The New York Public Library Podcast features your favorite writers, artists, and thinkers in smart talks and provocative conversations. Listen to some of our most engaging programs, discover new ideas, and celebrate the best of today’s culture.

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Today on the show: Nigerian writer Ayobami Adebayo. Her debut novel, Stay With Me, was published in the United States last week. I have been telling anyone who will listen that they should read it. The trick with my proseltyzing, though, is that, when a prospective convert asks me what the book is about—an entirely reasonable question—I’m at a loss for exactly what to say, because one of the best parts about the book is discovering its twists and surprises as you read it.

So the best answer is that it’s a gripping, at times even shocking, novel that is eminently readable and which I was hard-pressed to put down. For more detail, I’ll rely on the synopsis from the book&#rsquo;s beautiful dust jacket: Stay With Me is the story of a marriage falling apart. A young couple, Yejide and Akin, have been married for four years and appear incapable of conceiving. Despite having long agreed that polygamy is not for them, one day Akin’s family appears at their door with a young woman they introduce as Akin’s second wife. Furious, shocked, and jealous, Yejide realizes the only thing she can do to save her marriage is get pregnant. Then things get crazy. And you won’t expect what happens to happen.

After it was published in Britain, Stay With Me was shortlisted for the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction, one of the world’s more prestigious literary awards, which until recently was known as the Orange Prize. Here in the states, Michiko Kakutani, wrote her last review in the New York Times before stepping down as its chief book critic on Stay With Me. Kakutani called Adebayo an “exceptional storyteller” and the novel a “powerfully magnetic and heartbreaking book.”

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Feel the need to be wowed by wide open spaces and awe inspiring landscapes? Even if you can't travel out West this summer, artist Yuko K. has brought back a little piece of magic from Monument Valley for your visual enjoyment. "Air and Rocks" , a photography exhibit by Yuko K., will be view in the Children's Room of Mulberry Street Library through September 9th, 2017. Yuko K. has exhibited at the Mulberry Street Library previously in 2014 and 2016  We spoke about her recent trip. 

- What inspired you to take a trip out West to see these vast landscapes?

I think moving our physical body to different places often brings the chance to receive important inspirations through our experiences, where we feel like breathing fresh air.  Staying away from my work space, and being myself in such grand nature, is one of the most certain ways to restore myself. I was also very curious, on my way traveling West, to feel the moment that such huge nature and vast landscapes would be revealed to me, seeing such with my own eyes. I could easily imagine that being surrounded by such vast nature would dissolve the tiredness accumulating within subconsciously in city life, and would wake up in me different levels of my spiritual existence.

- What did you learn from this experience about the United States?

I had traveled to some cities on the West coast even before this trip and knew the difference, between being there and in New York City, as levels of bodily sensations. On the West coast it seemed more natural, people co-exist with nature because of the extensive spaces and natural landscapes among the different areas of large ocean, beach, desert and fields, with a warm and dry Mediterranean like climate. I felt many cities of the West coast might have subtle, ground levels of energy influences or connection to the adjacent vast natural landscapes such as the  national park areas in Arizona and Utah, in some invisible way. So I imagined that the land area circle of Arizona and Utah must be one of the most powerful natural fields that the continental U.S. holds. I appreciated this property of mother earth in the U.S., and thought we should not forget that we are made to live on this planet earth.

- How will this experience of traveling to the American West inform your future artworks? 

I started to have more respect for the time we can spend not thinking anything and just letting ourselves be fully in nature, going with the flow during our traveling.  Whenever I see photographs I took while I was in nature, I can still experience that feeling of being surrounded by the energy fields of Arizona and Utah, and my empty mind is easily drawn back there. Being with my natural self is one of the most important lessons I learned from this trip, to create art with high levels of inspiration.

- What was your favorite place on this trip? 

Every location and area I traveled to were too wonderful and I cannot select one easily, but I was very impressed with Monument Valley, and driving in the area around there I can say was my favorite one.

-Did you have similar experience in visiting natural areas in Japan? 

I had always been living in big cities in Japan, and unfortunately never had the opportunity to visit such vast natural areas in my country. I am not sure if it can be considered a similar sort of experience, but I often visited Kyoto (the beautiful old capital of Japan) and I always liked to visit in nature there. Kyoto has many Shinto shrines, and “Shintoism” finds god in nature such as mountains and rivers, animals and other natural phenomena,  which are located not only in the city but also in the natural environment there, becoming a place of worship open for everybody. Actually, Shintoism’s ideas also remind me of the life philosophy held by native American Indians, to preserve to live relating with nature in some way. Geographically, Kyoto city is located in a valley surrounded by mountains on all sides, with very wide and shallow rivers running through the city, so we can easily access to nature there. Whenever I visit Shinto shrines in the nature of Kyoto, I feel a sort of transcendental energy being linked with the land area and can feel clarity in these places. We can see how ancient wisdoms must be relating to each other beyond their different locations in the world, when we see that spirits are existing in the pure nature of mother earth everywhere.

Artist's Biography - After graduating from university with a fine art major in Japan, I began working as a freelance illustrator and instructor of painting, along with practicing my fine art painting, and then moved to New York City. I am currently living in NYC and work with various materials in painting, printmaking, illustration, photographs and videos in the methodology of contemporary art. 

My fine art website is www.peintureyuko.com

During the week, it can be tough to stay on top of everything. On Fridays, though, we suggest kicking back to catch up on all the delightful literary reading the internet has to offer. Don’t have the time to hunt for good reads? Never fear. We've rounded up the best bookish reading of the week for you.

We Read...

A poetry extravaganza and took the Banned Book Week quiz. Our own Lynn Lobash was on the Leonard Lopate Show to discuss the ABCs of starting and maintaing a book club with Well Read Black Girl. On this week's episode of The Librarian Is In, Frank and Gwen traverse the globe and beyond. Looking back at four hundred years of banned books - yes, even in New York City. Jesmyn Ward came to the Schomburg Center to talk and you can hear it all. There are a lot of LGBTQ books challenged. Have you read these Kirkus Prize list books? And sometimes, you just need a limerick quiz for a little fun.

