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Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing

のな ばらきあん しょひょう ゆうしゅうしょう

Annual honor award established by NBCC in 1991 to recognize outstanding book reviews.

Book reviewsLiterary criticismCriticism
Established
1991
Organizer
National Book Critics Circle (NBCC)
Category
Criticism and Critical Writing
Selection Method
Selection
Target
Professional
Frequency
1 per year
Announcement Period
around March
Status
Active

Description

Annual award established in 1991 by the National Book Critics Circle (NBCC). It recognizes outstanding book review and literary criticism activities by NBCC members and is regarded as one of the most prestigious awards in the book review and criticism fields in the United States. Finalists are typically announced in January each year, and winners in March. Past recipients include George Scialabba, Parul Sehgal, Maureen Corrigan, and others.

Prize

Main Prize
Citation for excellence in reviewing (honorary commendation). No specific monetary prize has been publicly announced.

Selection

Selection Process

Candidate (finalist) selection
Judges Candidates selected by NBCC selection committee and members
Announcement Finalists are usually announced in January each year
Final selection and winner determination
Judges Final decision by NBCC board or selection committee
Announcement Winners are usually announced in March each year (announced as NBCC annual awards)

Criteria

  • Excellence in writing and critical ability
  • Unique insights and critical depth
  • Clear persuasiveness and structure for readers
  • Influence and cultural contribution as book reviews
  • Consistent high-quality criticism activities (achievements)

Application Tips

Dos

  • NBCC会員として活動し、定期的に高品質な書評を執筆する
  • 明確な論旨と独自の洞察、根拠に基づく批評を示す
  • 幅広い読書と複数媒体での執筆を通じて影響力を高める
  • 引用や事実確認を徹底し、論拠を明示する

Don''ts

  • 感情的・中傷的な攻撃に偏った批評を書くこと
  • 自己宣伝や商業的プロモーションのみを目的とした執筆
  • 断片的で一貫性のないレビューだけに頼ること

From Judges

  • 一貫した質の高さと独自性を重視する
  • 文体の明晰さと論拠の強さが評価される
  • 読者を導く明確な構成と深い洞察を示すこと

Related Awards

  • National Book Critics Circle Awards (NBCC Annual Awards)
  • Pulitzer Prize for Criticism (Pulitzer Prize for Criticism)
  • Grants and fellowships related to book reviews and literary criticism

Official Resources

https://www.bookcritics.org/awards/balakian/

Past Winners

Edition 34 (2024)
Lauren M Jackson ろーれん・えむ・じゃくそん Winner
Edition 33 (2023)
Becca Rothfeld べっか・ろすふぇるど Winner
Edition 32 (2022)
Jennifer Wilson じぇにふぁー・うぃるそん Winner
Edition 31 (2021)
Merve Emre めるゔぇ・えむれ Winner
Edition 30 (2020)
Jo Livingstone Winner
Dean Rader Nominee
Jake Cline Nominee
Rumaan Alam Nominee
Sophie Haigney Nominee
Edition 29 (2019)
Katy Waldman Winner
David Biespiel Nominee
Jo Livingstone Nominee
Wendy Smith Nominee
David L. Ulin Nominee
Edition 28 (2018)
Maureen Corrigan Winner
David Biespiel Nominee
Julia Klein Nominee
Becca Rothfeld Nominee
Wendy Smith Nominee
Edition 27 (2017)
Charles Finch Winner
David Biespiel Nominee
Maureen Corrigan Nominee
Ruth Franklin Nominee
James Marcus Nominee
Edition 26 (2016)
Michelle Dean Winner
Julia M. Klein Nominee
Christian Lorentzen Nominee
Becca Rothfeld Nominee
Leo Robson Nominee
Edition 25 (2015)
Carlos Lozada Winner
Ruth Franklin Nominee
James Parker Nominee
Roxana Robinson Nominee
Leo Robson Nominee
Edition 24 (2014)
Alexandra Schwartz Winner
Charles Finch Nominee
B. K. Fischer Nominee
Benjamin Moser Nominee
Lisa Russ Spaar Nominee
Edition 23 (2013)
Katherine A. Powers Winner
Ruth Franklin Nominee
James Marcus Nominee
Roxana Robinson Nominee
Alexandra Schwartz Nominee
Edition 22 (2012)
William Deresiewicz Winner
Abigail Deutsch Nominee
Lev Grossman Nominee
Garth Risk Hallberg Nominee
Kathryn Harrison Nominee
Edition 21 (2011)
Kathryn Schulz Winner
William Deresiewicz Nominee
Ruth Franklin Nominee
Garth Risk Hallberg Nominee
Kathryn Harrison Nominee
Edition 20 (2010)
Parul Sehgal Winner
Kathryn Harrison Nominee
Ruth Franklin Nominee
Sarah L. Courteau Nominee
William Deresiewicz Nominee
Edition 19 (2009)
Joan Acocella Winner
Donna Seaman Nominee
Michael Antman Nominee
Wendy Smith Nominee
William Deresiewicz Nominee
Edition 18 (2008)
Ron Charles Winner
Kathryn Harrison Nominee
Laila Lalami Nominee
Michael Antman Nominee
Todd Shy Nominee
Edition 17 (2007)
Sam Anderson Winner
Adam Kirsch Nominee
Brooke Allen Nominee
Ron Charles Nominee
Walter Norris Kirn Nominee
Edition 16 (2006)
Steven G. Kellman Winner
Ron Charles Nominee
Kathryn Harrison Nominee
Gideon Lewis-Kraus Nominee
Donna Rifkind Nominee
Edition 15 (2005)
Wyatt Mason Winner
Katherine Powers Nominee
Allen Barra Nominee
Carlin Romano Nominee
Edition 14 (2004)
David Orr Winner
Edition 13 (2003)
Scott McLemee Winner
Edition 12 (2002)
Maureen N. McLane Winner
Edition 11 (2001)
Michael Gorra Winner
Edition 10 (2000)
Daniel Adam Mendelsohn Winner
Edition 9 (1999)
Benjamin Schwarz Winner
Edition 8 (1998)
Albert Mobilio Winner
Edition 7 (1997)
Thomas Mallon Winner
Edition 6 (1996)
Dennis Drabelle Winner
Edition 5 (1995)
Laurie Stone Winner
Edition 4 (1994)
JoAnn C. Gutin Winner
Edition 3 (1993)
Brigitte Frase Winner
Edition 2 (1992)
Elizabeth Ward Winner
Edition 1 (1991)
George Scialabba Winner