Carlin Romano is a books columnist and critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Thomas Kohnstamm is nobody's model travel journalist, except maybe Hunter Thompson's (if the latter is watching from beyond the grave - or the cannon Johnny Depp used to distribute his gonzo ashes).
The national group of critics, editors and reviewers nominates in six categories. A Phila. poet is tapped.
Sorry, Thomas Pynchon (wherever you are). Maybe next time, National Book Award-winner Richard Powers.
The National Book Critics Circle, the nationwide organization of more than 500 book critics, editors and reviewers, announced finalists in six categories for its 2006 book awards this past weekend, and neither highly honored novelist made the cut.


