2023 Awards Finalists

There are so MANY literary awards. It can be easy to forget about some of the smaller or more niche honors amidst the big ones like the National Book Awards and the Nobel Prize for Fiction. So, we took this opportunity to showcase some of the award finalists in our collection from some of those less well-known literary prizes.

2023 Award Finalists in the NLS Collection:

BIRNAM WOOD by Eleanor Catton (DB 115924)
2023 Kirkus Prize Finalist for Fiction
DEMON COPPERHEAD by Barbara Kingsolver (DB 110786, LB 14284)
2023 Women’s Prize for Fiction Finalist
EXTRAORDINARY DEATHS OF MRS. KIP by Sara Brunsvold (DB 110658)
2023 Christy Award Finalist for First Novel
FACTORY GIRLS by Michelle Gallen (DB 115059)
2023 Encore Award Finalist for Fiction
HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE by James McBride (DB 115655)
2023 Kirkus Prize Finalist for Fiction
HIDDEN PRINCE by Tessa Afshar (DB 111756)
2023 Christy Award Finalist for Historical Novel
HOW NOT TO KILL YOURSELF: A PORTRAIT OF A SUICIDAL MIND by Clancy Martin (DB 114679)
2023 Kirkus Prize Finalist for Nonfiction
IF I SURVIVE YOU by Jonathan Escoffery (DB 110662, BR 24735)
2023 Booker Prize Finalist
JOAO BY A THREAD by Roger Mello (DB 113457, BR 24950)
2023 Kirkus Prize Finalist for Younger Readers
JULIA AND THE SHARK by Kiran Millwood Hargrave (DB 114633)
2023 Kirkus Prize Finalist for Middle Grades
LAST SUMMER ON STATE STREET by Toya Wolfe (DB 109023)
2023 PEN Open Award Finalist
MARRIAGE PORTRAIT by Maggie O’Farrell (DB 110129, BR 24589, LB 14174)
2023 Women’s Prize in Fiction Finalist
MASTER SLAVE HUSBAND WIFE: AN EPIC JOURNEY FROM SLAVERY TO FREEDOM by Ilyon Woo (DB 112758)
2023 Kirkus Prize Finalist for Nonfiction
MR. B: GEORGE BALANCHINE’S 20TH CENTURY by Jennifer Homans (DB 111898)
2023 Kirkus Prize Finalist for Nonfiction
SHUTTER by Ramona Emerson (DB 112989)
2023 PEN Open Award Finalist
SOUND OF LIGHT by Sarah Sundin (DB 113572)
2023 Christy Award Finalist for Historical Romance
THIS OTHER EDEN by Paul Harding (DB 113243, BR 24845)
2023 Booker Prize Finalist
TO WIN A PRINCE by Toni Shiloh (DB 110386 IN PROCESS)
2023 Christy Award Finalist for Contemporary Romance
TRESPASSES by Louise Kennedy (DB 114416)
2023 Women’s Prize for Fiction Finalist
WONDERLAND TRIALS by Sara Ella (DB 112298)
2023 Christy Award Finalist for Young Adults

For more information on:

The Booker Prize www.thebookerprizes.com/booker-prize/about-the-booker-prize
The Christy Awards: www.christyawards.com/index.html
The Encore Awards: www.rsliterature.org/the-encore-award/
The Kirkus Awards: www.kirkusreviews.com/prize/
The PEN Open Book Award: www.pen.org/pen-open-book-award/
The Women’s Prize for Fiction: www.womensprizeforfiction.co.uk/

National Book Award Nominees 2023

The National Book Awards were established in 1950 to celebrate the best writing in America. Since 1989, they have been overseen by the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to celebrate the best literature in America, expand its audience, and ensure that books have a prominent place in American culture. Although other categories have been recognized in the past, the Awards currently honor the best Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature published each year.

For more information on the National Book Awards: https://www.nationalbook.org/

The longlist of nominees were announced on September 13-15, the finalists were chosen on October 3, and the winners will be selected on November 15, 2023.

