Off the Shelf is your destination for all things BOOKS. If you’re interested in reading recommendations, author interviews or the literary world's secrets, Brooklyn Public Library's bibliophile staff is at your service.
Food for Thought: 5 Cookbooks to Make You Reconsider Oatmeal
JenniferAs winter wraps its icy fingers around New York in earnest, chilly smoothies and açai bowls are a thing of the past, and it’s time to whip out grandma’s recipe for oatmeal. While oatmeal gets a bad rap, these cookbooks will have you reconsidering the breakfast staple. Bubby's Brunch Cookbook: Recipes and Menus from New York's Favorite Comfort Food Restaurant written by Ron Silver One of my favorite cookbooks with delicious recipes for every breakfast staple you could imagine—and if you try a few of the more decadent breakfast options in addition to the oatmeal, I won’t tell! Check…
Être Vivant: A Night of Philosophy and Ideas 2020 Reading List
Off the Shelf Editorial StaffAN ALL-NIGHT MARATHON of philosophical debate, performances, screenings, readings, and music. For the fourth year in a row, Brooklyn Public Library, in partnership with the Cultural Services of French Embassy, hosted A Night of Philosophy and Ideas. Thousands of New Yorkers gathered in our walls from 7p.m. on February 1, 2020 until 7a.m. on Feburary 2, 2020. Some of the most innovative and provocative thinkers of our time led lectures on topics from How to Come Up with Your Own Philosophical Questions to When a Robot Decides When You Live or Die. At the start of the…
My Super Bowl History: 30 Years of 49ers
Angie MiraflorI was nine when I first understood how important winning a Super Bowl could be to a city. Growing up in Northern California, you couldn’t miss flags flying in front of houses, neighbors wearing hats and shirts, celebrating the 49ers winning Super Bowl 24. Fast forward to Super Bowl 54: I’m a bit older...and there have been some rough seasons for the Niners—alternating quarterbacks and coaches, even stadiums (and all that relocation drama). But for now, all of the talk is for the Red and Gold to win title number six! The team has had other successful runs in recent…
Library Selection Team Recommends 3 Books You'll Love This Feburary
Off the Shelf Editorial StaffWhat books are you looking forward to this winter? Note from the Off the Shelf Blog Editors: This list of books has been curated by the BookOps book selection team. BookOps carries the responsibility of meeting the library collection management and distribution both New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library. If you're looking for reading inspiration this winter, then look no further than these upcoming releases. They've been hand-picked by the team that selects all the books you've loved at Brooklyn Public Library and New York Public Library. Shuggie Bain: A Novel…
Books for National Tea Month: A Heady Brew of Tea & Murder Most Gentle
CarlJanuary is National Hot Tea Month and nestled amongst a month of heady aromas, rich flavors, hints of milk and sugar (or not), lurks National Hot Tea day January 12. There is also National Tea day (UK) on April 20 and International Tea day on December 15. With such a multitude of days commemorating it, it should come as no surprise that Tea is the 2nd most consumed beverage on earth after water. Further the United States is the third largest importer of tea trailing only Russia and Pakistan. Whether you enjoy your tea as black or green, pu’er, white, oolong, herbal infused,…
Lose Time with Doctor Who & These Related Book Series
AdwoaIf time traveling and galaxy exploration are on your list of reasonably attainable resolutions this year, then you might (should!) be a fan of Doctor Who. In a thousand words or less, I’m going to entice you into the fandom with a bit of a Season 11 (2018, which debuted Jodie Whittaker as the 13th Doctor) wrap-up, a case for why you should (still) be watching Season 12, and also a peek into the lingo of a Doctor Who fan. And you will not need to a language decoder (think Elvish, Klingon or even Dothraki), but if you really want something to read, I’ll list books you might like to pair with…
Understanding Impeachment
The latest news in America’s political rollercoaster ride is the (maybe?) impeachment of the current president, Donald Trump. But what does that even mean? Those of us who remember Bill Clinton’s impeachment hearings maybe recall it as just being a bunch of inquiries into his extramarital dalliances, and then a big nothing; he was still president afterward. So could this be more of the same? What exactly is the President being accused of (abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, by the way), and how is Congress attempting to call him on it? And, the most important question of all, what…
"Anger is Not a Bad Energy": In Conversation with Olga Tokarczuk
