Literature

The novelist and peace advocate died Friday. He once called the language in which he wrote, modern Hebrew, his "musical instrument" and compared it to "an erupting lava, an earthquake in action."

Fifty nominated books now remain in contention for prizes in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, young people's literature — and, in a fresh twist to the annual slate, translated literature.

His magical realist novel on the lives of refugees "hints at possibilities for doing better," judges said. And it won him the prize, which recognizes fiction tackling today's thorniest social issues.

The award, which focuses on pressing social issues, has revealed its inaugural shortlist — including fiction by Jesmyn Ward, Zinzi Clemmons, Mohsin Hamid, Samrat Upadhyay and Lesley Nneka Arimah.

The annual, Oxford University Press-produced literature festival showcases books, music and open debate of Pakistan's problems.

American writer Christopher Bollen received the, uh, honor, which was announced on Thursday. His novel The Destroyers featured a memorable pair of less-than-appealing analogies.

The annual prize, in its inaugural year, will be awarded to one work of fiction. For the next few months, 20 books remain in contention — including works by Jesmyn Ward, Roxane Gay and Lisa Ko.

For Ward, who won the fiction prize for Sing, Unburied, Sing, it was her second National Book Award. For Bidart, whose poetry collection spanned 51 years, it was akin to a lifetime achievement honor.

The National Book Foundation winnowed the list of contenders for its literary prize to just 20 — or five finalists each in four categories. Among them are Jesmyn Ward, Min Jin Lee and Frank Bidart.