Souvankham Thammavongsa is a Laotian-Canadian poet and author. In 2019, she won an O. Henry Award for her short story "Slingshot", and in 2020 her short story collection How to Pronounce Knife won the Giller Prize.
Original publication
2026
Average rating
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Opening Excerpt
From the storyAfter he left, I said to my friend, “I like him. Is he single?” My friend said he’d never mentioned a partner.
Story Vibe & Style Profile
Emotional Weight
2.4 / 5
Reflective
Narrative Pacing
2.4 / 5
Deliberate
Literary Style
1.1 / 5
Direct & Minimalist
Speculative / Reality
1.6 / 5
Realistic / Mimetic
Appearances
The New Yorker
The New Yorker March 30, 2026 · Mar 30, 2026
About the Author
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