The nominees for this year’s National Book Awards in the TBP Collection:

Fiction

THIS OTHER EDEN by Paul Harding (DB 113243, BR 24845 IN PROCESS)
LOOT by Tania James (DB 115153 IN PROCESS)
CHAIN-GANG ALL STARS by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (DB 114336)

Nonfiction

REDISCOVERY OF AMERICA: NATIVE PEOPLES AND THE UNMAKING OF U.S. HISTORY by Ned Blackhawk (DB 115217 IN PROCESS)
KING: A LIFE by Jonathan Eig (DB 115189)
LILIANA’S INVINCIBLE SUMMER: A SISTER’S SEARCH FOR JUSTICE by Cristina Rivera Garza (DB 115091)
ORDINARY NOTES by Christina Elizabeth Sharpe (DB 114934 IN PROCESS)
FIRE WEATHER: A TRUE STORY FROM A HOTTER WORLD by John Valliant (IN PROCESS)
I SAW DEATH COMING: A HISTORY OF TERROR AND SURVIVAL IN THE WAR AGAINST RECONSTRUCTION by Kidada E. Williams (DB 114200 IN PROCESS)

Translated Literature

THIS IS NOT MIAMI by Fernanda Melchor
Translated from the Spanish by Sophie Hughes (IN PROCESS)
ABYSS by Pilar Quintana
Translated from the Spanish by Lisa Dillman (DB 115593 IN PROCESS)

Poetry

HOW TO COMMUNICATE: POEMS by John Lee Clark (DB 113879 IN PROCESS, BR 24891 IN PROCESS)
PROMISES OF GOLD / PROMESAS DE ORO by José Olivarez (DB 114551 IN PROCESS)

Young People’s Literature

SIMON SORT OF SAYS by Erin Bow (DB 113782)
FORGET ME NOT by Alyson Derrick (DB 115486 IN PROCESS)

Lariat Adult Fiction Reading List 2023

Since 2009, the Texas Library Association has created a list that highlights outstanding fiction published during the year that merits special attention from adult readers. This list is the Lariat Adult Fiction Reading List. Here are the items from the 2023 list that are in the TBP collection.

For More Information: https://txla.org/tools-resources/reading-lists/lariat/current-list/

BLACK CAKE by Charmaine Wilkerson (DB 106558, BR 24489, LB 13604)
BOOK LOVERS by Emily Henry (DB 107926, BR 24476, LB 13928)
CARRIE SOTO IS BACK by Taylor Jenkins Reid (DB 109886)
CITY ON FIRE by Don Winslow (LB 14102)
HACIENDA by Isabel Canas (DB 107997)
HESTER by Laurie Lico Albanese (DB 110506)
HIGH HOUSE by Jessie Greengrass (DB 109138)
IONA IVERSON’S RULES FOR COMMUTING by Clare Pooley (DB 108652)
LAST SUMMER ON STATE STREET by Toya Wolfe (DB 109023)
LINCOLN HIGHWAY by Amor Towels (DB 105197, LB 13514)
MAID by Nita Prose (DB 106298, LB 13614)
MANY DAUGHTERS OF AFONG MOY by Jamie Ford (DB 109598)
MERCURY PICTURES PRESENTS by Anthony Marra (DB 109568, LB 14036)
MURDER OF MR. WICKHAM by Claudia Gray (DB 107945)
PARIS APARTMENT by Lucy Foley (DB 107433, LB 13618)
REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt (DB 107924, LB 24204)
SEA OF TRANQUILITY by Emily St. John Mandel (DB 107705, BR 24500, LB 13744)
THIS TIME TOMORROW by Emma Straub (DB 108110, BR 24331, LB 14019)
TOMORROW AND TOMORROW AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin (DB 109032, LB 14018)
TWO NIGHTS IN LISBON by Chris Pavone (DB 108663)
WEST WITH GIRAFFES by Lynda Rutledge (DB 102687, BR 24571)
WHAT MOVES THE DEAD by T. Kingfisher (DB 109294)

GoodReads 2022 Choice Awards Announced

The social cataloging website for book lovers, Goodreads, has just announced their readers’ Choice Awards for 2022. The Texas Talking Book Program has a number of them in our collection.

Are you looking for something scary? Goodreads members chose HIDDEN PICTURES by Jason Rekulak (DB 108427) as their favorite horror book for this past year.

Or are you more interested in non-fiction? ATLAS OF THE HEART by Brene Brown (DB 106540, LB 13602) was chosen as the best non-fiction book.

  Perhaps you’ve had a busy holiday season and don’t want to tackle an entire novel. Goodreads readers declared CALL US WHAT WE CARRY by Amanda Gorman (DB 106426, LB 13601) as the best poetry collection.

