Winner! - Natasha and Other Stories
by David Bezmozgis
HarperCollins Publishers
The Bermans—Bella, Roman, and their son, Mark—are Russian Jews who fled the Riga of Brezhnev for Toronto, the city of their dreams. Natasha and Other Stories is the chronicle of their search for a better life, as they struggle to fit into a foreign urban landscape. In "Tapka," a six-year-old Mark's cocky game that brings about the near death of a neighbour's beloved dog turns into a tragic-comedy of life lessons learned. And in "Natasha," the title story, a teenage Mark faces a stark, comical, and ultimately searing introduction to first love at the experienced hands of his 14-year-old cousin Natasha, an immigrant from the new Russia. Told through Mark's eyes, these are stories filled with heart, verve, and consequence. Often funny and always wise, this much-celebrated collection captures the immigrant experience with striking wit and deep sympathy.
David Bezmozgis
David Bezmozgis emigrated with his parents from Latvia to Toronto in 1980. He received an Honours Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from McGill University and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California. His writing has appeared in publications such as Harper's, The New Yorker and The Walrus and has been anthologized in Best American Short Stories, 2005. His first book, Natasha and Other Stories won the 2005 Canadian Jewish Book Award and the 2005 Danuta Gleed Award, and was shortlisted for both the Governor General's Award and the Guardian First Book Prize. Natasha has been translated into 12 languages. David Bezmozgis lives in Toronto.
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2005 short list:
