The National Book Award is celebrating its 60th annual award honoring American books. The prize is awarded to one fiction, one nonfiction, one poetry and one young adult book. This year 193 publishers submitted a total of 1,129 books for consideration by the National Book Foundation (everybody wants one).
Of course, like other literary prizes, just making the short list is an honor. Here are the 2009 National Book Award finalists by category.
Fiction:
American Salvage by Bonnie Jo Campbell
Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin
Lark and Termite by Jayne Anne Phillips
Far North by Marcel Theroux
Nonfiction:
Following the Water: A Hydromancer’s Notebook by David M. Carroll
Remarkable Creatures: Epic Adventures in the Search for the Origins of Species by Sean B. Carroll
Fordlandia: The Rise and Fall of Henry Ford’s Forgotten Jungle City by Greg Grandin
The Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome’s Deadliest Enemy by Adrienne Mayor
The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt by T.J. Stiles
Poetry:
Versed by Rae Armantrout
Or to Begin Again by Ann Lauterbach
Speak Low by Carl Phillips
Open Interval by Lyrae Van Clief-Stefanon
Transcendental Studies: A Trilogy by Keith Waldrop
Young People’s Literature:
Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligan
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose
Stitches by David Small
Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor
Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia
We are also thrilled to announce that Pulitzer Prize winner, Junot Diaz – one of our favorite authors here at the A-List – will be judging the fiction finalist. The winners will be announced on November 18th, check back here for the results!
by Gunter Grass. All are welcome.
