Writers' Trust Fiction

Of the five excerpts, I was most impressed with Michael Winter's The Death of Donna Whalen. Part of my decision may be related to his fantastic appearance at last week's readings, which included him wearing a pair of ridiculous pink jeans, but ultimately, his unique style shone through. The poor grammar employed by the narrator adds a sense of authenticity, and immediately draws the reader in. Winter also does a fantastic job of adding suspense in only five hundred words. The plot revolves around an innocent man convicted of stabbing his girlfriend thirty-one times, and I find it extremely effective that we learn of Sheldon's alcoholism and an event that preceded the brutal murder. The ultimate test is whether the excerpt makes me want to go on an Indigo run to purchase the novel. In the case of Donna Whalen, it certainly does.

Room, which was awarded the prize just a few hours ago, earns an honourable mention. Emma Donoghue opts to take a humourous approach to her excerpt, which is understandable given the adorable five-year old narrator. "Was I minus numbers?" He asks when considering his age. Most people would cringe if faced with the task of writing through the perspective of a child, but Donoghue appears to have embraced it. The dialogue is realistic, and the descriptions echoed my thought process at a young age. I gain an understanding of the close relationship the boy and his mother have cultivated in the confines of a room, but am also aware of a dark undertone: "The air's always different if he came."