Stereogranimator Friday Feels:

GIF made with the NYPL Stereogranimator

TGIF:

No need to get up! Join our librarians from the home, office, playground — wherever you have internet access — for book recs on Twitter by following our handle @NYPLrecommends from 10 AM to 11 AM every Friday. Or, you can check NYPL Recommends any day of the week for more suggestions. ​

Don't let anyone ruin your #FridayReads! Tell us a book you like and we'll suggest another, until 11AM EST. #alfpic.twitter.com/IdHnLQDyf6

— NYPL Recommends (@NYPLRecommends) September 22, 2017

A classic! How about A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW by @amortowles? #FridayReads

— NYPL Recommends (@NYPLRecommends) September 22, 2017

It's showtime!

We've got a brand new show! Watch on Facebook Live on Fridays at noon. You can ask Gwen and Lynn to recommend your next read and hear what other patrons are loving lately too.
 

What did you read?

If you read something fantastic this week, share with our community of readers in the comment section below.

Hey all! It's here, it's here, it's finally here! It's high time for the 2017 Major League Baseball season to welcome in the most exciting period of its calendar: the playoffs. I remember the old FOX commercials they used to put out during the postseason, reminding us all that you can't script October. This one marketing scheme always stuck with me because of how dang true it is. Every year we watch the playoffs religiously, and every year it never goes down in a cut-and-dried fashion. Never.

Take last year for example. You want a handful of unforeseen moments that will live on forever? How about Baltimore Oriole manager Buck Showalter neglecting to use eventual 2016 Mariano Rivera Award winner Zach Britton in the tied AL Wild Card game, leading to an epic walk off win for Toronto? Or the unforgettable sights of Clayton Kershaw warming up in the bullpen, then entering the deciding Game 5 of the NLDS, earning the save in his tired teammate's Kenley Jansen's stead? And of course, the drama and unpredictability was never higher than it was in the World Series itself, when two teams, the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians, met in an ultimate battle to decide whose extensive championship drought would be the one to end. Players like Roberto Perez, to Coco Crisp, to Addison Russell, to David Ross (honorable mention David Ross moment here! They're  don't win without this!), to Rajai Davis, to Ben Zobrist all had career highlights in the 2016 World Series. With the Cubs winning the final 3 games after being down 3 games to 1, including one of the most riveting ballgames of all time in Game 7, 2016 was just another shred of evidence that you simply can't script October.

So for today, let's celebrate the upcoming baseball playoffs by remembering history. 2 years ago, I blogged about some of baseball's forgotten home runs in postseason play, I think we should rehash the subject! So without further preamble, here are 5 more MLB postseason home runs you may have forgotten!

1. Don Baylor, 1986 ALCS, Game 5

We'll start our list off with a player who we sadly lost this year in Don Baylor. Baylor had a great reputation both on and off the field, having both a fine career and no shortage of coaching and managerial jobs after he retired. Baylor had a lengthy 19-year career which included a season and a half long stint with the Boston Red Sox towards the end. In 1986, Boston went to the ALCS after winning the AL East, but found themselves in a 3-1 hole in the bottom of the 9th of Game 5, trailing the California Angels 5-2. With a runner on first and one out, Baylor dug in against Angels starter Mike Witt (who was working on a complete game). On a 3-2 pitch, Baylor hit one over the leftfield fence to draw the Red Sox closer. This moment is often forgotten, due to Dave Henderson hitting a go-ahead home run later on in the frame, and then driving in the winner later in extras on a sac fly. It's become known as basically "The Dave Henderson Game". However, without Baylor prolonging the ballgame with his blast, Henderson would have been a goat in a would-be Angels victory, as he deflected a fly ball over the outfield wall earlier in the game, resulting in a home run. Thanks to Baylor's largely forgotten home run, Henderson's outfield blunder has also been forgotten. The Red Sox wound up overcoming their deficit in the series, and eliminated the Angels in 7 games. (suggested reading: Red Sox Rhymes: Verses and Curses)

2. Hal Smith, 1960 World Series, Game 7

We just discussed "The Dave Henderson Game" above, now let's move onto what's known as the "The Bill Mazeroski Game". Though if it wasn't for some shoddy relief work, this game may've been known as "The Hal Smith Game". Allow me to explain. The 1960 World Series pitted the Pittsburgh Pirates against the New York Yankees. An absolute see-saw affair if there ever was one, Pittsburgh came into the bottom of the 8th inning trailing 7-4. With outs at a premium, the Pirates bats went to work. After a pair of RBI singles by two future MVP-Award winners Dick Groat and Roberto Clemente, the Pirates drew within one. Smith, Pittsburgh's second-string catcher, came up with two runners on blasted a Jim Coates offering way over the leftfield wall to put the Pirates up 9-7. This should have placed his name directly into baseball lore. But unfortunately, the Pirate bullpen allowed 2 runs to cross in the top half of the 9th, setting the stage for Bill Mazeroski's heroics in the bottom half, as he homered to bring Pittsburgh its first World Series victory in 35 years. Thus today, it's Mazeroski's name that everyone remembers, while poor Hal Smith's clutch long ball has largely been forgotten. Let's give him some recognition here. (suggested reading: Kiss It Good-Bye: The Mystery, the Mormon, and the Moral of the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates)

