Audiobook Café

Pick a Colour: In Conversation with Giller Prize Winner Souvankham Thammavongsa

Episode Summary

Souvankham Thammavongsa is the 2025 Giller Prize winner for her book “Pick a Colour,” an intimate novel following a nail salon owner as she works for privileged clients who don't even know her true name. Audiobook Café host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Souvankham to learn why she chose a nail salon as the primary setting for her book and to discuss why she deliberately chose to make a plotless story driven by voice and character. This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.

Episode Notes

Souvankham Thammavongsa is the 2025 Giller Prize winner for her book “Pick a Colour,” an intimate novel following a nail salon owner as she works for privileged clients who don't even know her true name. 
Audiobook Café host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Souvankham to learn why she chose a nail salon as the primary setting for her book and to discuss why she deliberately chose to make a plotless story driven by voice and character. 
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.