The finalists for the PEN/Faulkner Award have been revealed, with five books in contention for the annual prize given to an outstanding work of fiction by a U.S. permanent resident.
Addie E. Citchens made the shortlist for her debut novel, Dominion, which was previously longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. Jonas Hassen Khemiri was named a finalist for The Sisters; the novel was also longlisted for the National Book Award.
Lily King was shortlisted for Heart the Lover, which was previously longlisted for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Also making the PEN/Faulkner shortlist were Quiara Alegría Hudes for The White Hot and Mahreen Sohail for Small Scale Sinners.
Lauren Francis-Sharma, chair of the PEN/Faulkner Awards committee, said in a statement, “It is hard to imagine five finalists whose themes better match what many are contending with today: regret, silence, shame, a break from norms. Within these stories lie tendrils of tenderness, love, commitment to family, and even a reach for oneself, making these selections all the more timely, all the more courageous.”
The PEN/Faulkner Award was established in 1981. Previous winners include David Bradley for The Chaneysville Incident, David Guterson for Snow Falling on Cedars, and Imbolo Mbue for Behold the Dreamers.
The winner of this year’s award, which comes with a cash prize of $15,000, will be revealed next month.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