3. Joe DiMaggio, 1947 World Series, Game 5

Years ago, I read famed author Roger Kahn's book called The Era, 1947-1957: When the Yankees, the Giants, and the Dodgers Ruled the World, which was released 21 years after his better known The Boys of Summer first hit shelves. It was a fascinating read. I learned tons, and one of the biggest things I took away from the book was that 1947 was one of baseball's most headline worthy years. Between Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby integrating baseball, Brooklyn Dodger manager Leo Durocher getting suspended due to gambling, and the thrilling  1947 World Series, I could probably sit here and talk about 1947 with you guys all day. However, we'll stick to one particular moment that may have been forgotten, and save all that other stuff for another day. It happened in Game 5 of the Fall Classic, the Brooklyn Dodgers facing the New York Yankees. With the Series tied at 2 games apiece, Game 5 was critical. Whichever team won would put their opponent's backs firmly against the wall. So what happened? With the Yankees up 1-0 in the top of the 5th at Ebbets Field over in Brooklyn, Joe DiMaggio hit a solo home run to put the Bombers up by 2. And that ended up being the deciding run! Yanks rookie starter Spec Shea ended up tossing a complete game, allowing just a single run. Yankees win 2-1. Had DiMaggio not hit that dinger when he did, who knows what ends up happening. Maybe the Dodger franchise wouldn't have had to wait until 1955 to finally win their first title. (suggested reading: Electric October: Seven World Series Games, Six Lives, Five Minutes of Fame That Lasted Forever)

4. Scott Podsednik, 2005 World Series, Game 2

Hey I'll be totally honest with you here. For a World Series that ended in a sweep, the 2005 World Series is one of my favorites. I watched every second of it in high school. And I will say, for a series that obviously was completely in the Chicago White Sox's favor (they swept the Houston Astros), the 4 games were all close, none decided by more than 2 runs, and the Series as a whole had its fair share of memorable moments. From Paul Konerko's grand slam, to Geoff Blum burning his former team, to Mark Buehrle notching a save, to the 1-0 final score in the deciding game, I really liked the 2005 World Series. But the most shocking of moments came courtesy of Scott Podsednik. Podsednik had a nice year playing leftfield for the 2005 Chisox, posting a .290/.351/.394 slash line, stealing 59 bases, and finishing 12th in the American League MVP voting. But one thing he didn't do a lot of in 2005 was hit for power, in fact he hit 0 home runs over 568 plate appearances. Podsednik then surprisingly hit one in a blowout victory in the Sox opening playoff game against Boston. You'd think we'd all be satisfied with that one postseason bomb after a season where he hit none. Then Podsednik outdid himself. In Game 2 of the World Series, right after 37-year old Jose Vizcaino (no stranger to October heroics) tied the game for the Astros in the top of the 9th, Podsednik came to bat in the bottom portion of the inning with one away. And he did the improbable. Podsednik hit a walk-off home run off Astros closer Brad Lidge, his second of the postseason, after recording ZERO in the regular season. You can't script October! (suggested reading: Sox and the City: A Fan's Love Affair with the White Sox from the Heartbreak of '67 to the Wizards of Oz)

5. Johnny Bench, 1972 NLCS, Game 5

This is one of baseball's all-time most dramatic home runs hit by one of baseball's all-time best players. So what happened? In 1972, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds squared off for the National League pennant in a rematch of the 1970 NLCS (which was won by the Reds). The two teams traded wins in this best-of-5 series, and entered the deciding Game 5 with 2 wins each. With the Pirates leading 3-2 going into the bottom of the 9th, it looked as if they'd avenge their 1970 loss. The Bucs sent out closer Bob Giusti, with 2.2 scoreless innings to his credit already in the Championship Series, to close the door on the pennant. Instead, what resulted was a meltdown.  Bench led off the frame with a game-tying home run, destroying any chance of Pittsburgh winning in regulation. After back-to-back singles, Giusti was replaced by Bob Moose. After recording the first two outs (though one of them via a deep fly ball allowing the lead runner George Foster to reach third), Moose uncorked a wild pitch to score the winning run as the Reds stunned the Pirates for the National League crown. It wouldn't have been possible if Bench didn't get the party started. What an ending! (suggested reading: Echoes of Cincinnati Reds Baseball: The Greatest Stories Ever Told)

Enjoy the playoffs! I know I will! For more memorable postseason homers, check this out! For more books on baseball, please visit our catalog.

该列表有PDF格式 - The list is available in PDF format.

These titles were graciously recommended by Yvonne Zhou, a librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library.

La liste est disponible en format PDF  - The list is available in PDF format.

Список доступен в формате PDF - The list is available in PDF format.

The titles were graciously recommended by Alla Roylance, a librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library.

Several months ago I was reading a copy of This Monstrous Thing by Lee Mackenzi, an unusual steampunk kind of story that was set in the Frankenstein universe.  Like most books I read, it left an impression somewhere in the back of my brain.  Then shortly after I read that book I heard about another book called Teen Frankenstein, and I thought ... wait a minute ...

I did some exploring in our catalog, and it turned out that there were more Frankenstein-inspired books in our young adult collection than I expected!  Here are some novels and graphic novels you can try if you’re looking for something to read on a dark and stormy night.

Teen Frankenstein by Chandler Baker

In the small town of Hollow Pines, Texas, Tor Frankenstein feels like her mind is going to waste.  But when she has a car accident one night and kills a teenage boy, she realizes that she can put her brain to good use by bringing him back to life.

Gris Grimly’s Frankenstein, Or, The Modern Prometheus by Gris Grimly

“Assembled from the original text by Mary Shelley,” this book tells the famous story of a doctor who created life from death, and suffered terrible consequences for his reckless actions.  Grimly’s illustrations add another chilling layer to this classic story.

Hideous Love: The Story of the Girl Who Wrote Frankenstein by Stephanie Hemphill

This novel in verse tells the story of Mary Shelley, a girl whose real life was in many ways stranger than fiction.  She channeled the chaos of her life into her writing, and her own experiences with life and death helped to inspire her most famous creation.

