September 18, 2020, 10:15am
Last but certainly not least: it’s the time for fiction! The National Book Foundation has announced the ten books contending for this year’s National Book Award for Fiction. The award, created in 1950, is the most prestigious literary prize in the United States, rewarding bold and cogent writing. According to the National Book Foundation’s press release, the longlisted novels were selected from 388 books submitted by publishers from across the country; the list also includes three debut titles and one title from writer Lydia Millet, who has been previously honored by the National Book Awards.
The finalists will be revealed on October 6th, and the winners will be announced live at the virtual National Book Awards Ceremony on November 18th. A hearty congrats to all!
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2020 Longlist for the National Book Awards for Fiction
Rumaan Alam, Leave the World Behind
Christopher Beha, The Index of Self-Destructive Acts
Brit Bennett, The Vanishing Half
Randall Kenan, If I Had Two Wings
Megha Majumdar, A Burning
Lydia Millet, A Children’s Bible
Deesha Philyaw, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies
Douglas Stuart, Shuggie Bain
Vanessa Veselka, The Great Offshore Grounds
Charles Yu, Interior Chinatown