Contenders for the prestigious book award face accusations of loosely grounded realism
Frankfurt Book Fair's Suspicious Literature Award Shortlist Announced
The Frankfurt Book Fair has unveiled the shortlist for the Suspicious Literature Award, a prestigious accolade for autobiographically influenced novels. This year's selection features a diverse range of voices and styles, with twelve female and eight male authors represented.
Jina Khayyer, a debut author, has made the list with her novel "In the Heart of the Cat," a poignant tale that explores the experiences of growing up as a child of refugees from Kosovo. Another debutant, Kathrin Bach, has captured the hearts of the jury with her tragicomic family history set in the West German provinces of the 1990s, titled "Life Insurance."
Well-known authors such as Feridun Zaimoglu, Nava Ebrahimi, and Peter Wawerzinek are also on the shortlist. Zaimoglu's novel, "Son Without Father," tells a moving story of a grieving son and a journey to Turkey, while Ebrahimi's "And Feathers Everywhere" combines serial storytelling and social satire around a chicken slaughterhouse.
Wawerzinek's "See Rome and Not Die" delves into human transience after a cancer diagnosis, but also explores love and strength for healing. Marko Dinić's "Book of Faces" uses language to ridicule Putin's propaganda in a comical and absurd way regarding the Ukraine war.
Jacinta Nandi's "Single Mom Supper Club" offers a fresh perspective on societal issues faced by single mothers, delivered with black, radical humor. Jehona Kicaj's debut novel, "e," has received the Literature Prize of the City of Hannover (HANNA), and her 2025 work, "ë," has also been recognised by the jury.
The shortlist will be officially released on September 16, and the winner will be announced on October 13, the day before the Frankfurt Book Fair. The award comes with a total of 37,500 euros in prize money: 25,000 euros for the winner, and 2,500 euros each for the other shortlisted authors.
According to jury spokeswoman, Laura de Weck, the works on the shortlist reflect on the present, looking either to the past or the future. She stated, "One should worry about the future, but not about the future of literature." De Weck further emphasised that the works are about darkness, but also about storytelling, wit, and love for the word.
The works on the shortlist offer historical panoramas, observations of the present, and dystopias. From the heart-wrenching tales of loss and identity to the biting satire on political issues, this year's Suspicious Literature Award shortlist promises a rich and varied reading experience.
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