Before the first author was honored at Friday night's Los Angeles Times Book Prizes, Times critic Kenneth Turan delivered a tribute to Dutton's Brentwood Books, which closes April 30. As he was called to the stage at UCLA's Royce Hall, owner Doug Dutton received the night's only standing ovation. In his brief remarks, Dutton thanked the "neighborhood" of L.A. book readers and lovers for supporting the store for 24 years and said that he might return to the 'hood in some unspecified future guise. Later, journalist Tim Weiner, winner for his history of the CIA, received the loudest hand of the night when he pleaded for newspapers to continue so that the government does not become the main conduit of news and information.

Winners:

• Elizabeth D. Samet, "Soldier's Heart: Reading Literature Through Peace and War at West Point" (Current Interest)
• Philip Reeve, "The Hungry City Chronicles: A Darkling Plain" (Young Adult Fiction)
• Dinaw Mengestu, "The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears" (First fiction)
• Douglas Hofstadter, "I Am A Strange Loop" (Science & Technology)
• Stanley Plumly, "Old Heart: Poems" (Poetry)
• Karin Fossum (Translated by Charlotte Barslund), "The Indian Bride" (Mystery/thriller)
• Tim Weiner, "Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA" (History)
• Simon Sebag Montefiore, "Young Stalin" (Biography)
• Andrew O’Hagan, "Be Near Me" (Fiction)


• Robert Kirsch Award: Maxine Hong Kingston