The Scotiabank Giller Prize judges have released the long list of 12 books eligible to win the $100,000 first prize or the $10,000 awarded for each book that will make the short list.
‘Global perspectives’ cited by judges
In a news release, the jury said: “We selected works that reflect the boldness, originality and global perspectives that have come to characterize much Canadian writing. The books span a range of narrative styles – some playfully verbose and others quietly powerful. The books explore various obsessions: genocide in 20th century China and in medieval Spain; the neglect, abuse or theft of children in Ireland, North America and Guatemala; the dangers of nuclear testing; the unapologetic pursuit of crime and criminals; and the surprising ways that table manners, travel, body shape, illness, violence and love influence self-esteem and intimate relationships.”
The Giller is one of three major literary prizes
This prize was created by Toronto businessman Jack Rabinovitch in 1994 to honour his wife, the late literary journalist Doris Giller. It is one of three major literary competitions held around this time of year in Canada— the Writers’ Trust Awards and the Governor-General’s Literary Awards.
The longlist for the 2016 Scotiabank Giller Prize is:
- Mona Awad for her novel 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl, published by Penguin Canada
- Gary Barwin for his novel Yiddish for Pirates, published by Random House Canada
- Andrew Battershill for his novel Pillow, published by Coach House Books
- David Bergen for his novel Stranger, published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
- Emma Donoghue for her novel The Wonder, published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
- Catherine Leroux for her novel The Party Wall, published by Biblioasis International Translation Series, translated by Lazer Lederhendler
- Kathy Page for her story collection The Two of Us, published by A John Metcalf Book, an imprint of Biblioasis
- Susan Perly for her novel Death Valley, published by Buckrider Books, an imprint of Wolsak and Wynn Publishers
- Kerry Lee Powell for her story collection Willem De Kooning’s Paintbrush, published by HarperAvenue, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
- Steven Price for his novel By Gaslight, published by McClelland & Stewart
- Madeleine Thien for her novel Do Not Say We Have Nothing, published by Alfred A. Knopf Canada
- Zoe Whittall for her novel The Best Kind of People, published by House of Anansi Press Inc.
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