Izabela Barry, Senior Librarian IA / CentralEditor's Note: This interview took place in the fall of 2010 when Olga Tokarczuk was in the US on a book tour for Primeval and Other Times. Olga Tokarczuk was a guest of the Brooklyn Public Library in 2018, and was lauded this past December with the Nobel Prize in Literature. However before she came to Brooklyn Public Library, I had the chance to interview her in the autumn 2010, when Olga Tokarczuk's book Primeval and Other Times was translated into English by Antonia Lloyd Jones. Tokarczuk was then invited by the New Literature from Europe Festival and took a short…
Library Staff Reveal Their Reading Goals for 2020
Off the Shelf Editorial Staff; Erik BobilinEnd the Decade Appreciating Your Already Good Self
RobertPerhaps it’s the never ending stream of end-of-decade, best-of and worst-of lists of TV shows, movies, plays, books, albums, memes, restaurants, etc.? Or, it could be the deluge of contantly streamable media is giving us all Lack-of-Season-al Affective Disorder (LSAD)? Or maybe it’s because we are entering an election year while still in the middle of year forever of a hostile and contentious political climate? Whatever the reason, who could blame you for feeling end-of-the-decade dread. We at Off the Shelf would like to ease that dread by offering resources and materials for a more…
Modern Little Women: An Interview with Virginia Kantra
Have you seen Little Women yet?! It's been the first question out of every book lover's mouth since Christmas Day, when Greta Gerwig's highly anticipated adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel finally hit theaters. BPL's bloggers are happy to report the movie is wonderful, it is everything, stop whatever you're doing and go see it. Even more good news: this interview with Virginia Kantra, author of Meg & Jo, the first installment of a two-book, contemporary retelling of Little Women. Whether you're a longtime Alcott reader or are brand new to March Sister fandom, you will love Kantra's…
What to Read Based on Your Favorite Holiday Movie
During the holiday season, I always ration my holiday movie-watching until the week before Christmas because I know I'll spend a large chunk of my time with my family watching all our favorites. Whether that's newer favorites like Home Alone and Polar Express to classics like It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol, we watch them all! Below I've gathered a few books I know are beloved during the season and paired them with a novel that may fit your mood, if you too, want to make those holiday movie feelings linger past the two hours it takes to watch them. It's a Wonderful Life…
5 Literary Trends of the 2010s
AdwoaAs a group that never shies away from a good pun, I thought I’d lean into librarianship for this post on trends of the last decade. And to keep it even more on topic, I’ve doubled down with a term that lost relevance amongst Millennials and Gen Z years ago. Here goes... Hands down, the number one trend of the decade could be summed up as the following: If it was Lit(erary), it was On Trend Who says libraries and books are losing relevance? This last decade saw libraries and the publishing industry as veritable Hollywood incubators. The bread and butter of modern librarianship—books (…
Wintry Fiction Has the Cold in Common
As a children’s librarian, I spend a fair amount of time talking about seasons: What’s your favorite season? —Summer! I like summer too. What do you like about summer? Is it cold in the summer? —No, silly! The summer is hot. The winter is cold. My favorite season is fall, but with fall come and gone for the year, we may as well welcome winter. And besides, there’s also a lot to love about our new weather: it gets cold, sure, but it can also be cozy; the snow can be inconvenient, but also very pretty. Perhaps it is precisely that contrast between severity and comfort that…
The Shared Spirit of Storytelling
Corina BardoffMy reading life follows mysterious weather patterns that are difficult to predict and lack design or internal consistency. Sometimes I want a collection of stories that I can read bit by bit; sometimes I want a short novel I can read through in hardly more than a sitting; usually, I need to have at least one collection of poetry at hand; always, I have fairytales. Still, a theme emerged while compiling this list of recent favorites that I am excited to share: these books are themselves about the act of sharing stories. So, amidst the mysterious weather patterns…
Getting the jump on New Year's resolutions
DonaldIt is the time of the year when many of us are preparing for New Year’s resolutions. When many of us are deciding what to resolve, we think about adopting whatever fad diets are out there, buying and renewing gym memberships, purchasing workout gear, and convincing ourselves this will be the year we will finally lose weight once and for all. I grew up watching the “New Year, New You” week-long segments on Good Morning America during the 1990s. I am one of the many people with New Year’s resolutions. Weight loss transformation is top on my resolutions for 2020. I am currently getting a head…
Must Reads of 2019 from our BookMatchers