This Monstrous Thing by Lee Mackenzi

Alasdair is a skilled mechanic, so after his brother is killed he decides to use his talents to bring him back to life.  But will making replacement parts out of clockwork be enough to make Oliver a man again?

This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel

Victor and Konrad Frankenstein are twin brothers who have a strong emotional bond.  But when Konrad’s life is threatened by a mysterious illness, Victor must decide how much he should risk to try to save his brother.  This prequel to the classic Frankenstein story will make readers think about how and why Victor Frankenstein started out as a reckless teenager and then grew up to become a dangerous man.

Mister Creecher by Chris Priestley

A young pickpocket named Billy is so desperate to survive that when he finds a dead man lying in the street, he decides to go through the man’s pockets.  But to Billy’s surprise, the man isn’t dead after all, and this is the beginning of Billy’s relationship with Mr. Creecher.  Billy soon joins Mr. Creecher on his mission to track down Doctor Victor Frankenstein, a man who promised to get him a wife … but failed to keep that promise.

Man Made Boy by Jon Skovron

Boy is the son of The Bride and The Monster, and he’s been living a sheltered life.  He has human friends, but only online.  He’s never met a human in real life, and he wants to see what will happen when he does.  So he runs away from home, and begins an amazing road trip that will take him across the country and completely expand his world.

Dr. Frankenstein’s Daughters by Suzanne Weyn

Giselle and Ingrid are 17-year-old twins who have just inherited their father’s castle.  Each girl has her own plans for the future of their new home, but they might not be able to escape its past.

We are so saddened to learn of Tom Petty's passing. Such a singular talent and voice.  No words, just thanks. 

As we reflect on Petty's life, here are some CDs, DVDs, and books available at The New York Public Library. 

The Story of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: I Won't Back Down: A Musical Documentary 

With his faithful band The Heartbreakers behind him, Tom Petty lit up stages across the world, and became an unlikely early star of MTV with some innovative video work. Subsequent releases saw him justifiably included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, alongside a stint in supergroup The Travelling Wilburys. This release contains the full story with interviews, backstage footage and live clips.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Runnin' Down a Dream

Includes interviews with Eddie Vedder, Rick Rubin, Roger McGuinn, Dave Grohl, Johnny Depp, Jeff Lynne, Stevie Nicks, Jackson, Browne, and more.

Conversations with Tom Petty

Conversations With Tom Petty is the first authorized book to focus solely on the life and work of the man responsible for some of the most memorable rock anthems of our generation, including: "American Girl," "Breakdown," "Refugee," "The Waiting," "Don'™t Come Around Here No More," "I Won't Back Down," "Free Fallin'," "Runnin'€™ Down a Dream," "You Don'€™t Know How It Feels," "Mary Jane's Last Dance," and many others. 

Petty's Peculiar Picks the Best of Tom Petty's Buried Treasure

24 tracks you may not have heard. 

Welcome to our biweekly update on events happening during the next two weeks at The New York Public Library. With 92 locations across New York City, a lot is happening at the Library. We're highlighting some of our events here—including author talks, free classes, community art shows, performances, concerts, and exhibitions—and you can always find more at nypl.org/events. If you want our round-up in your inbox, sign up here. We look forward to seeing you at the Library.  

Selected Events

10/4: Who Cleans the Park? Public Work and Urban Governance in New York City: Author John Krinsky and Maud explain the work of maintaining parks progressing through the public-private partnerships in New York City.  6:30 PM, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

10/5: Conversations on Black Freedom Studies: The Fannie Lou Hamer Centennial & Black Women's Organizing: Join a panel of historians to celebrate the achievements of Civil Rights figure, Fannie Lou Hamer and other black female organizers and activists. 6 PM, Schomburg Center for Research in  Culture

10/6: First Fridays: Masquerade Edition:  Wear your best costume and attend this Halloween edition of the Schomburg's First Fridays, honoring iconic black horror films.  6 PM, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

10/10: LIVE from the NYPL: Van Jones: The CNN political contributor talks about his new book, In Beyond the Messy Truth and his experience in politics and activism that divide our nation today.  7 PM, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

10/11: Conversations from the Cullman Center: What She Ate by Laura Shapiro: Cullman Fellows Laura Shapiro and Francine Prose discuss Shapiro's new biography of six influential women and how food shaped their lives. 7 PM, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

10/11: LIVE from the NYPL: Casey Neistat with Paul Holdengraber: YouTube superstar, Casey Neistat comes to LIVE Stage  to talk about success in storytelling and business in the digital era. 7 PM, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

10/12: The WPA Photographs of Lewis Hine: Judith Gutman & Sean Wilentz: Historians Judith Mara Gutman and Sean Wilentz explore the work produced for WPA by pioneering social photographer Lewis Hine. 6:30 PM, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

10/13: The Library After Hours: Halloween Masquerade:  Join us for a fun filled evening with music, dancing and a costume contest at the Library After Hours: Halloween Masquerade. 7PM, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building 

10/13: The Theatre Library Association Book Awards: Join us for an exciting ceremony dedicated to this year's award-winning authors in theater and film scholarship, with readings and special guests. 7 PM, Library  for the Performing Arts

10/16: Laurie Anderson's Listen List: Get to know Filmmaker and Musician, Laurie Anderson on her life, work, and perspective on music  that is meaningful to her in a library interview.  6 PM, Library for the Performing Arts

10/16:  Dancing with Fred Astaire: Jonas Mekas   Filmmaker and Poet, Jonas Mekas discusses his career meeting artistic luminaries and presents short 16mm films curated from the Library's Reserve Film and Video Collection. 6:30 PM, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

10/17:The World of Tomorrow: Brendan Matthews: From the Jazz clubs in Harlem to the Plaza Hotel, novelist Brendan Mathews discusses his new debut novel of three brothers caught in a whirlwind of love, blackmail and betrayal in an assassination plot.  6:30 PM, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

10/18: Mariposas Nocturnas: Emmet Gowin and Joel Smith Photographer Emmet Gowin talks about his new book, Mariposas Nocturnas and his project of months in Central and South America.  6:30 PM, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building 

Business, Career and Finance

10/4:  American Job Dream: Demystifying the American Job Search Process: Learn valuable tools and resources from organizations who support immigrants and expats  in pursuit of finding their American dream job. 6 PM, Science, Industry and Business Library

10/5: How to Build your Leader to Accelerate Business Performance: Learn how to align your behavior, decisions and communications with your personal brand promise. 6 PM, Science, Industry and Business Library

10/10:The Spirituality of Financial Planning: Hunter College professor of Religion Constantina Rhodes teaches how to acquire a healthy, spirituality attitude towards your financial life. 6 PM, Science, Industry and Business Library. 

