The National Book Critics Circle, founded in 1974, is a non-profit organization consisting of nearly 700 active book reviewers who are interested in honoring quality writing and communicating with one another about common concerns.
In recent years, the NBCC has made efforts to become a truly national organization by offering forums in locations nationwide. We look to the web to help us extend the intelligent discussion of books across the nation. We are pleased to welcome you to the NBCC site -- we invite your comments and participation.
The centerpiece of NBCC activities is the annual awards for the best book in five categories: fiction, general nonfiction, biography/autobiography, poetry, and criticism. The 2007 NBCC Award Winners were announced in New York City on March 6, 2008.
In addition to the best book awards, each year the NBCC salutes the most accomplished reviewer, from within the membership, with the Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing, and recognizes an individual's exceptional contributions to books with the Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award. The 2007 Balakian and Sandrof winners were announced with the NBCC finalists in NSan Francisco on January 12, 2008.
Members of the NBCC communicate through The NBCC Newswire, at an annual membership meeting every March in New York City, and on Critical Mass, the blog of the National Book Critics Circle. The NBCC membership elects a 24 person all volunteer Board of Directors to nominate and judge books for the awards and guide all day-to-day activities. Members are encouraged to run for the board. The election for 2008 board members has passed -- deadlines for the 2009 board will be posted mid-year.
We're pleased to announce that the NBCC has obtained tax exempt status after it first attempt thirty years ago. This means anything you care to give us as a gift is now a tax deduction. Please visit our new donation page to learn how and why you should give to the NBCC, from helping us give cash prizes with our awards to funding projects in community literacy, giving grants to book critics, and more.