Off the Shelf Editorial StaffA 15-year train wreck. Gorgeous and evocative. Magisterial work. Just a few descriptions our very own BookMatch Librarians have used for some of their favorite books of 2019. Take a look at these recommendations to figure out your end of decade reads or a head start to your 2020 reading goals! Please check back often as we will add more titles to this list. Fiction The Archive of Alternate Endings -- Lindsey Drager This is a slim, gut punch of a novel. Told in interlocking vignettes that follow the 75-year path of Haley's comet from 1378 to 2365, it reimagines the…
Alternatives to Black Friday
MOliverThe holiday season commences earlier and earlier each year. Forget eclipsing the Thanksgiving holidays, Hallmark began showing Christmas movies before even the Halloween decorations were removed this year. If you turn on your TV, you will notice holiday classics like A Christmas Story and Home Alone have already begun to appear amidst your regularly scheduled programming. Yet such incursions notwithstanding, the holiday season does not officially begin until the day after Thanksgiving—a date now behind us, known as Black Friday. Black Friday, lately accompanied by its…
#OwnVoices Tell Our Story
Raquel PenzoPeaceful Pilgrims escape the evils of England; neighborly ‘natives’ share their bounty with the new immigrants: a beautiful beginning to an even more beautiful country.... We are made familiar with such Thanksgiving mythology at an early age; hopefully we grow as familiar with the uncensored version by adulthood? Perhaps at some point, possibly on a college campus, we learn about the pox blankets, raping and pillaging, broken treaties and the disregard for sacred lands that amalgamate our complex history? And perhaps you've noticed, potentially in overdue acknowledgement…
Cooking for Crowds: Books to Cook This Season
LeighIt’s the time of year to dust off the roasting pans, serving platters, tofurky basters, pie plates, and anything else you might require to cook up a special meal to share with friends and family. Since moving to Brooklyn, I have become especially fond of holiday celebrations with friends and colleagues, as they tend to provide the most colorful array of foods and culinary experiences. I have enjoyed everything from rice and beans to sauerkraut to vegan cornbread during these spreads. It is to be acknowledged that what is considered a celebration or holiday food is largely subjective, and…
Dark Reads for Winter's Darkest Nights
Kim RossI’ve always been drawn to weird, dark stories that push me to think critically and speculatively about the idealized versions of life and self we’re all so often presented with. A good story, be it literary fiction, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, or whatever else is universal. It will offer the reader hope and a safe way to engage with consciousness and the ephemeral nature of reality. Here are five examples of great writing that is at once literary and genre, weird and dark. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Shirley Jackson: Novels and stories by Shirley Jackson, Edited by Joyce Carol…
1619 Project: The Power of Naming
AdwoaI wanted names. I wanted people whose narratives I could hold on to. But what struck me most while reading the essays in “The 1619 Project” were the monikers used to galvanize readers. I recognized some names as Black History Month regulars, and started to write down the ones I didn’t recognize. As I started aggregating individual names against titles and identity groupings, I realized the historical records of enslaved Africans in the British colonies consistently leaves so much unanswered. As purveyors of records, we are tasked with putting history together than can get lost to time. But…
Pens to Paper and Fingers to Keys: It’s Time for NaNoWriMo 2019!
Marlene, Assistant Branch Manager - Cypress HillsNational Novel Writing Month—abbreviated NaNoWriMo—starts today! For those of you who don’t know, NaNoWriMo is an annual internet-based writing challenge that takes place every November. The challenge? Write a 50,000 word first draft of a book…in 30 days. Don’t worry, it only sounds impossible. NaNoWriMo is a time for writers to throw aside doubt, fear, and possibly a bit of sleep to write 1,667 words (or more!) a day. It can be stressful and hectic, but is also deeply rewarding when you look back at what you’ve accomplished. I’ve taken part in (and successfully “won”) NaNoWriMo for the…
Beyond Stone Walls & Disco Balls: LGBTQ+ History Month
Djaz"All of us who are openly gay are living and writing the history of our movement" - U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (WI) June 2019 saw us celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a week in the summer of 1969 when queer folks fought back against anti-gay police brutality. Stonewall sparked the modern movement for LGBTQ+rights and has inspired annual marches and parades. Pride Month every June is a rainbow explosion of celebration and commemoration, but LGBTQ+History Month in October is a great time to learn more about the history that came before and after Stonewall.…
Quiz: Which Literary Character Should You Be For Halloween?
