Latest news with #ElizabethStrout
CBC
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Elizabeth Strout and Miranda July among finalists for $56K Women's Prize for Fiction
American authors Elizabeth Strout and Miranda July are among the finalists for the 2025 Women's Prize for Fiction, alongside four debut novelists exploring the search for freedom in different countries and cultures. Since 1996, the prize annually celebrates the best novel written in English by a woman. Now in its 30th year, the prize seeks to highlight women writers and create a platform wherein they may be recognized in equal measure to their male peers. Pulitzer Prize winner Strout's Maine-set mystery novel Tell Me Everything and writer-filmmaker July's All Fours, in which a "semi-famous artist" seeks a new life, are shortlisted for the £30,000 prize (approx. $55,744 Cdn) prize. The contenders also include Dutch writer Yael van der Wouden's postwar story The Safekeep and German-born poet Aria Aber's novel Good Girl, about a teenager exploring her dual German-Afghan heritage. Also on the list are Iran-born writer Sanam Mahloudji's intergenerational family saga The Persians and Fundamentally by Britain's Nussaibah Younis, about an academic trying to rehabilitate women caught up with the Islamic State group. Is Miranda July's novel All Fours changing the conversation around sex and desire in women over 40? Author Kit de Waal, who is chairing the panel of judges, said that the six books were "classics of the future" that explored "the importance of human connection." "What is surprising and refreshing is to see so much humour, nuance and lightness employed by these novelists to shed light on challenging concepts," she said. On the jury, de Waal is joined by novelist Diana Evans, author Bryony Gordon, magazine editor Deborah Joseph and musician Amelia Warner. The winner will be announced on June 12. In addition to the prize money, this winner will also receive the "Bessie," a bronze statue made by the late British sculptor, Grizel Niven. Last year's winner was V.V. Ganeshananthan for her novel Brotherless Night.
Asharq Al-Awsat
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Elizabeth Strout, Miranda July are Among Finalists for the Women's Prize for Fiction
American authors Elizabeth Strout and Miranda July are among finalists announced Wednesday for the Women's Prize for Fiction, alongside four debut novelists exploring the search for freedom in different countries and cultures. Pulitzer Prize winner Strout's Maine-set mystery novel 'Tell Me Everything' and writer'-filmmaker July's 'All Fours,' in which a 'semi-famous artist' seeks a new life, are shortlisted for the 30,000 pound ($39,000) prize. It's open to female English-language writers from any country. The contenders also include Dutch writer Yael van der Wouden's postwar story 'The Safekeep' and German-born poet Aria Aber's novel 'Good Girl,' about a teenager exploring her dual German-Afghan heritage. Also on the list are Iran-born writer Sanam Mahloudji's intergenerational family saga 'The Persians,' and 'Fundamentally' by Britain's Nussaibah Younis, about an academic trying to rehabilitate women caught up with ISIS, The AP news reported. Author Kit de Waal, who is chairing the panel of judges, said that the six books were 'classics of the future' that explored 'the importance of human connection.' 'What is surprising and refreshing is to see so much humor, nuance and lightness employed by these novelists to shed light on challenging concepts,' she said. Previous winners of the fiction prize, founded in 1996, include Zadie Smith, Tayari Jones and Barbara Kingsolver. Last year, award organizers launched a companion Women's Prize for Nonfiction to help rectify an imbalance in publishing. In 2022, only 26.5% of nonfiction books reviewed in Britain's newspapers were by women, and male writers dominated established nonfiction writing prizes. Winners of both nonfiction and fiction prizes will be announced on June 12 at a ceremony in London.
The Independent
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Elizabeth Strout and Miranda July are among finalists for the Women's Prize for Fiction
American authors Elizabeth Strout Miranda July are among finalists announced Wednesday for the Women's Prize for Fiction, alongside four debut novelists exploring the search for freedom in different countries and cultures. Pulitzer Prize winner Strout's Maine-set mystery novel 'Tell me Everything' and writer'-filmmaker July's 'All Fours,' in which a 'semi-famous artist' seeks a new life, are shortlisted for the 30,000 pound ($39,000) prize. It's open to female English-language writers from any country. The contenders also include Dutch writer Yael van der Wouden's postwar story 'The Safekeep' and German-born poet Aria Aber's novel 'Good Girl,' about a teenager exploring her dual German- Afghan heritage. Also on the list are Iran-born writer Sanam Mahloudji's intergenerational family saga 'The Persians,' and 'Fundamentally' by Nussaibah Younis, about an academic trying to rehabilitate women caught up with the Islamic State group. Author Kit de Waal, who is chairing the panel of judges, said that the six books were 'classics of the future' that explored 'the importance of human connection.' 'What is surprising and refreshing is to see so much humor, nuance and lightness employed by these novelists to shed light on challenging concepts,' she said. Previous winners of the fiction prize, founded in 1996, include Zadie Smith, Tayari Jones and Barbara Kingsolver. Last year, award organizers launched a companion Women's Prize for Nonfiction to help rectify an imbalance in publishing. In 2022, only 26.5% of nonfiction books reviewed in Britain's newspapers were by women, and male writers dominated established nonfiction writing prizes. Winners of both nonfiction and fiction prizes will be announced on June 12 at a ceremony in London.
Associated Press
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Elizabeth Strout and Miranda July are among finalists for the Women's Prize for Fiction
LONDON (AP) — American authors Elizabeth Strout Miranda July are among finalists announced Wednesday for the Women's Prize for Fiction, alongside four debut novelists exploring the search for freedom in different countries and cultures. Pulitzer Prize winner Strout's Maine-set mystery novel 'Tell me Everything' and writer'-filmmaker July's 'All Fours,' in which a 'semi-famous artist' seeks a new life, are shortlisted for the 30,000 pound ($39,000) prize. It's open to female English-language writers from any country. The contenders also include Dutch writer Yael van der Wouden's postwar story 'The Safekeep' and German-born poet Aria Aber's novel 'Good Girl,' about a teenager exploring her dual German-Afghan heritage. Also on the list are Iran-born writer Sanam Mahloudji's intergenerational family saga 'The Persians,' and 'Fundamentally' by Nussaibah Younis, about an academic trying to rehabilitate women caught up with the Islamic State group. Author Kit de Waal, who is chairing the panel of judges, said that the six books were 'classics of the future' that explored 'the importance of human connection.' 'What is surprising and refreshing is to see so much humor, nuance and lightness employed by these novelists to shed light on challenging concepts,' she said. Previous winners of the fiction prize, founded in 1996, include Zadie Smith, Tayari Jones and Barbara Kingsolver. Last year, award organizers launched a companion Women's Prize for Nonfiction to help rectify an imbalance in publishing. In 2022, only 26.5% of nonfiction books reviewed in Britain's newspapers were by women, and male writers dominated established nonfiction writing prizes. Winners of both nonfiction and fiction prizes will be announced on June 12 at a ceremony in London.
The Guardian
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Miranda July and Elizabeth Strout shortlisted for the Women's prize for fiction
American writers Miranda July and Elizabeth Strout have been shortlisted for the 30th Women's prize for fiction alongside four debut authors. The six titles in contention for the £30,000 prize all draw on 'the importance of human connection' in different ways, said writer and judging chair Kit de Waal. 'What is surprising and refreshing is to see so much humour, nuance and lightness employed by these novelists to shed light on challenging concepts.' Good Girl by Aria Aber (Bloomsbury) All Fours by Miranda July (Canongate) The Persians by Sanam Mahloudji (4th Estate) Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout (Viking) The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden (Viking) Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis (Weidenfeld) July was selected for All Fours, which follows a 45-year-old artist who sets out on a road trip across the US but decides to check into a motel room close to home instead, where she begins a sexless affair with a younger man. The novel was described as 'acerbically clever, radically compassionate', in a Guardian review by Lara Feigel. Strout – who has previously been longlisted four times and shortlisted twice – was this time chosen for Tell Me Everything, in which characters from her previous novels, Olive Kitteridge and Lucy Barton, meet. Writing in the Guardian, Elizabeth Lowry described the novel as 'taciturn but deeply felt and profoundly intelligent'. Dutch writer Yael van der Wouden's debut novel The Safekeep, which was shortlisted for last year's Booker prize, has also won over the Women's prize judges. Van der Wouden's family drama set in postwar Netherlands was praised by Guardian reviewer Rachel Seiffert for the way the author 'creates and sustains atmospheres deftly, and ultimately delivers a thrilling story'. Nussaibah Younis was shortlisted for Fundamentally, about an academic who accepts a UN job in Iraq and is tasked with rehabilitating Isis women. 'Younis tackles radicalism and racism, faith and friendship, with dexterity, deep care and a large dose of laughter', wrote Sana Goyal in her Guardian review. Aria Aber made the list for Good Girl, a coming-of-age story following Nila, a daughter of Afghan refugees growing up in Berlin. 'Good Girl is a must-read about the complexities of Afghan sexuality, family, shame, poverty and power,' wrote Dina Nayeri in the Guardian. Completing the shortlist is The Persians by Sanam Mahloudji, a multigenerational story of five women from a once-illustrious Iranian family. 'Mahloudji writes with a wisdom and confidence rarely seen in a debut, and her sharp observations are humorous and poignant,' wrote Joanna Cannon in her Guardian review. Sign up to Bookmarks Discover new books and learn more about your favourite authors with our expert reviews, interviews and news stories. Literary delights delivered direct to you after newsletter promotion One of the best-known writers on the longlist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie did not make this year's shortlist for her novel Dream Count. She was shortlisted for all three of her previous novels and won both the 2007 prize and the 25th anniversary 'winner of winners' award in 2020. Other longlisted books were The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, Somewhere Else by Jenni Daiches, Amma by Saraid de Silva, Crooked Seeds by Karen Jennings, The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami, Nesting by Roisín O'Donnell, A Little Trickerie by Rosanna Pike, Birding by Rose Ruane and The Artist by Lucy Steeds. De Waal whittled down the longlist with the help of novelist Diana Evans, journalists Bryony Gordon and Deborah Joseph, and composer Amelia Warner. This year's prize was open to novels written in English and published in the UK between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. The winner will be announced on 12 June alongside the winner of its sister award, the Women's prize for nonfiction. Previous winners of the fiction prize include Zadie Smith, Ali Smith and Maggie O'Farrell. Last year, VV Ganeshananthan won for Brotherless Night. To browse all of the books on the Women's prize for fiction 2025 shortlist visit Delivery charges may apply.
