NBA longlist for fiction includes George Saunders, Jhumpa Lahiri, Tom Drury

The final long list for the National Book Awards was announced today--fiction, the one that so many were waiting for. It's a rich list, mostly big names--Alice McDermott won the National Book Award in 1998 for "Charming Billy"; Thomas Pynchon won the award in 1974; Jhumpa Lahiri has won the Pulitzer Prize, and George Saunders' collection of stories was boldly called the best book of the year--in January--by the New York Times.

And then there's Anthony Marra, with a debut novel.

Here's the list, with links to Strib reviews when available.

Tom Drury, "Pacific."

Elizabeth Graver, "The End of the Point."

Rachel Kushner, "The Flame Throwers."

Jhumpa Lahiri, "The Lowland." (Review runs this Sunday; Lahiri will be in town in October. This book is also short-listed for the Man Booker Prize.)

James McBride, "The Good Lord Bird."

Alice McDermott, "Someone." (Review runs Sunday. She'll be at Common Good Book on Sept. 25.)

Thomas Pynchon, "Bleeding Edge" (Review runs later this fall.)

George Saunders, "The Tenth of December." (Saunders will kick off the Pen Pals Series in October.)

Joan Silber, "Fools."