Words At Large

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Rawi Hage set the bar high with his debut novel, De Niro’s Game, which won the international IMPAC Award. His second book returns him to the literary limelight in a big way. Cockroach (House of Anansi) is a finalist for four Canadian prizes: the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Governor General’s Literary Award, and the Quebec Writers’ Federation Award.

Cockroach explores the lives of Middle Eastern immigrants in Montreal. The main character has to meet weekly with a therapist at a psychiatric-care facility following a suicide attempt. While reluctant to share his feelings with a stranger, the unnamed narrator is mindful of the therapist’s power to return him to the hospital. During their sessions he reveals a past plot to seek revenge on his vicious brother-in-law in Beirut.

Rawi Hage joined host Jian Ghomeshi live in Studio Q.

First aired October 30, 2008 on Q. [runs 18:00]

Coming up
The 2009 edition of Canada Reads is gearing up. Which book will you be cheering for this year? On November 25, look for the website launch, with a new line-up of celebrity panelists and five great books you won’t want to miss. In the meantime, check out the official website for a behind-the-scenes look at how the annual program is put together.