Amidst a few technical difficulties, an awkward triumph, a few genuine tears, and a truly speechless speech, the LA Times Book Prize winners were announced last night at The Times’ Chandler Auditorium. LAT Book Editor, David Ulin, presided over the festivities and opened the ceremony with a warm welcome to “book nerds.”
LAT Book Prize Winners Announced, Graphic Novels FTW
2009 LA Times Book Prize Finalists
It's that time of year again. The LA Times Book Prize finalists have been announced and in just seven weeks, the hot, sweaty, excellent mess that is the Festival of Books will be in full swing once again.
Over the next month, we'll be taking a closer look at each category but before we dive headlong into debates over who should've been listed that isn't, who should win but won't, and what it all means for L.A.'s literary scene, let's take a look at the nominees in each category. Final book prizes will be awarded on April 23rd.
LA Times Book Prize Nominees: Soldiers & Shock Doctrines
As the LA Times Book Prize award ceremony looms ever-closer, we're taking a look at the books nominated in each category. As we mentioned yesterday, unlike other big literary awards, the LA Times Book Prize winners are never a sure thing, which is what makes following them all the more fun.
LA Times Book Prize Nominees of the Fictional Sort
There are some juicy picks - and even a few underdogs - among the nominees of the two fiction categories for the LA Times Book Prizes that will be awarded later this month. While the National Book Award often goes to the obvious front-runner and Pulitzers (go Diaz!) rarely surprise, the LA Times Book Prize winners are never a sure thing, which is what makes following them all the more fun.

