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Book Awards » National Book Critics Circle Award - Literary Fiction

Categories: General Nonfiction, Literary Fiction, Memoir / Autobiography, Biography, Criticism, Poetry, Autobiography / Biography
The National Book Critics Circle, founded in 1974, is a nonprofit organization consisting of more than 600 active book reviewers from all over the country who are interested in honoring quality writing and communicating with one another about common concerns. Each year in March, they present awards to the best books published in English in six categories: Fiction, General Nonfiction, Biography, Autobiography, Poetry, and Criticism. *In 2005 the category Autobiography/Biography was separated into Memoir/Autobiography and Biography.

2020

Hamnet
Hamnet
Author: Maggie O'Farrell
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 14


Other Versions: Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

2019

Everything Inside: Stories
Everything Inside: Stories
Author: Edwidge Danticat
  • Currently 4.3/5 Stars.
 3


Other Versions: Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback

2018

Milkman
Milkman
Author: Anna Burns
  • Currently 3.2/5 Stars.
 5


Other Versions: Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback

2017

Improvement
Improvement
Author: Joan Silber
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 3


Other Versions: Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback

2016

LaRose
LaRose
Author: Louise Erdrich
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 10


Other Versions: Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover

2014

Lila (Gilead, Bk 3)
Lila (Gilead, Bk 3)
Author: Marilynne Robinson
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 9


Other Versions: Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover

2013

Americanah
Americanah
Author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 14


Other Versions: Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Paperback

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2012

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
Author: Ben Fountain
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 10


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback

2011

Binocular Vision: New & Selected Stories
Binocular Vision: New & Selected Stories
Author: Edith Pearlman
  • Currently 4.4/5 Stars.
 4


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback

2010

A Visit from the Goon Squad
A Visit from the Goon Squad
Author: Jennifer Egan
  • Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
 86


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover

2009

Wolf Hall (Thomas Cromwell, Bk 1)
Wolf Hall (Thomas Cromwell, Bk 1)
Author: Hilary Mantel
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 81


Other Versions: Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

The Market's bargain prices are even better for Paperbackswap club members!
Retail Price: $35.00
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2008

2666
2666
Author: Roberto Bolano
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 19


Other Versions: Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover

2007

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Author: Junot Diaz
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 396


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Hardcover, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

2006

The Inheritance of Loss
The Inheritance of Loss
Author: Kiran Desai
  • Currently 3.1/5 Stars.
 325


Other Versions: Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

2005

The March
The March
Author: E. L. Doctorow
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 57


Other Versions: Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Audio Cassette, Audio CD, Paperback

2004

Gilead
Gilead
Author: Marilynne Robinson
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 313


Other Versions: Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio CD (Unabridged), Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Hardcover, Hardcover

2003

The Known World
The Known World
Author: Edward P. Jones
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 487


Other Versions: Paperback, Audio CD, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Audio Cassette (Today Show Book Club), Paperback, Audio Cassette (Today Show Book Club), Audio Cassette (Abridged)

2002

Atonement
Atonement
Author: Ian McEwan
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 899


Other Versions: Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Paperback, Audio CD (Abridged), Audio Cassette (Abridged), Audio Cassette (Abridged Edition), Audio CD, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback

2001

Austerlitz
Austerlitz
Author: Winfried Georg Sebald, Anthea Bell (Translator)
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
 19


Other Versions: Hardcover

2000

Being Dead
Being Dead
Author: Jim Crace
  • Currently 2.9/5 Stars.
 57


Other Versions: Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette

1999

Motherless Brooklyn
Motherless Brooklyn
Author: Jonathan Lethem
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 169


Other Versions: Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Hardcover, Audio Cassette (Abridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged)

1998

The Love of a Good Woman : Stories
The Love of a Good Woman : Stories
Author: Alice Munro
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 31


Other Versions: Audio CD, Hardcover, Hardcover

1997

The Blue Flower
The Blue Flower
Author: Penelope Fitzgerald
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
 43


Other Versions: Paperback, Hardcover, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio CD, Hardcover, Paperback

1996

Women in Their Beds: New and Selected Stories
Women in Their Beds: New and Selected Stories
Author: Gina Berriault
  • Currently 4.6/5 Stars.
 4


Other Versions: Hardcover

1995

Mrs. Ted Bliss (American Literature (Dalkey Archive))
Mrs. Ted Bliss (American Literature (Dalkey Archive))
Author: Stanley Elkin
  • Currently 1.5/5 Stars.
 1


Other Versions: Hardcover

1994

The Stone Diaries
The Stone Diaries
Author: Carol Shields
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 307


Other Versions: Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Audio CD (4 CDs/5 hrs), Audio CD, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio CD (Abridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

1993

A Lesson Before Dying
A Lesson Before Dying
Author: Ernest J. Gaines
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 378


Other Versions: Audio Cassette, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Audio CD, Audio Cassette (Abridged), Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

1992

All the Pretty Horses (Border, Bk 1)
All the Pretty Horses (Border, Bk 1)
Author: Cormac McCarthy
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 379


Other Versions: Paperback

1991

A Thousand Acres
A Thousand Acres
Author: Jane Smiley
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 284


Other Versions: Paperback, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Abridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover

1990

Rabbit at Rest (Harry Rabbit Angstrom, Bk 4)
Rabbit at Rest (Harry Rabbit Angstrom, Bk 4)
Author: John Updike
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 22


Other Versions: Paperback

1989

Billy Bathgate
Billy Bathgate
Author: E. L. Doctorow
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 16


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

1988

The Middleman and Other Stories
The Middleman and Other Stories
Author: Bharati Mukherjee
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 5


Other Versions: Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback

1987

The Counterlife
The Counterlife
Author: Philip Roth
  • Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
 3


Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Audio CD, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback

The Market's bargain prices are even better for Paperbackswap club members!
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1986

Kate Vaiden
Kate Vaiden
Author: Reynolds Price
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 22


Other Versions: Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback

The Market's bargain prices are even better for Paperbackswap club members!
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1985

The Accidental Tourist
The Accidental Tourist
Author: Anne Tyler
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 88


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Audio CD, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio Cassette, Audio Cassette, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Audio CD (Library)

1984

Love Medicine
Love Medicine
Author: Louise Erdrich
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 90


Other Versions: Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

1983

Ironweed
Ironweed
Author: William J. Kennedy
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 116


Other Versions: Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

1982

George Mills
George Mills
Author: Stanley Elkin
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 1


Other Versions: Paperback

1981

Rabbit is Rich (Rabbit Angstrom, Bk 3)
Rabbit is Rich (Rabbit Angstrom, Bk 3)
Author: John Updike
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 29


Other Versions: Paperback

1980

The Transit of Venus
The Transit of Venus
Author: Shirley Hazzard
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 20


Other Versions: Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback

The Market's bargain prices are even better for Paperbackswap club members!
Retail Price: $16.00
Buy New: $12.79 (save 20%) or
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1979

The Year of the French
The Year of the French
Author: Thomas Flanagan
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 3


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

1978

The Stories of John Cheever
The Stories of John Cheever
Author: John Cheever
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 9


Other Versions: Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette, Audio Cassette, Hardcover, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Abridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

1977

Song of Solomon
Song of Solomon
Author: Toni Morrison
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 301


Other Versions: Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Audio Cassette (Abridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Abridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Audio CD (Unabridged)

1976

October Light
October Light
Author: John Gardner
  ?


Other Versions: Audio Cassette, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback

1975

Ragtime
Ragtime
Author: E. L. Doctorow
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 104


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (Library), Paperback, Hardcover