Get Event Updates by Email

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The New York Public Library Podcast features your favorite writers, artists, and thinkers in smart talks and provocative conversations. Listen to some of our most engaging programs, discover new ideas, and celebrate the best of today’s culture.

Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Google Play

If you are looking for the YouTube clip referenced at the beginning of the show, scroll down!

On today’s episode: Salman Rushdie discusses his new book, The Golden House, which was published last month. He spoke with Paul Holdengräber at LIVE from the NYPL. Rushdie is probably best known for this Booker Prize–winning Midnight’s Children and his fatwa-inducing The Satanic Verses. The Golden House is his twelfth novel.

The Golden House centers around a curious block in Greenwich Village bound by Bleecker on the northeast and Houston on the southwest, Macdougal Street on the northwest and Sullivan on the southwest: the Macdougall-Sullivan gardens. The landmarked area of 21 row homes—11 on Macdougal and 10 on Sullivan Street—circumscribes a large interior courtyard that is only accessible through the houses. Among the garden inhabitants in Rushdie’s novel, and at the center of the action, are a wealthy expat family, the Goldens, who have appeared suddenly in one of the homes, having fled their native country under mysterious circumstances. The patriarch, Nero Golden, appears so magnificent and terrifying to one of his neighbors, a young budding filmmaker named Rene Unterlinden, that Rene, who has recently lost his parents in a tragic accident, becomes desperate to make a documentary about the Golden family, which also includes Nero's three sons, Petronius, Lucius Apuleius, and Dionysius, and Nero’s new, younger, Russian wife, Vasilisa. Meanwhile the elections of Barack Obama and Donald Trump, the latter known in The Golden House as The Joker, both give shape and dimension to the narrative—the book is set between roughly 2008 and today—and at times have a direct hand in the motion of the plot.

Here is the clip of Rear Window that Rushdie and Holdengräber watched at the beginning of their conversation:

How to listen to The New York Public Library Podcast

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An editor at NPR broke the Internet on Monday, when — in the middle of a devastating news cycle — he accidentally posted a personal update about his one-year-old daughter Ramona on NPR’s public Facebook account.

It proved to be just what many people needed; NPR published a follow-up piece called “That Time #Ramona Made Everyone Smile For A Few Minutes.”

So, we thought we’d suggest a way for Ramona to spend a little more time with cats without actually getting her hands on them. Here are seven picture books we recommend for Ramona, her dad, and all the other young feline fanatics out there.

How to Be a Cat by Nikki McClure
Beautiful cut-paper illustrations and simple descriptions show a mother cat and a kitten going through their daily routines: stretching, eating, playing, dreaming.  

Cat Knit by Jacob Grant
Cat and Yarn are best friends… until Girl makes Yarn into a sweater.

The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read by Curtis Manley
Verne and Stevenson are Nick’s best pals, and he wants them to be able to read just like he can.

Mr. Wuffles! by David Wiesner
Like many real-life cats, Mr. Wuffles isn’t interested in toys — except for one, which turns out to be a malfunctioning spaceship full of tiny green aliens. Sure to activate the imagination.

Top Cat by Lois Ehlert
A classic in rhyme. When a new kitten arrives, the alpha cat has to come to terms with it, and develops some conflict-resolution skills in the process.

They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel
Another rhyming tale, this one about a cat padding through the world and the different perspectives of all the other animals who see it — a fox, a bird, a mouse, a flea.

Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
When a kitten mistakes the full moon for a bowl of milk, hijinks ensue.

What's your favorite cat-related picture book? Let us know in the comments.

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Have trouble reading standard print? Many of these titles are available in formats for patrons with print disabilities.

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!

Congratulations to all the NYPL branches honored at this year's NYC Neighborhood Library Awards! Aguilar, Allerton, Bronx Library Center, Chatham Square, Edenwald, Hunts Point, George Bruce, Grand Concourse, and Stapleton were all recognized for their stellar service. Nearly 24,000 nominations were submitted this year, and our library system could not have been successful without the support of our patrons.

The prizes, which include $10,000 or $20,000 grants, will help these library branches expand the programs that improve lives and combat inequality in their community. Our libraries are putting these funds right back into our system to serve the patrons who make it so worthwhile to do the work that we do.  Thank you to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and the Charles H. Revson Foundation for funding this generous initiative. 

