World Literary Awards

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Lisa O'Donnell

リサ・オドネル

Risa O'Donnell

Profile

Gender
Female
Nationality
British
Languages
English

Career

Occupations
novelist
Active Years
2012-

Awards

Commonwealth Book Prize
2013
Work: The Death of Bees
Organization: Commonwealth Foundation
Result: winner
Alex Award
2014
Work: The Death of Bees
Organization: American Library Association (YALSA)
Result: winner
Anobii First Book Award (nominated)
2012
Work: The Death of Bees
Organization: Anobii / Edinburgh Book Festival (related)
Result: nominated

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Death of Bees

2013 Literary fiction 304 pages

After discovering the bodies of their parents, sisters Marnie and Nelly bury them instead of reporting the deaths to avoid being taken into care. Their lie is initially accepted because the parents were regarded as unreliable addicts. The truth is eventually uncovered by their neighbour Lennie, and the novel explores the girls' trauma, family secrets and the effects of loss on the community.

familygriefsecrecyabusecommunity response

Bibliography

  • The Death of Bees
  • Closed Doors

Style & Themes

Literary Style
multiple viewpointspresent-tense narrationrealist prose
Recurring Motifs
death and lossfamily secretsisolation

Legacy

The Death of Bees received generally positive reviews and won the 2013 Commonwealth Book Prize, earning international recognition. It is regarded as a notable debut for its sensitive portrayal of marginalized characters.

Quotes

  • Hard to put down.
    Source: The Herald (review) (2012)

Trivia

  • Debut novel The Death of Bees was published in 2013.
  • The Death of Bees won the 2013 Commonwealth Book Prize.
  • The work received an Alex Award in 2014.
  • Nominated for the Anobii First Book Award in 2012.