Moroccan Writer, Laila Lalami Makes The 2019 National Book Awards Long-list

Moroccan writer, Laila Lalami makes the 2019 National Book Awards long-list fiction category, for her book, “The Other Americans.”

Laila Lalami seems to be in the news of late but for the right reasons. She had earlier in the month been shortlisted for the prestigious Kirkus Prize. This time, “The Moors Account” author, makes the longlist (fiction category) for the 2019 National Book Awards.

The National Book Awards is a United States annual literary prize, awarded in five different categories ranging from; Fiction, Nonfiction, Translated Literature, Poetry and Young People’s Literature. The prize administered and presented by the National Book Foundation, honours the best literary work in each category with the National Book Awards and two lifetime achievement awards to authors.

The long-list of ten announced on the 20th of September, 2019, will be followed by a shortlist that would be announced on the 8th of October, 2019, and the winners in each category announced at a ceremony on the 29th of November, 2019.

The long-list (fiction category) as announced are;

1. Taffy Brodesser-Akner, “Fleishman Is in Trouble,” Random House / Penguin Random House.
2. Susan Choi, “Trust Exercise Henry,” Holt & Company / Macmillan Publishers.
3. Kali Fajardo-Anstine, “Sabrina & Corina: Stories,” One World / Penguin Random House.
4. Marlon James, “Black Leopard, Red Wolf,” Riverhead Books / Penguin Random House.
5. Laila Lalami, “The Other Americans,” Pantheon Books / Penguin Random House.
6. Kimberly King Parsons, “Black Light: Stories,” Vintage / Penguin Random House.
7. Helen Phillips,” The Need,” Simon & Schuster.
8. Julia Phillips, “Disappearing Earth,” Alfred A. Knopf / Penguin Random House.
9. Ocean Vuong, “On Earth we’re Briefly Gorgeous,” Penguin Press / Penguin Random House.
10. Colson Whitehead, “The Nickel Boys,” Doubleday / Penguin Random House.