Three literary critics were nominated for the annual Review and Criticism prize for the 2009 National Magazine Awards. The category "recognizes excellence in criticism of art, books, movies, television, theater, music, dance, food, dining, fashion, products and the like," but three book critics were nominated to the five-person shortlist.

Sandra Tsing Loh was nominated for three columns in The Atlantic: Tales Out of School, March; I Choose My Choice!, July/August; Should Women Rule?, November. William Deresiewicz was recognized for three columns in The Nation: Foes, February 25; Homing Patterns, October 13; How Wood Works, December 8. Finally, James Wood was nominated for three columns in The New Yorker: Say What?, April 7; The Homecoming, September 8; Wounder and Wounded, December 1.

Here's what nominee Deresiewicz wrote about his fellow nominee: "Wood's critical authority has become so daunting, it seems, that even he is afraid to challenge it. His argumentative method rests far too heavily on hand-waving, and while he is superb at turning a phrase, the fact that something sounds good doesn't guarantee that it makes any sense."