Here are a few of the reasons why people nominated their NYPL branches:

• Allerton Library – Allerton (Bronx) – One teen wrote about BridgeUp, an afterschool program for high school students: “For once I felt a part of something. . .the library has helped me find myself with well-thought out activities and programs.”
• Chatham Square Library – Chinatown (Manhattan) – Teri, an immigrant and former neighborhood resident stated: “This is the library I have been going to since I was 10 years old as a new immigrant without knowing any English. At first, it was a resource center for Chinese language books, newspaper and magazines for me and my family. Now, I am a parent with 2 young children and I have come full circle to return to this library to get Chinese books to teach my kids Chinese language. Without this library, I wouldn't have retained my Chinese language, nor improved my English.”
• Edenwald Library – Edenwald (Bronx) – A neighborhood resident, immigrant and library staff member wrote: "This library has transformed my life. As immigrants to America, the library meant everything to us. I polished my reading and writing skills at the library. The library filled in all the gaps and helped me greatly. I landed a job with the library. Got a scholarship to go for my Masters at St. Johns University. My neighborhood library made all this possible."
• George Bruce Library – Morningside Heights (Manhattan) – Mara, a parent, stated: “From story hour to open play to art classes to readings with authors and illustrators, the library staff goes above and beyond to help instill a love of reading and books in the children that utilize the library…By partnering with places like the Studio Museum, the George Bruce Library brings art based programming to children who might not be able to access it elsewhere. Private enrichment and art classes for children are incredibly expensive, the GB Library ensures that any child in our neighborhood can participate in unique and robust programs for free!”
• Hunts Point Library – Hunts Point (Bronx) – Larry, a lifelong patron, shared: “The library has always been a second home to me. A place where I could actually visit almost seven days a week that was a safe haven for me as a child, an adult and now a parent…This library is strong on tutoring and educational development…I love the Hunts Points Library and so does my entire community.”

The Heckscher Foundation for Children awarded the Heckscher Prize for Outstanding Service to Children and Youth to the Grand Concourse Library for its proven commitment to this City’s youth through special programs, classes, and events. The branch also received a prize of $20,000 to spend on their branch.

Due to an overwhelmingly positive response from patrons, the NYC Neighborhood Library Awards have added a new Perennial Excellence Award to recognize libraries that have been consistently stellar over the years. The Perennial Excellence Award was presented to Aguilar Library and Stapleton Library for their consistently stellar services year after year, as was reflected in the high volume of nominations these branches received during each awards season. The Bronx Library Center took home the Award for Distinction in Service, honoring a regional branch for their excellent work and deserved recognition.

Thank you to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and the Charles H. Revson Foundation for funding this generous initiative. 

Welcome to The Librarian Is In, the New York Public Library's podcast about books, culture, and what to read next.

Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Google Play

This week Frank and Gwen welcome new NYPL librarian Jenny Chisnell - and immediately are exhausted by Jenny's extraordinarily varied interests and recommendations!  Take a look and a listen!

Jenny's band!!! Polari

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Want Personalized Recommendations from Gwen?

Tune in to the NYPL Recommends Facebook TV show, every Friday at Noon EST and ask Gwen and her college Lynn for live reading recommendations. Just leave a comment telling what you're looking for and that you're a fan of the podcast! And don't forget to subscribe to the show so you don't miss future episodes!

Kazuo Ishiguro, consummate British novelist and 2014 Library Lion, won the Nobel Prize in Literature today.

He's the author of seven novels, translated into dozens of languages and spanning 35 years, as well as several short stories and plays. Ishiguro was born in Japan and moved to the UK when at age 5, and many of his novels address his characters' relationship with their own sense of place in the world.  

And he's a library supporter, too; in 2015, he told The New York Times that he had "discovered literature as a young boy when he came upon Sherlock Holmes stories in the local library." 

His work is varied, complicated, and fascinating — and these three books are a good place to start.

Never Let Me Go (2006)

Set in a dystopian version of England, this book about teens at a British bording school with a dark twist: They're clones being raised as organ donors. Ishiguro delved fully into fantasy in his most recent novel, The Buried Giant, but Never Let Me Go is more of a gentle slide into an alarming dystopia the reader didn't fully see coming. (It was also made into a 2010 film, also available from the Library.)

Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall (2009)

Although Ishiguro isn't best known for his short fiction, these interconnected stories serve as a great introduction to his work. They blend music -- Ishiguro is a songwriter himself, and music is one of his great passions -- with the kind of bittersweet, moving, often-witty writing that characterizes his longer work as well. 

The Unconsoled (1996)

Music takes center stage in this novel as well. A concert pianist arrives in a European city and proceeds through a dreamscape reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland, with maze-like confusion around every turn. Suspenseful and stylistically complex, this novel winds its way through a maze of a city and immerses the reader in the intricate pathways of the protagonist's mind.

What's your favorite Ishiguro book? Let us know in the comments. And check out more of his work from NYPL!

Kazuo Ishiguro was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature today. Which book is your favorite? https://t.co/59CA3fIfat

— NY Public Library (@nypl) October 5, 2017

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Have trouble reading standard print? Many of these titles are available in formats for patrons with print disabilities.

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!

When her father was deported, Briana found her life turned upside down. After becoming a mentor at the Washington Heights Library, she found a new purpose and the energy to keep pushing forward. 

Library Stories is a video series from The New York Public Library that shows what the Library means to our users, staff, donors, and communities through moving personal interviews.

Like, share, and watch more Library Stories on Facebook or YouTube.

Sam and Morgan have an "impossible friendship," whatever that is...

Sam finds himself torn between two opposing worlds. He hangs with Morgan and has fun with her. He hears her suicidal comments, and attempts to divert her attention from pain. Conversely, he is friends with Jeff, who loves trolling the Internet and tormenting the girl. Jeff pressures Sam to do the same.

On the surface, Morgan is carefree. She loves dance and long baths. Most of the time, she plays the part of an ordinary teenager. Small glimpses of what may transpire appear at odd moments. Suddenly, for some unspecified reason, she quits dance, which gave her such pleasure and claims that she is pleased with the decision. The girl refuses to discuss the online bullying that is prescient in Sam's mind. 

A large number of people at Morgan's high school, both in-person and online, have painted the girl's forehead with a catastrophically large bull's eye. People joke about her, cherishing their sadistic mockery and mean closeness. They stage informal contests in order to determine whose commentary is cruelest. Morgan does not stand a chance. The world seems to love to hate her, and she begins to despise her own likeness.

Morgan shouts a final statement to all of her persecutors: an exclamation point to address all of the damage that has been heaped upon her. 

