Souvankham Thammavongsa's debut collection of short stories, How to Pronounce Knife, explores the lives of immigrants and refugees in a nameless city, capturing hopes, disappointments, love affairs, and the pursuit of a place to belong.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 18 March 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

‘Spellbinding i ‘Breathtaking Elle ‘Powerhouses of feeling and depth Mary Gaitskill ‘Sharp and vital Daisy Johnson Excellent Margaret Atwood on Twitter An ex-boxer turned nail salon worker falls for a pair of immaculate hands; a mother and daughter harvest earthworms in the middle of the night; a country music-obsessed housewife abandons her family for fantasy; and a young girl s love for her father transcends language. In this stunning debut,Souvankham Thammavongsa captures the day-to-day lives of immigrants and refugees in a nameless city,illuminating hopes,disappointments,love affairs,and above all,the pursuit of a place to belong. There is not a moment off in these affecting stories Sheila Heti

WINNER OF THE SCOTIABANK GILLER PRIZE

Souvankham Thammavongsa's "The Books of Earth and Sky"

Souvankham Thammavongsa's debut novel, "The Books of Earth and Sky," is a stunning exploration of the lives of immigrants and refugees in a nameless city. Through affecting stories, Thammavongsa captures the hopes, disappointments, love affairs, and pursuit of a place to belong. The novel has received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its "spellbinding" and "breathtaking" quality, as well as its "powerhouses of feeling and depth."

One of the standout stories in the collection is "An Ex-Boxer Turned Nail Salon Worker Falls for a Pair of Immaculate Hands." In this story, a former boxer who has turned to working in a nail salon falls for a pair of immaculate hands that he sees in a magazine. The story explores the complexities of love and the ways in which people can find meaning and purpose in unexpected places. Another notable story is "A Mother and Daughter Harvest Earthworms in the Middle of the Night." In this story, a mother and daughter harvest earthworms in the middle of the night to sell them to a local restaurant. The story explores the relationship between mother and daughter, as well as the challenges of living in poverty.

Another story that stands out is "A Country Music-Obsessed Housewife Abandons Her Family for Fantasy." In this story, a country music-obsessed housewife abandons her family for a fantasy world where she can live out her dreams of becoming a country music star. The story explores the consequences of pursuing one's dreams at the expense of everything else.

Finally, "A Young Girl's Love for Her Father Transcends Language" is a heartwarming story about a young girl who loves her father despite the language barrier that separates them. The story explores the power of love and the ways in which it can transcend even the most difficult of circumstances.

Critical Acclaim

Souvankham Thammavongsa's debut novel has received critical acclaim from a wide range of reviewers. Elle magazine praised the novel for its "spellbinding" and "breathtaking" quality, as well as its "powerhouses of feeling and depth." Margaret Atwood, a renowned author, tweeted that the novel was "excellent."

Sheila Heti, a writer and critic, described the novel as "spellbinding" and "breathtaking." She praised the novel's ability to capture the day-to-day lives of immigrants and refugees in a nameless city, illuminating hopes, disappointments, love affairs, and the pursuit of a place to belong.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Souvankham Thammavongsa's debut novel, "The Books of Earth and Sky," is a stunning exploration of the lives of immigrants and refugees in a nameless city. Through affecting stories, Thammavongsa captures the hopes, disappointments, love affairs, and pursuit of a place to belong. The novel has received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its "spellbinding" and "breathtaking" quality, as well as its "powerhouses of feeling and depth." Whether you are a fan of literary fiction or just looking for a compelling read, "The Books of Earth and Sky" is a must-read.

Weight: 140g
Dimension: 128 x 197 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526610454