Author Kingston to be honored

This year’s National Book Awards, taking place in New York on Nov. 19, will include a Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters to Maxine Hong Kingston. The Oakland-based Kingston, whose books include the memoir “The Woman Warrior,” was awarded the Robert Kirsch Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Los Angeles Times Book Festival in April.

The awards also will recognize Barney Rosset, former publisher of the Evergreen Review and Grove Press, with the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community.

The finalists will be announced on Oct. 15 in Chicago.