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The finalists announced Monday for National Book Critics Circle awards for the best books of 2014 include two prominent local journalists. Well, Hector Tobar was local until he recently relocated to Oregon from the Los Angeles Times. His latest book, "Deep Down Dark: The Untold Stories of 33 Men Buried in a Chilean Mine, and the Miracle that Set Them Free,” is one of five finalists in the nonfiction category of the awards, which the New York Times story notes "is one of the most prestigious American literary awards."
Miriam Pawel's latest book, “The Crusades of Cesar Chavez,” is a finalist in the biography category. Pawel is the former LA Times California editor who wrote a previous book about the United Farm Workers union.
The National Book Critics Circle award finalists and winners are selected by the group's 24-member board of directors. Los Angeles Times books reporter and reviewer Carolyn Kellogg is a member of the board. Before Tobar left the Times in September, he was her colleague in the books section.
The winners in all six categories will be announced March 12 at the New School in New York City. Full list at the NYT.
