A popular book written by Canadian author and journalist Omar El Akkad has been named as a finalist for the National Book Award in the United States this year. The National Book Award, which is worth $10,000 USD, is given by the National Book Foundation to recognize outstanding books across various genres such as fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translated literature, and young people’s literature.
Titled “One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This,” the book represents El Akkad’s first venture into nonfiction. The author, who is of Egyptian-Canadian descent and currently resides in Portland, Oregon, shared a poignant statement on social media following the events in Gaza in 2023, expressing his belief that eventually, everyone will condemn such atrocities when it is safe to do so.
Expanding on his social media post, “One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This” delves into El Akkad’s reflections on truth, justice, privilege, and morality. The book offers a deep exploration of these themes, drawing from the author’s personal insights.
The National Book Foundation recently unveiled the finalists across five competitive categories, with five nominees in each. Among the fiction finalists is Megha Majumdar with her novel “A Guardian and a Thief,” following her well-received debut, “A Burning,” in 2020. The fiction category also features works by authors like Rabhi Alameddine, Karen Russell, Ethan Rutherford, and Bryan Washington, each offering unique settings and narratives.
In the nonfiction category, Yiyun Li’s “Things in Nature Merely Grow,” a poignant account of her experience losing her two sons to suicide, stands out as a finalist. Other nonfiction works in contention include Julia Ioffe’s exploration of Russian feminism in “Motherland,” Claudia Rowe’s “Wards of the State,” and Jordan Thomas’ “When It All Burns,” each offering distinct perspectives and stories.
The winners of the National Book Award will be announced during a gala event on November 19 in downtown Manhattan. Additionally, special recognition will be given to fiction writer George Saunders and author-publisher Roxane Gay during the ceremony.
