The sweeping first novel by Tess Gunty titled “The Rabbit Hutch,” which is set in a low-income housing complex in Indiana, has been awarded the National Book Award for fiction. Gunty, who is 30 years old, was one of three authors nominated for their very first novels to be published.
“South to America,” written by Imani Perry, was awarded the prize for nonfiction, while “All My Rage,” written by Sabaa Tahir, was awarded the medal for young people’s literature. In the poetry category, John Keene was recognised for his collection titled “Punks: New and Selected Poems.” At the same time, the Argentine-Spanish author Samanta Schweblin and the translator Megan McDowell got the award for best work in translation for their novel, “Seven Empty Houses.”
The winners from Wednesday night split $10,000 between them apiece. During her victory speech, Gunty referred to some recent remarks that poetry candidate Sharon Olds had made on literature’s significant role in society. Gunty described books as a means of drawing attention to people who are “neglected” or otherwise not visible in the community.
“Attention is the most sacred resource we have,” she said, calling books among the last places “where we spend the resource freely and need the most.” “I think kindness wins,” she concluded. “That’s the point of this evening.”
Many of the award winners were influenced by history, as evidenced by Art Spiegelman’s comments on his parents having survived the Holocaust and Imani Perry’s invocation of ancestors who had been “lashed” and “bullet-ridden.” A weeping Tahir noted her past as a Muslim and Pakistani-American and dedicated her prize to her “Muslim sisters” worldwide who are “fighting for their lives.” Tahir’s heritage includes both of these identities.
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Several speakers addressed the recent trend of banning books and the danger it poses to the right to free expression. Spiegelman, whose Holocaust-themed cartoon book “Maus” was removed from shelves in Missouri and Tennessee this year, referred to some of his censors as “shrewd marketers” because the controversy surrounding his work increased sales.
He thought that perhaps some educators favoured a “kinder, gentler Holocaust.” An honorary prize was presented to Tracie D. Hall, the American Library Association executive director, during the dinner benefiting the National Book Foundation. This organisation gives out awards. Hall recalled going to the local library in the Watts neighbourhood of Los Angeles with her grandmother when she was a child.
She described the library as a cathedral and a benefactor who let her borrow as many books as she and her grandmother could carry, so the library was like a cathedral to her. Following that, she paid gratitude to librarians who, “in the process of rejecting censorship initiatives, have sacrificed their jobs and livelihood.”
It was the first time since 2019 — before the pandemic — that the event was held in person, and hundreds, virtually all of whom did not wear masks, gathered at Cipriani Wall Street in the heart of downtown Manhattan. Padma Lakshmi, author and host of “Top Chef,” presided over the event, including prerecorded introductions by Keanu Reeves, Alicia Keys, and Jimmy Fallon for the nominees in the various competitive categories.
Outside, striking HarperCollins employees distributed leaflets and buttons, with Lakshmi being one of the people wearing a union button. The leaflets and buttons detailed the workers’ disagreements with the publisher regarding various issues, including wages, diversity, and union security.
Last week, approximately 250 employees at HarperCollins, the only major New York publisher with a union, went on strike. These employees range from entry-level to mid-level positions. There are no fresh negotiations planned for the foreseeable future.
In her acceptance speech, Perry, published by HarperCollins, did not directly refer to the strike; however, she did mention that those who “walk the picket line” are among the people who inspire her.
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