Paulien Cornelisse has published her book this year The Confused Guinea Pig – Back in the office won the NS audience award. With a quarter of the votes, the writer managed to leave the other five nominees behind her. After three previous nominations for And then something else (2012), predecessor The confused guinea pig (2016) and Language for fun (2019), Cornelisse wins the largest audience award for books in the Netherlands for the first time.
In the prize-winning book, Cornelisse describes the life of a guinea pig who works in the communications department of an office. “They’ll be here soon… clueless about. Confused,” Cornelisse said NRC about the choice of the animal as the main character. “That you think, oh dear, life isn’t easy either (…) Maybe guinea pig lovers think I’m crazy, but with guinea pigs I have the feeling that life happens to them.”
The CPNB, organizer of the prize, praises Cornelisse for her humor. Director Eveline Aendekerk: “[Cornelisse laat ons] not only laughing at office life, but also at ourselves. She knows how to comfort, excite and connect the reader – exactly what a good writer does.”
Cornelisse, who wins, among other things, a cash prize of 7,500 euros, says in response to the win that she is “happy and proud”. “And I think it’s fantastic that Dutch readers have chosen a soft power like Cavia.”
The other nominations were Loaded house by Christien Brinkgreve, The nomad from Anya Niewierra, The house with the palm by Esther Verhoef, Elevators to heaven by Lex Paleaux and Mr. Putmans sees the light by Hendrik Groen.
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Paulien Cornelisse about her new book: ‘With guinea pigs I have the feeling that life happens to them’
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