No matter which genre you enjoy, the bibliophiles at Goodreads have chosen a favorite book published this year. Contact us and we can help you find your next favorite book.

For more information: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-fiction-books-2022


National Book Award Nominees 2022

The National Book Awards were established in 1950 to celebrate the best writing in America. Since 1989, they have been overseen by the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to celebrate the best literature in America, expand its audience, and ensure that books have a prominent place in American culture. Although other categories have been recognized in the past, the awards currently honor the best Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature published each year. For more information on the National Book Awards: https://www.nationalbook.org/

The finalists were chosen on October 4, and the winners will be selected on November 16, 2022.

The nominees for this year’s National Book Award in the TBP Collection:

Fiction

RABBIT HUTCH
Gunty, Tess
DB 109788 IN PRIOCESS

Nonfiction

INVISIBLE KINGDOM: REIMAGINING CHRONIC ILLNESS
O’Rourke, Meghan
DB 107431
SOUTH TO AMERICA
Perry, Imani
DB 106806; LB 13589
HIS NAME IS GEORGE FLOYD: ONE MAN’S LIFE AND THE STRUGGLE FOR RACIAL JUSTICE
Samuels, Robert
DBC 26540; LB 14083
LOST & FOUND: A MEMOIR
Schulz, Kathryn
LB 13617

Translated Literature

SEASONS OF PURGATORY
Mandanipour, Shahriar
Translated from the Persian by Sara Khalili
DB 109146 IN PROCESS
WHERE YOU COME FROM
Stanišić, Saša
Translated from the German by Damion Searls
DB 107753

Young People’s Literature

LIFE AND CRIMES OF HOODIE ROSEN
Blum, Isaac
IN PROCESS
SELF-MADE BOYS: A GREAT GATSBY REMIX
McLemore, Anna-Marie
IN PROCESS
ALL MY RAGE: A NOVEL
Tahir, Sabaa
DB 107414
MAIZY CHEN’S LAST CHANCE
Yee, Lisa
DB 106799

Women’s Prize for Fiction Longlist 2022

Since 1996, the Women’s Prize for Fiction honors books written in English by women. Six books were named as short list titles on April 27, and the winner was announced June 15. We’ve placed it first, but included the rest of the books that were selected as finalists because they are all truly wonderful reads.

For more information: https://womensprizeforfiction.co.uk/features/features/news/announcing-the-womens-prize-2022-longlist

Here are the finalists for 2022 that are in the TBP collection.

BOOK OF FORM AND EMPTINESS by Ruth Ozeki (DB 105146)
BULD YOUR HOUSE AROUND MY BODY: A NOVEL by Violet Kupersmith (DB 104783)
GREAT CIRCLE by Maggie Shipstead (DB 103266, LB 13435)
FINAL REVIVAL OF OPAL & NEV by Dawnie Walton (DB 102932)
ISLAND OF MISSING TREES by Elif Shafak (DB 106690)
PAPER PALACE by Miranda Cowley Heller (DB 104340)
SENTENCE: A NOVEL by Louise Erdrich (DB 105798)

LAMBDA Award Finalists 2022

Since 1988, the Lambda Literary Awards, or the Lammys, have been awarded to the best lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender writing. The winners were announced on June 11. Here are the finalists for 2022 that are in the TBP collection.

2022 Lambda Literary Award Finalists – Lambda Literary

Lesbian Fiction

HOW TO WRESTLE A GIRL: STORIES by Venita Blackburn (DB 106092)
MATRIX by Lauren Groff (DB 104843, BR 23948, LB 13522)
FIVE WOUNDS by Kirstin Valdez Quade (DB 103802)

Gay Fiction

LADRILLEROS by Selva Almada (IN PROCESS)

Bisexual Fiction

MILK FED: A NOVEL by Melissa Broder (DB 103078)
MONSTER IN THE MIDDLE by Tiphanie Yanique (DB 105660)

Transgender Nonfiction

DETRANSITION BABY by Torrey Peters (DB 101806)
SHE WHO BECAME THE SUN by Shelley Parker-Chan (DB 104810)

Lesbian Memoir/Biography

WHY LABELLE MATTERS by Adele Bertei (IN PROCESS)

Gay Memoir/Biography

PUNCH ME UP TO THE GODS by Brian Brammer (DB 106011)