Some of her high school peers could not care less; others cringe as the sharp edges of guilt penetrate deeply.

The Fall by James Preller, 2015

I loved the erratic format of the book with the brief chapters. The cover art fits the desolate, lachrymose theme of the book. A crumpled piece of paper signifies the main character's throwing her life away, and the gray somber color displays her murky thought patterns.

Books about  bullying

James Preller's web site

During the week, it can be tough to stay on top of everything. On Fridays, though, we suggest kicking back to catch up on all the delightful literary reading the internet has to offer. Don’t have the time to hunt for good reads? Never fear. We've rounded up the best bookish reading of the week for you.
 

We Read...

Children's books on thoughtfulness and inclusivity, plus Louisa May Alcott's notes for Little Women. Serious question: what are the responsibilities of a book critic? Junot Diaz: he eats breakfast just like us. Here are some cat books for little kids like Ramona. We are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with stories of strong women. National Book Award finalist Carmen Maria Machado shares her influences. In which we imagine librarians in charge of the country. Kurt Anderson talked fake news with us. Ever heard of the human search engine in New York City? Someone please bring us on a tour of these literary coffeehouses. And something special for readers new to Kazuo Ishiguro, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature this week. 

Kazuo Ishiguro was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature today. Which book is your favorite? https://t.co/59CA3fIfat

— NY Public Library (@nypl) October 5, 2017

Stereogranimator Friday Feels:

GIF made with the NYPL Stereogranimator

TGIF:

No need to get up! Join our librarians from the home, office, playground — wherever you have internet access — for book recs on Twitter by following our handle @NYPLrecommends from 10 AM to 11 AM every Friday. Or, you can check NYPL Recommends any day of the week for more suggestions. ​

Who needs a new book to read this weekend? Tell us one you like until 11AM ET, and we'll suggest another. #FridayReadspic.twitter.com/mn7EaIPYXA

— NYPL Recommends (@NYPLRecommends) September 29, 2017

Got it... how about the lovely SEE YOU IN THE COSMOS by @jackcheng! #FridayReads

— NYPL Recommends (@NYPLRecommends) September 29, 2017

It's showtime!

We've got a brand new show! Watch on Facebook Live on Fridays at noon. You can ask Gwen and Lynn to recommend your next read and hear what other patrons are loving lately too.
 

What did you read?

If you read something fantastic this week, share with our community of readers in the comment section below.

The New York Public Library Employment Pop-Up Recruitment Events

• Eastchester Library, October 16, 11 am - 2 pm.
• Bronx Library Center, October 18, 11 am - 2 pm.
• Belmont Library, October 25,  11 am - 2 pm.

Bilingual Volunteers Needed for BBB Live 1X:  Consumer Protection "Call-In" Eevent: Take Control of Your Debt, on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at BBB Office, 30 East 33rd Street, 12th fl.,  Manhattan.  A rewarding volunteer experience that benefits Spanish -speakers!  Volunteer for one or more of the two call-answering shifts:  2 - 7 pm; 3 - 8 pm.  Calls will be answered in Spanish.  Each shift begins with training in English.

Have you used email today?  If so, thank  Vint Cerf.  While with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in the 1970s, Cerf co-designed the basic protocols for internet communications.  One motivation behind his work was frustration communicating with other researchers by voice.  Cerf is hard of hearing.  Later, in the private sector,  he was part of the team that developed the first commercial email system.  You can learn more about how Inclusion Drives Innovations from this year's National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) 2017 blog, authored by Jennifer Sheehy, deputy assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy.

According to the Department of Labor, there are more than 500,000 apprenticeships across the country, with more opportunities added every day.  You can learn more at the Department of Labor Apprenticeship program.  The DOL blog on apprenticeship, Fast Track to a Hospitality Career, tells Mykelsy's story , which is one example of an effective workforce program in action.

New Partners, Inc. will present a recruitment on Tuesday, October 10, 2017, 10 am -  1:30 pm for Home Health Aide (5 F/T & P/T openings), at Flushing Workforce 1 Career Center, 138-60 Barclay Avenue, 2nd floor, Flushing, N 11355.  For more information, please contact Ms. Chang at 718-661-5000.

Career Development Workshop on Tuesday, October 10, 2017, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm at Brooklyn Workforce 1 Career Center, 250 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201.  This workshop is for all interested jobseekers to learn the value of the career exploration process and how the process can positively impact your career path.

Job Finding Club on Tuesday, October 10, 2017, 2 -4 pm at Flushing Workforce 1 Career Center, 138-60 Barclay Ave. 2nd floor, Flushing NY 11355.  This workshop is for all interested job seekers and dislocated worker to form a weekly support group focusing on obtaining  job goals.

Canon Business Process Services, Inc. will present a recruitment on Thursday, October 12, 2017, 10 am - 2 pm for Finance Manager (2 openings),  Sr. Manager, Technology Ops/Help Desk (1 opening), Finance Analyst (1 opening),  at Brooklyn Workforce 1 Career Center, 250 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201.   Please contact Ben Suazo at  BrooklynToWork@labor.ny.gov

Career Development Workshop: Transferring Skills on  Thursday, October 12, 2017, 12:30 - 2:30 pm at Flushing Workforce 1 Career Center, 138 60 Barclay Ave. 2nd floor, Flushing, NY 11355. This workshop is for all interested jobseekers and dislocated worker to identify their transferable skills and target them to new jobs.

Basic Resume Writing  Workshop on Thursday,  October12, 2017, 1:30 - 3 pm at Brooklyn Workforce 1 Career Center, 250 Schermerhorn  Street,  Brooklyn, NY 11201.  Participants will learn the purpose of a resume, chronological and combination resumes and select the appropriate type for their specific needs. 

