When we asked our book experts about books that changed their lives, we fell in love with their picks — and we wanted you to hear what they had to say, in their own voices. Plus: Frank and Gwen add their own childhood game-changers.
Check out the full list: 40 Books that Changed Librarians' Lives
Gwen and Frank discover two very different alternate worlds that speak to our present times. Their seemingly mismatched books offer stellar writing and clever takes on fantasy, dystopias and cringe-worthy identity politics. Plus: Frank has some, um... words for the author of his book.
Book Recommendations
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Adjustment Day by Chuck Palahniuk
Rosa Caballero-Li, manager of Ask NYPL, has all the answers! Rosa tells Frank and Gwen about the ins, outs, ups, and downs of the Library's multifaceted reference service, staffed by real-live human people. Plus: a story within a story presents some guessing game twists.
Need assistance? Have a question? Get in touch with Ask NYPL.
Book Recommendation
Her Body and Other Parties: Stories by Carmen Maria Machado
Non-Book Recommendations
"Lots of People Love ‘To Kill A Mockingbird.’ Roxane Gay Isn’t One of Them."
The album "Dirty Computer" by Janelle Monae
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Which books do you wish you'd read in high school? Frank and Gwen offer up some ideas and then move on to city novels with urban themes and a picture book about a dog who tries to be a fork. Plus: what to do if you can't get enough of the Queer Eye guys.
Book Recommendations
"NYT: If You Could Add One Book to the High School Curriculum, What Would It Be?"
Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
Bull by David Elliott
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
The City and the City by China Miéville
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
Non-Book Recommendations
Short videos of the Queer Eye guys on YouTube, such as 9 Things They’ve Never Done Before (in which Jonathan and Tan bedazzle a tie), a round of Never Have I Ever, and a bizarre social-media compliment battle.