LGBTQ Young Adult

HANI AND ISHU’S GUIDE TO FAKE DATING by Adiba Jaigirdar (DB 105388)
CITY BEAUTIFUL by Aden Polydoros (DB 106736, BR 24088)
PASSING PLAYBOOK by Isaac Fitzsimons (DB 105272)

Nebula Awards Finalists 2022

Since 1965, the Nebula Awards were established by the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) in order to create an annual anthology of the best stories of the year. The finalists were announced March 8. The winners will be announced May 21.

https://nebulas.sfwa.org/sfwa-announces-the-56th-annual-nebula-award-finalists/

Here are the finalists for 2022 that are in the TBP collection.

NOVEL


UNBROKEN 
CLARK, C.L.
Soldier Touraine and her company are sent to quell a rebellion in her homeland. Meanwhile, Luca seeks someone who can sway the rebels to peace while Luca focuses on dethroning her uncle. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.
DB 102840
 
MASTER OF DJINN
CLARK, P. DJELI
An agent with the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, Fatma el-Sha’arawi investigates the murder of a secret brotherhood. The murderer claims to be the long-missing al-Jahiz, a man who opened the veil to the magical realms forty years prior. Some violence, some strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 2021.
DB 103858
 
MACHINEHOOD
DIVYA, S.B.
Humanity is increasingly dependent on designer pills to enhance performance and maintain health. New terrorist group the Machinehood attacks several major pill funders with operatives that are part human and part machine. After a client is killed in front of her, bodyguard Welga is pulled in to help fight the Machinehood. Strong language, some violence, and some descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 2021.
DB 104112
 
DESOLATION CALLED PEACE
MARTINE, ARKADY
An alien armada lurks on the edges of Teixcalaanli space, refusing to communicate. Running out of options, Fleet Captain Nine Hibiscus sends Mahit Dzmare and Three Seagrass as a diplomatic envoy. Sequel to A Memory Called Empire (DB 94528). Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.
DB 102760

NOVELLA

PSALM FOR THE WILD-BUILT
CHAMBERS, BECKY
Centuries ago, the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and disappeared into the wilderness. When Sibling Dex, a tea monk, meets Splendid Speckled Mosscap, a robot, they are the first person to encounter a robot in years. Dex and Mosscap travel through the woods together, engaging in philosophical conversation. Strong language. Commercial audiobook. 2021.
DB 104764; BR 24116
 
FIREHEART TIGER
BODARD, ALIETTE DE
Princess Thanh returns to her mother’s court after years as a political hostage. In her new role as a diplomat, she crosses paths with her first love, Eldris. But Eldris wants more than romance–he has plans for Thanh’s home as well. 2021.
DB 103041; BR 23679
 
SUN-DAUGHTERS, SEA-DAUGHTERS
OGDEN, AIMEE
In this space opera reimagining of “The Little Mermaid,” gene-edited human clans have scattered throughout the galaxy, adapting to their new environments. The daughter of a Sea-Clan lord sparks a war when she rejects her people by choosing her land-dwelling love. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2021.
DB 104380; BR 23760

THE ANDRE NORTON NEBULA AWARD FOR MIDDLE GRADE AND YOUNG ADULT FICTION

VICTORIES GREATER THAN DEATH
ANDERS, CHARLIE JANE
Tired of hiding in obscurity on Earth, Tina, the human clone of a brilliant alien tactician, pursues her destiny in space. But success is elusive until Tina and her best friend Rachael assemble a ragtag crew and set out to save all the worlds. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers. 2021.
DB 102993
 
REDEMPTOR
IFUEKO, JORDAN
Contending with the lives of her loved ones in danger, assassination attempts, and a new stranger she can’t entirely trust, Empress Redemptor Tarisai must decide if she is willing to die for justice–or to live for it. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers. 2021.
DB 105200

SNAKE FALLS TO EARTH
LITTLE BADGER, DARCIE
Nina, a Lipan Apache, lives in the real world and still believes in the old stories. Oli, a cottonmouth snake boy, lives in the Reflecting World. But a catastrophic event on Earth, and a strange sickness that befalls Oli’s best friend, drive their worlds together in ways they haven’t been in centuries. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers. 2021.
DB 106018
 
ROOT MAGIC
ROYCE, EDEN
Wadmalaw, South Carolina. Eleven-year-old twins Jezebel and Jay begin lessons in rootwork for healing and protection. As they train, they face threats from the local police deputy, school bullies, and others. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6. 2021.
DB 106014
 

LAMBDA Award Finalists 2020

Since 1988, the Lambda Literary Awards, or the Lammys, have been awarded to the best lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender writing. Here are the finalists for 2020 that are in the TBP collection.

