Book People

Salinger, Bellow, Faulkner ... NOT — AP Photo/Seth Wenig

At the dinner for the 58th annual National Book Awards on Nov. 14, 2007, Fran Lebowitz,the mistress of ceremonies, suitably dressed in black tie, rattled off the names of celebrated authors -- Saul Bellow, William Faulkner, J.D. Salinger, Toni Morrison (who was there at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Manhattan) -- who had NEVER won a National Book Award.

National Book Awards -- International Subjects

Still, the awards have some meaning. Three of this year's winners(and wife of a fourth) held their prize-winning books. They will each receive a check for $10,000 and the hope that the publicity will result in a wider readership. Many of the winning books this year focused on foreign policy. The winners this year include ...

"Time And Materials"

Robert Haas won the National Book Award for Poetry for his book "Time and Materials," which includes several poems critical of the Iraq war and the Bush administration.

"Tree of Smoke"

Cindy Johnson accepted the National Book Award for fiction for "Tree of Smoke" on behalf of her husband Denis Johnson, who was on assignment in Iraq. The 600-page novel focuses on U.S. involvement in Vietnam from the day after President John F. Kennedy was shot until the early 1980s.

"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian"

Sherman Alexie accepts the National Book Award for Young People's Literature for his book "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," a semi-autobiographical story of an American Indian at an all-white high school.

"Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA"

Tim Weiner accepted the National Book Award for Non-fiction for his book "Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA." Weiner, a reporter for the New York Times, went through more than 50,000 documents and interviewed hundreds of staff of the agency for this history of its failures.

Introducing ...

Michael Cunningham, the author of such celebrated novels as "The Hours" and "Home at The End Of The World" (both of which were made into movies), was at the awards ceremony to introduce the winner of the Medal for Distinguished Contribution.

Distinguished Contribution

Joan Didion, who in 2005 won the National Book Award for non-fiction for her memoir "The Year of Magical Thinking," received the Medal for Distinguished Contribution. About Didion, Cunningham said "I cannot think of another contemporary writer who has so thoroughly shown us to ourselves." Didion talked of Norman Mailer, who had died the week before, saying that he "really knew what writing was for."

Thanks For Listening

Terry Gross of National Publi Radio's "Fresh Air" show received the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community.

The Real Bookseller of Kabul

Afghan bookseller Shah Mohammad Rais, gestures in his book shop in Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday Oct. 2, 2007. The famed bookseller of Kabul, whose family life was chronicled by a Norwegian journalist, has published a scathing response to her book, accusing her of concocting lies about him and abusing his hospitality and friendship.

Presidential Letters

Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis and his wife Kitty read letters between John Adams and his wife, Abigail, during a Massachusetts Historical Society program at Faneuil Hall in Boston Monday, Nov. 19, 2007. A new book entitled, "My Dearest Friend," is a compilation of 289 of the Adams' letters, chronicling their remarkable relationship. A statue of John Adams appears in the background.

Presidential Images

Vice President Dick Cheney and photographer David Hume Kennerly look at Kennerly's book "Extraordinary Circumstances: The Presidency of Gerald R. Ford" at a reception previewing the December 2007 release of the 232-page photo book chronicling the Ford Administration, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007, in Washington. Kennerly served as the personal photographer to President Ford and Cheney was his chief of staff.

Presidential Promotion

Former President Bill Clinton, left, thanks buyers of his book at a book signing for his latest work, "Giving," at University Book Store in Seattle, on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007.

Presidential Preview

In an excerpt from a book that will not be published for another five months, former White House press secretary Scott McClellan (shown here in his last press briefing in 2006) blames President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney for efforts to mislead the public about the role of White House aides in leaking the identity of a CIA operative.

Judicial Peeving

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, accompanied by his wife, Virginia Lamp Thomas, listen as he is introduced before speaking at the Federalist Society in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007, where he spoke about his new book, "My Grandfather's Son," and answered questions from the audience.

Slash And Learn

Guns 'N' Roses former lead guitarist Saul "Slash" Hudson signs copies of his autobiography "Slash" at Waterstones Piccadilly on November 21, 2007 in London, England.

Shearer Pointlessness

Comedian Harry Shearer discussed his new CD "Pointed and Pointless" at Book Soup in Los Angeles, Calif.

Secret Agent Reincarnated

British author Sebastian Faulks has written a new James Bond book, "Devil May Care." The book, which was authorized by the estate of the late Ian Fleming is due to come out in 2008, the centennial of Fleming's birth, according to a statement by the publisher.

Space Cadet

Actor William Shatner signed copies of his new book "Star Trek Academy Collision Course," a novel written with Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, about Jim Kirk (future Starship commander) as a teenager, at Book Soup, Nov. 20, 2007 in West Hollywood, Calif.

The End Of Easy

Author Walter Mosley is shown in New York, Oct. 22, 2007. When Mosley's "Blonde Faith" is published, it will be a farewell to his lead character Easy Rawlins. "I've got other things to write," Mosley says. "I've written 3,000 pages of Easy Rawlins. If you really miss him, go back and reread."