Finalists named for L.A. Times Book Prizes

Christopher Hitchens, Patti Smith, Jonathan Franzen, Laura Hillenbrand and Michael Lewis (plus others) are on the list of finalists for the 2010 Los Angeles Times Book Prizes. The winners will be announced April 29 at the Times building. The Robert Kirsch Award for significant contribution to American letters will be presented to Beverly Cleary, and she's the first children's book author to receive it.