salon. A school bus driver must grapple with how much he's willing to give up in order to belong. And in the title story, a young girl's unconditional love for her father transcends language.

Tender, uncompromising, and fiercely alive, How to Pronounce Knife establishes Souvankham Thammavongsa as one of the most important voices of her generation.

©2020 Souvankham Thammavongsa (P)2020 McClelland & Stewart

What the critics say

2020, Scotiabank Giller Prize, Winner

2021, Trillium Book Award, Winner

"How to Pronounce Knife is a book of rarest beauty and power. Souvankham Thammavongsa has already earned a devoted readership for her poetry. And in each of these exquisitely crafted stories, we experience the profound emotional effects of economy and distillation. We feel the reverberating energy around each judiciously placed word. This is one of the great short story collections of our time. Do not miss it." (David Chariandy, author of Brother and I've Been Meaning to Tell You)

"Souvankham Thammavongsa writes with deep precision, wide-open spaces, and quiet, cool, emotionally devastating poise. There is not a moment off in these affecting stories." (Sheila Heti, author of How Should a Person Be? and Motherhood)

Featured Article: 19 Award-Winning Canadian Fiction Audiobooks to Add to Your Listening List

Canada knows how to write a story, and it has the awards to prove it. These 19 incredible audiobooks are Canadian fiction at its award-winning best.

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What listeners say about How to Pronounce Knife

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  • Len
  • 2020-11-22

So Disappointing

This collection of short stories was such a disappointing read. The writing was so simplistic and still surprised this is the best of Canadian fiction for 2020. Sad.

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3 people found this helpful

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Slim Volume - Deep Reach

A short story collection about the little guy. The immigrant, the marginalized, the unnoticed. Souvankham Thammavongsa delves into their world, with unique compassion, understanding and humour. She doesn't sentimentalize, use dramatic language or flamboyant characters. Her stories are ordinary, her characters reserved and her language economical. Yet she packs a powerful punch with each story with characters that are resilient, persevere and yes, sometimes score small victories. She's a skillful writer with a microscopic vision of the human nature. Check out her poetry collection, Small Arguments, and her website souvankham.thammavongsa.com

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Deep hearted stories.

The writing was spell binding. A worthy Giller win that takes us inside the world of those new to new to places and experiences many of us take for granted . I was struck by the humility of so many of the characters who were afraid to ask for more but stood resolutely in who they were and where they came from. A brilliant informative book all Canadians should read.

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moving and eye opening

I loved this book and read it fairly quickly. Touches on sensitive topics that are rarely if ever discussed. very raw. Incites a lot of reflection.

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Some good, some not so engaging

I found the stories to be a mix of intriguing and so-so. The transition between some stories wasn't clear either. Was an ok read.

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Amazing book!

One of the best books I’ve listened to! Great personal stories, a good insight to some people’s lives. I would highly suggest!

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