Lesbian Fiction

Cantoras

Carolina De Robertis

DB 96434

Mostly Dead Things

Kristen Arnett

DB 95794

On Swift Horses

Shannon Pufahl

DB 97348

Patsy

Nicole Dennis-Benn

DB 96109

Red at the Bone

Jacqueline Woodson

DB 96652

Stay and Fight

Madeline Ffitch

DB 97166

Gay Fiction

Animalia

Jean-Baptiste Del Amo

Translated from the French by Frank Wynne

DB 97193

In West Mills

De’Shawn Charles Winslow

DB 96796

Lot: Stories

Bryan Washington

DB 94624

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous

Ocean Vuong

DB 95459

Bisexual Fiction

Big Familia: A Novel

Tomas Moniz

DB 98290 IN PROCESS

The Man Who Saw Everything

Deborah Levy

DB 97314

The Remainder

Alia Trabucco Zerán

Translated by Sophie Hughes

DB 98268 IN PROCESS

Transgender Nonfiction

Real Queer America: LGBT Stories from Red States

Samantha Allen

DB 96338

LGBTQ Nonfiction

In the Dream House: A Memoir

Carmen Maria Machado

DB 97881

When Brooklyn Was Queer: A History

Hugh Ryan

DB 95686

National Book Award Nominees 2019

National Book Award Longlist Logo
National Book Award Longlist Logo

The National Book Awards were established in 1950 to celebrate the best writing in America. Since 1989, they have been overseen by the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to celebrate the best literature in America, expand its audience, and ensure that books have a prominent place in American culture. Although other categories have been recognized in the past, the Awards currently honors the best Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature published each year. For more information on the National Book Awards: https://www.nationalbook.org/

The finalists will be chosen on October 8th and the winners will be selected on November 13th, 2009.

The nominees for this year’s National Book Award in the TBP Collection:

Fiction

FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE
BRODESSER-AKNER, TAFFY
DB 95416

TRUST EXERCISE
CHOI, SUSAN
DB 94561

BLACK LEOPARD, RED WOLF
JAMES, MARLON
DB 93771

OTHER AMERICANS
LALAMI, LAILA
DB 94629; BR 22697 IN PROCESS

NEED
PHILLIPS, HELEN
DB 96164

DISAPPEARING EARTH
PHILLIPS, JULIA
DB 95554; LB 11258

ON EARTH WE’RE BRIEFLY GORGEOUS
VUONG, OCEAN
DB 95459

NICKEL BOYS
WHITEHEAD, COLSON
DB 95925

Nonfiction

THICK: AND OTHER ESSAYS
COTTOM, TRESSIE MCMILLAN
DB 93913

WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD IS TRUE: A MEMOIR OF WITNESS AND RESISTANCE
FORCHE, CAROLYN
DB 94625

SAY NOTHING: A TRUE STORY OF MURDER AND MEMORY IN NORTHERN IRELAND
KEEFE, PATRICK RADDEN
DB 94329; LB 11261

HEARTBEAT OF WOUNDED KNEE: NATIVE AMERICA FROM 1890 TO THE PRESENT
TREUER, DAVID
DB 93988

SOLITARY: UNBROKEN BY FOUR DECADES IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT: MY STORY OF TRANSFORMATION AND HOPE
WOODFOX, ALBERT
DB 94597

Poetry

DEAF REPUBLIC: POEMS
KAMINSKY, ILYA
DB 94920; BR 22694

Translated Literature

MEMORY POLICE
OGAWA, YOKO
DB 95999

DRIVE YOUR PLOW OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD
TOKARCZUK, OLGA
DB 96156

Young People’s Literature

UNDEFEATED
ALEXANDER, KWAME
BR 22617

SHOUT: A POETRY MEMOIR
ANDERSON, LAURIE HALSE
DB 94454; LB 11417

PATRON SAINTS OF NOTHING
RIBAY, RANDY
DB 96003

1919: THE YEAR THAT CHANGED AMERICA
SANDLER, MARTIN W.
DB 94368