Aug 31, 2020
A Dutch novel, The Discomfort of Evening has won the prestigious International Booker Prize in 2020. A debut that became a bestseller in the Netherlands, it was written by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld and translated by Michelle Hutchison. The story follows a religious Dutch family who are grieving the loss of their eldest son from a skating accident, all from the perspective of Jas the ten year old daughter. Dark and disturbing, it has impressed the critics with the style and impact of Rijneveld's storytelling. Animal abuse and other graphic descriptions may not be for everyone, but the judges found it a "tender and visceral evocation of a childhood caught between shame and salvation, and a deeply deserving winner.”
For more acclaimed international reading choices, check out the other titles from this year's International Booker Prize shortlist.
