The Upcoming
  • Cinema & Tv
    • Movie reviews
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Show reviews
  • Music
    • Live music
  • Food & Drinks
    • News & Features
    • Restaurant & bar reviews
    • Interviews & Recipes
  • Theatre
  • Art
  • Travel & Lifestyle
  • Literature
  • Fashion & Beauty
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureNew York CityLiteratureNYC events & culture

Red carpet for the National Book Awards

Red carpet for the National Book Awards
15 November 2012
Daniel Engelke
Avatar
Daniel Engelke
15 November 2012

Last night the 68th Annual National Book Awards were held at the Cipriani Ballroom in New York City. 

In an effort to make over their image, the National Book Foundation rolled out the red carpet. The Cipriani Ballroom, “a triumph of Greek revival architecture”, was lavishly decorated in full gala fashion. The event, which took place at the Marriott years prior, chose Brooklynite “Rabbi Darkside” to DJ while guests posed for photos and sipped cocktails. There was even a rumor that movie actress-turned-author Molly Ringwald would make an appearance.  

Opening ceremonies were kicked off by journalist/commentator Faith Salie, who acted as MC for the evening. The Literarian Award was then presented by NPR’s Terry Gross to New York Time’s Chairman and Publisher Arthur O. Sulzberger Jr. for his “continuing efforts through the New York Times’ Book Review, online review, and ensuring the ongoing conversation about books in American culture”. Martin Amis, who recently relocated to Brooklyn from his native London, concluded the opening ceremony by awarding Crime & Western novelist Elmore Leonard the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, for his outstanding achievement in fiction writing. 

After a break for dinner, Salie returned to the stage to announce the finalists. The categories ran as follows; Young Adult, Poetry, Non-fiction, and Fiction. Chair members Gary Schmidt, Laura Kasischke, Woody Holton, and Lorrie Moore acted as presenters. 

Fantasy writer William Alexander took home the Young Adult award for his book Goblin Secrets. 88-year old and New Jersey born, David Ferry won the Poetry award with Bewilderment, a collection of new poems and translations. The Mumbai centered Behind the Beautiful Forevers by New Yorker writer Katherine Boo won the Non-Fiction Award. To cap off the ceremony, Louise Erdrich was presented her first National Book Award with The Round House, a novel concerning racial injustice within the Native American community. Erdrich, whose latest novel The Plague of Doves won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, had also been a finalist for Fiction with The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse. 

While names like horror writer Stephen King and Terry Gross headed home, guests went up to the mezzanine for drinks and dancing. Chairman David Steinberger even boasted there was a waiting list for entrance to the after party, which ran over schedule. The evening concluded as a success for the National Book Awards and National Book Foundation.  

Daniel Engelke
Photos: Anita Isola

Related Items

More in Literature

Beach House Summer by Sarah Morgan

★★★★★
Laura Boyle
Read More

The Buddhist on Death Row by David Sheff

★★★★★
Laura Boyle
Read More

Walk with Me in Sound – the audiobook: A harmonious introduction to a mindful lifestyle

★★★★★
Mersa Auda
Read More

Midnight in Everwood by MA Kuzniar

★★★★★
Elizaveta Kolesova
Read More

The Simplest Gift by Stefanos Xenakis

★★★★★
Elizaveta Kolesova
Read More

Mothers, Fathers and Others by Siri Hustvedt

★★★★★
Elizaveta Kolesova
Read More

Things We Do Not Tell the People We Love by Huma Qureshi

★★★★★
Elizaveta Kolesova
Read More

The Snow Song by Sally Gardner

★★★★★
Elizaveta Kolesova
Read More

We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza

★★★★★
Elizaveta Kolesova
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Ed Sheeran at Wembley Stadium
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Eagles bring a nostalgia-laden evening to the BST Festival in Hyde Park
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Africa Fashion at the V&A
    ★★★★★
    Art
  • “He used to spit at the audience, roll on the ground, he did, in fact, hump that plastic dog – he was the original punk rocker”: Baz Luhrman, Tom Hanks, Austin Butler, Olivia DeJonge and Alton Mason on Elvis
    Cinema & Tv
  • The Princess
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Eric Ravilious: Drawn to War
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Beauty and the Beast: The Musical at London Palladium
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Terminal List
    ★★★★★
    amazon
  • Baymax!
    ★★★★★
    disney
  • St Vincent at the Hammersmith Apollo
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Beauty and the Beast: The Musical at London Palladium
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • St Vincent at the Hammersmith Apollo
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Netflix Walking Tour: From Bridgerton to The Crown, a free walking tour through the filming locations
    Cinema & Tv
  • Africa Fashion at the V&A
    ★★★★★
    Art
  • Minions: The Rise of Gru
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why
With the support from:
International driving license

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Jake Bugg performs at Camden’s Koko | Live review
Dorothy Bohm: Women in Focus | Exhibition review