In the filmmaking world, fiction is dominated by men and nonfiction shared by both genders.

Not so in literature. If the National Book Critics Circle is any indicator, the reverse is true. Women writers slightly edged out their male counterparts among the nominees, with four of the five fiction finalists being female. Between Japanese-American novelist Ruth Ozeki (A Tale for the Time Being) and the Nigerian-born Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Americanah), the four shortlisted novelists were also a racially diverse group.

On the nonfiction shortlist, Five Days at Memorial author Sheri Fink and Whitey Bulger co-author Shelley Murphy were among the finalists.

Scroll down for the list of female NBCC nominees:

Fiction

Donna Tartt, The Goldfinch

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Americanah

Ruth Ozeki, A Tale for the Time Being

Alice McDermott, Someone

Nonfiction

Kevin Cullen and Shelley Murphy, Whitey Bulger

Sheri Fink, Five Days at Memorial