 Job Zone on Friday, October 13, 2017, 9 - 11 am at Flushing Workforce 1 Career Center, 138 60 Barclay Ave. 2nd floor, Flushing, NY 11355.  This workshop is for all interested jobseekers and dislocated worker to log in, access JZ modules.  Must have ny.gov ID.  Able to use computer .For more information call 718-321-6340.

Job Postings at New York City Workforce 1.  

Apprenticeship Opportunities in New York City.

Brooklyn Community  Board 14: Available jobs

The New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCE&TC) is an association of 200 community-based organizations, educational institutions, and labor unions that annually provide job training and employment services to over 750,000 New Yorkers, including welfare recipients, unemployed workers, low-wage workers, at-risk youth, the formerly incarcerated, immigrants and the mentally and physically disabled. View NYCE&TC Job Listings.

Digital NYC is the official online hub of the New York City startup and technology ecosystem, bringing together every company, startup, investor, event, job, class, blog, video, workplace, accelerator, incubator, resource, and organization in the five boroughs. Search jobs by category on this site.

St. Nicks Alliance Workforce Development provides Free Job Training and Educational Programs in Environmental Response and Remediation Tec (ERRT). Commercial Driver's License, Pest Control Technician Training (PCT), Employment Search and Prep Training and Job Placement, Earn Benefits and Career Path Center. For information and assistance, please visit St. Nicks Alliance Workforce Development or call 718-302-2057 ext. 202.

Brooklyn Workforce Innovations helps jobless and working poor New Yorkers establish careers in sectors that offer good wages and opportunities for advancement. Currently, BWI offers free job training programs in four industries: commercial driving, telecommunications cable installation, TV and film production, and skilled woodworking.

CMP (formerly Chinatown Manpower Project) in lower Manhattan is now recruiting for a free training in Quickbooks, Basic Accounting, and Excel. This training is open to anyone who is receiving food stamps but no cash assistance. Class runs for eight weeks, followed by one-on-one meetings with a job developer. CMP also provides Free Home Health Aide Training for bilingual English/Cantonese speakers who are receiving food stamps but no cash assistance. Training runs Mondays through Fridays for six weeks and includes test prep and taking the HHA certification exam. Students learn about direct care techniques such as taking vital signs and assisting with personal hygiene and nutrition. For more information for the above two training programs, email: info@cmpny.org, call 212-571-1690, or visit. CMP also provides tuition-based healthcare and business trainings free to students who are entitled to ACCESS funding.

Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) trains women and places them in careers in the skilled construction, utility, and maintenance trades. It helps women achieve economic independence and a secure future. For information call 212-627-6252 or register online.

Grace Institute provides tuition-free, practical job training in a supportive learning community for underserved New York area women of all ages and from many different backgrounds. For information call 212-832-7605.

Please note this page will be revised when more recruitment events for the week of October 8  become available.

Classic self-help books, engaging fiction, 18th-century American history, and Jane Austen were some of the topics we discussed at our last Open Book Night, when the theme was “liberty and happiness.” The books readers recommended are described below. Please feel free to add your reading suggestions in the comments section.

New space, new name, new time! Our monthly Open Book Night program is now called What Are You Reading? We’re continuing our meetings on the second Friday of the month, but from 2 - 3 PM instead of 6 - 7 PM. We hope you’ll come see us in our interim location, Mid-Manhattan Library at 42nd Street, to talk about books! Our next What Are You Reading? book social is scheduled forFriday, October 13, at 2 PM, and the theme is "occupational hazard." From workplace fiction to true stories of life on the job, sagas of labor movements and whistleblowers to tales of corporate titans, we’d love to hear about your favorite work-related reads!

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig. 1974.

Gregory never tires of rereading Robert Pirsig’s classic meditation on how we live and how to live better. Tying the book to our theme, he explained that for Pirsig, freedom is self-understanding, and understanding, knowledge, and truth are necessary for happiness.

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz.  1997.

Be Impeccable with your Word. Don’t Take Anything Personally. Don’t Make Assumptions. Always Do Your Best.

“I was drawn to this book because of the idea of agreements, I like them! I like [that reading this] is helping me to look at my past agreements and take on these four agreements and make them my own.”  --Richelle

The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie, originally published in 1990.

“It speaks to truths of the heart with daily meditations.” --Robert

Robert also read a charming selection from a children’s book he’s writing, The Flying Purple Baby Elephant, about a litle elephant whose parents are always engaged with their smartphones,  when all he wants to do is play.

Fighting for Liberty and Virtue: Political and Cultural Wars in Eighteenth-century America by Marvin Olasky. 1995.

“I enjoy reading about early American history and this book not only gives an excellent history in the struggles for liberty in the late 18th century, but also explores the history of social and political battles that preceded the American Revolution. It also offers some prescient late 18th  century predictions about how the nascent United States would encounter future difficulties in terms of social and cultural battles.” --Cameron

Priscilla shared her love of Gillian Flynn’s novels, Gone Girl and Dark Objects. She enjoys the “odd, dark relationships” and descriptive writing and likes that Flynn puts women front and center in her books. For this reader, the suspense and excitement she feels while reading equal great happiness.

The Charm Bracelet by Viola Shipman. 2016.

“This is a story about three generations of women and how a charm bracelet becomes an important link for the three of them. The specific charms help to keep alive important events of their lives and help to bring them closer together. It was an interesting way of communicating what was important to each of the characters.” --Joan

Jessica recommended A Crack in the Sea by H. M. Bouwman, a children’s fantasy novel published in 2017. Slavery, war, and the attempt to seek refuge draw three families together in for adventure in a parallel world. And there are sea monsters!

I recommended Jane Austen, the Secret Radical by Helena Kelly. 2017. I've seen just about every Jane Austen film adapation ever made and even own quite a few, However, hearing Jane Austen described as a romance writer makes me cringe. Reading Helena Kelly's close examination of Austen's novels  to find deep criticism of the societal norms of Regency England made me happy.