Kudakwashe Rutendo talks about deliberate word choice in Shut Up You're Pretty

A collection of linked short stories,Ta Mutonji'sShut Up You're Prettyis a master class of simple language that packs a punch an aspect of the book that champion Kudakwashe Rutendo wanted to highlight on the final day of Canada Reads2024.

• Read an excerpt fromShut Up You're Prettynow

To Rutendo,Shut Up You're Pretty's craft is in its simplicity of language.

"Speaking to Ta, she told me about her deliberate choice to choose everyday words so that people from every community, with all access to the various resources that communities have, can still read this book, can still derive meaning from this book," said Rutendo.

She calls back to one of the short stories in the book, This Is Only Temporary,in which Darnell, a young Black man, is killed.

To describe how people perceive him, the story uses the phrase 'we heard that,' at the beginning of many successive sentences.

"It's saying all the stuff that media perpetrates about the Black community," said Rutendo.

"Andat the end of that chapter, ittold us who Darnell really is. And you get thatimmediacy,the potency of seeing how Black young men are illustrated in the media. And then you get it in that artful, literary way and in a way that is accessible because the word choice was deliberate to make sure that the everyday reader could access it."

You get that immediacy, the potency of seeing how Black young men are illustrated in the media. And then you get it in that artful, literary way and in a way that is accessible.- Kudakwashe Rutendo

The 2024Canada Readscontenders are:

• Athlete and CBC Sports contributor Dallas Soonias championsBad Creeby Jessica Johns
• Former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi championsDenison Avenueby Christina Wong & Daniel Innes
• Fashion influencer Mirian Njoh championsMeet Me at the Lakeby Carley Fortune
• Actor Kudakwashe Rutendo championsShut Up You're Prettyby Ta Mutonji
• Author Heather O'Neill championsThe Futureby Catherine Leroux, translated by Susan Ouriou

Catch up on the 2024Canada Readsdebates

If you missed out onthe debates, here's where you can check them out and seewho won!

WATCH:The Finale,Day Three,Day Two,Day One

LISTEN:The Finale,Day Three,Day Two,Day One