God's Children Are Little Broken Things

2022 Novel by Arinze Ifeakandu
9781399606288

God's Children Are Little Broken Things was a short story collection written by Nigerian author Arinze Ifeakandu and published by A Public Space in 2022. It provides nine distinct "stories about the joys and tribulations of queer love in contemporary Nigeria".[1]

God's Children Are Little Broken Things won the 2023 Dylan Thomas Prize, as well as the inaugural Republic of Consciousness Prize.

Reception

In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews wrote that while "deftly capturing the richness and dangers of romantic connection," the stories in God's Children Are Little Broken Things "complicate and reimagine queer narratives".[1]

Publishers Weekly wrote, "An understated style reflects the characters’ tendency to avoid speaking directly about their relationships, which encourages close reading and elicits a strong sense of what it is like for the characters to endure the perils of being gay in Nigeria. The author leaves readers with a painful and powerful group portrait."[2]

Booklist also reviewed the audiobook.[3]

Awards and honors

Kirkus Reviews included God's Children Are Little Broken Things on their list of the best books of 2022.[1]

In 2022, God's Children Are Little Broken Things won the Story Prize Spotlight Award[4] and was a finalist for the Kirkus Prize.[5]

The following year, it won the Dylan Thomas Prize,[6][7][8] as well as the inaugural Republic of Consciousness Prize.[9] It was also a finalist for the CLMP Firecracker Award[10] and the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction.[11][12]

References

  1. ^ a b c "God's Children Are Little Broken Things". Kirkus Reviews. 2022-05-10. Archived from the original on 2023-07-11. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  2. ^ "God's Children Are Little Broken Things by Arinze Ifeakandu". Publishers Weekly. 2022-04-20. Archived from the original on 2022-06-27. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  3. ^ "God's Children Are Little Broken Things". Booklist. 2022-09-01. Archived from the original on 2024-01-23. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  4. ^ "TSP: God's Children Are Little Broken Things by Arinze Ifeakandu Wins The Story Prize Spotlight Award". The Story Prize. 2023-02-07. Archived from the original on 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  5. ^ Muchnick, Laurie (2022-09-07). "Here Are the 2022 Kirkus Prize Fiction Finalists". Kirkus Reviews. Archived from the original on 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  6. ^ "Arinze Ifeakandu Wins Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize 2023 For 'Exhilarating' Debut God's Children Are Little Broken Things". Swansea University. May 2023. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Awards: Dylan Thomas Winner; Indie Book Shortlists". Shelf Awareness. 2023-05-16. Archived from the original on 2023-07-05. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  8. ^ Schaub, MIchael (2023-05-11). "Winner of the 2023 Dylan Thomas Prize Is Revealed". Kirkus Reviews. Archived from the original on 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
  9. ^ "Awards: Audie, Republic of Consciousness Winners". Shelf Awareness. 2023-03-30. Archived from the original on 2023-11-20. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  10. ^ "Firecracker Awards Winners Archive". Community of Literary Magazines and Presses. Archived from the original on 2020-10-23. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  11. ^ Schaub, Michael (2023-03-15). "Lambda Literary Award Finalists Are Revealed". Kirkus Reviews. Archived from the original on 2023-03-16. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  12. ^ "2023 Lambda Award Shortlist Finalists Announced". BOOK RIOT. 2023-03-15. Archived from the original on 2023-04-28. Retrieved 2023-05-06.