Writer Olena Pshenychnaya has been awarded the Oleksandr Honchar Prize for her novel "Where the Sun Sets".

The announcement was made by the State Agency of Ukraine for Arts and Artistic Education on the birthday of Honchar, April 3.

"Where the Sun Sets" is a novel about a nursing home. The main character, Vira, is 72 years old and finds herself there because her son is volunteering in the war. The book explores the theme of aging in Ukrainian society and the acceptance of the aging process.

"Where the Sun Sets by Olena Pshenychnaya is indeed a bold text. It is bold not only because it is one of the first novels in Ukrainian literature featuring predominantly elderly characters, but also because it raises critical questions that are often left unaddressed", wrote book reviewer UP.Culture Arina Kravchenko.

Last year, "Where the Sun Sets" was recognized by the Ukrainian PEN, being included in the list of the best books of 2024. The book was published by "Laboratory" publishing house.

This year, the winner was chosen from among 36 authors. The committee members also highlighted some notable works from other candidates:

• Bashynskyi Serhii – book "Ukrainian Church: The Forbidden History"
• Nesterovych Yulianna – novel "Tale of the Red Dragon"
• Paplauksyte Maria – short story collection "The Train Arrives on Schedule: Stories of People and Railways"
• Rozumenko Valentyna – short story collection "Fierce Year of Resilience"

The Oleksandr Honchar Prize is awarded annually for the best literary works that affirm the ideals of humanism, the spiritual values of the Ukrainian people, and the ideas of Ukraine's independence.