Camilla Gibb
Camilla Gibb
A Canadian novelist and non-fiction writer known for her thought-provoking works.
Full Name and Common Aliases
Camilla Gibb was born in 1968 in London, England, to a Canadian family. She is also known as Camilla Campbell-Gibb.
Birth and Death Dates
Born: 1968
Died: (no date specified)
Nationality and Profession(s)
Nationality: Canadian
Profession: Novelist, Non-fiction writer
Camilla Gibb's writing career spans over two decades, with a focus on novels and non-fiction works that explore themes of identity, culture, and human relationships.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in Canada to a family with Scottish and Irish roots, Camilla Gibb was surrounded by stories and traditions from her heritage. Her exposure to diverse cultures and experiences would later influence her writing style and subject matter. After completing her education, she pursued a career in writing, determined to share her unique perspective with readers.
Major Accomplishments
Throughout her career, Camilla Gibb has received numerous awards and nominations for her work. Her most notable accomplishments include:
Winner of the Governor General's Award for English-language fiction
For her novel "Mister Brightside" (2002), which explores themes of identity, belonging, and social class.
Shortlisted for the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize
For her novel "This Is Happy" (2016), a poignant exploration of love, loss, and human connection.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Camilla Gibb's notable works include:
Mister Brightside (2002)
A coming-of-age story that delves into the complexities of identity, belonging, and social class.
This Is Happy (2016)
A novel that navigates themes of love, loss, and human connection in a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition.
Impact and Legacy
Camilla Gibb's writing has had a significant impact on readers worldwide. Her works often serve as a catalyst for reflection, encouraging readers to consider their own experiences and perspectives. Through her writing, she continues to inspire new generations of writers and thinkers.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Camilla Gibb is widely quoted and remembered for her thought-provoking works that resonate with readers on a deep level. Her ability to capture the complexities of human experience through her writing has cemented her place as a prominent voice in contemporary literature.
Quotes by Camilla Gibb
It is harder in many ways to live in the middle than at the edges. Much harder to interpret as you see fit, because then you have no assurance you are doing right in the eyes of God, no confidence you will be rewarded in the afterlife.
In order to know someone who is at some level unknowable, you must leave yourself wide open. If you don’t, you foreclose the possibility of learning something critical about this person you need, your parent, the person upon whom your survival depends. It’s like time-lapse photography; your lens at maximum aperture in order to capture something fleeting and elusive. The problem becomes one of calibration. How to protect yourself in the process. How to capture something without going blind.
I never expected to be happy, to have a sense of belonging somewhere. I didn’t grow up with a sense that this was possible or even desirable. I’m quite sure my parents didn’t either, so I come by this honestly.
Writing made it tolerable to be human in a way nothing else ever had. It gave me a place to thrive, to exorcise, to cultivate some understanding of aspects of being human that were otherwise confounding.
If someone eliminates the obstacles you believe to be in front of you, then you have no choice but to try. Fail spectacularly, if you will, but try.
But that is the thing about miracles: it is perception that determines them as such, not facts.
It is his absence that is part of me and has been for years. This is who I am, perhaps who we all are, keepers of the absent and the dead. It is the blessing and burden of being alive.
She asked me if Christmas was a particularly tense time and whether my father had ever hit my mother while trimming the tree. I couldn't remember anything like that happening, and although it seemed possible, I was suspicious when she asked me if my father had ever thrust the silver star at my mother to deliberately pierce her hand. I said "no" and she said "the bastard" and we both looked a little confused. (p. 9)