Off the Shelf Editorial Staff; JenniferAre you more of a Nancy Drew or a Pennywise? You won't find anyone who loves Halloween more than the people who work at a library. You'll forget every stereotype you had about what a librarian looks like when you see them decked out as their favorite character or spooky alter ego. Book lovers have a deep catalog of inspiration to mine every year when it comes time to think of a costume. If you are searching for a last-minute Halloween costume for yourself, take our quiz to discover the literary character you should impersonate this season! (function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.…
Was the Book Better?: Horror Edition
Raquel PenzoComparing 10 of Stephen King’s Scariest Tales Happy (almost) Halloween, the time of year I like to remind folks of my absolute obsession with the literary classics by horror aficionado, Stephen King. From as early as the third grade—thanks to loose library regulations and a beautiful un-censoring mother—I’ve devoured King’s tales of the supernatural, macabre, and things that go bump at all hours of the day. Imagine my blissful joy when I began to notice that his books had been turned into films! Dee Wallace and her magical crying gave Donna her power in Cujo. Miko Hughes made me never want…
Ghosts in the Attic: Horror and Dark Fantasy by Authors of Color
Moira PeckhamAh, October. The spookiest month. A time when the veil is thin and leaves are crunchy. If you’re a horror enthusiast, you know that this month is your month. If you’re looking for a break from Stephen King and Shirley Jackson, or want to explore the magnificent voices of people of color in the horror and dark fantasy genres, we’ve got the list for you. Beloved, Toni Morrison: A gothic horror staple, Morrison excavates the relationship between memory, terror, and the legacy of slavery in the United States. This Pulitzer Prize winning novel follows the family of Sethe after their escape from…
Ecohorror: Where Landscape and Anxiety Devours
Leigh, Collections Manager; Moira Peckham, Collections ManagerAmong literary genres, horror retains a unique capacity for social critique. It is unsurprising then that a subgenre depicting the growing tension between humans and the environment has arisen out of horror: ecohorror. The consequences of industry and capitalism—in particular on vulnerable or marginalized populations, grow increasingly apparent in the world around us. And as such, the true villains of ecohorror are neither the carnivorous hippos nor the trees that come to life and snatch you into the dark, but rather the extractive systems that have led to total environmental revolt. Yet not…
¿Got Libros? A Hispanic Heritage Month Primer
Raquel PenzoSometimes it takes special monthly observations to highlight what other cultures are doing. Having been educated in the US my whole academic life means 90% of my classes were America-centric and it wasn’t until college that I was introduced to literature from other nations (besides the UK). This is why National Hispanic Heritage Month—celebrated in the US from September 15 to October 15, is so special. Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to highlight the rich and varied history of Latinx people as well as their contributions to American culture (and let's be honest: the world—though…
Behind the Scenes with the BPL Literary Prize Committee
Off the Shelf Editorial Staff; Erik BobilinThe 2019 Literary Prize Shortlist Announcement: an Opportunity to Check-In with the Committee On Tuesday, September 24, Brooklyn Public Library announced its shortlist for the 2019 Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize for fiction/poetry and nonfiction. The eight selections—including two books of poetry, a short story collection, a novel and four works of nonfiction—were selected by a team of librarians. The shortlist constitutes the final stage in a rigorous, year-round process for determining the winners of the annual Prize. Last year, Jeanne Theoharis was…
Books Not Bombs, Bridges Not Walls
Muhammad, Senior Librarian, Languages and LiteratureThe First Amendment to the United States Constitution grants rights to freedom of speech, and is one of the greatest contributions that the United States’ Constitution can make to book lovers everywhere. Banned authors all over the world have looked at American ideals of freedom with awe and respect as they struggle for their rights to express their own thoughts even at the risk of their lives. Hence, American libraries and other progressive organizations have a great tradition of fighting censorship and book banning whenever it arises. Organizations such as American Library Association (ALA…
A Guide to the 2019 Brooklyn Book Festival
RobertA Short, Sweet List of Good Short Story Anthologies
ElizabethShort stories are pretty terrific. If you’re short on sustained reading time and focus due to a hectic week, or promising yourself just a few pages before you turn out the lights, a short story can be just right. Short stories can be a great way to discover new authors. Nearly all the authors whose work is collected in these anthologies have full-length novels in our collection. Sampling a story or two is a great way to reset your reading after reading a really big novel or nonfiction tome. Short stories are an excellent way to pull yourself out of a reading slump, where you can’t focus on…
Reads for Emmys Fans
MargaretThe 2019 Emmy Awards will take over television on Sunday, September 22nd. Because loving TV doesn’t mean you can’t love books too, below are a few literary recommendations for fans of this season’s most popular series & TV movies. Check out a title while you’re waiting for Hollywood to churn out a new season of your favorite show! For fans of… POSE (nominee, Outstanding Drama Series & Lead Actor) Check out: The House of Impossible Beauties by Joseph Cassara POSE, starring the fabulous Billy Porter, revolves around NYC’s underground house and ballroom…
5 Books You've Been Longing to Have Time For
Moira PeckhamDoes your apartment seem strangely quiet? Has the pitter-patter of little feet raced away down the rapidly cooling sidewalk? These are the telltale signs that your children have finally gone back to school. So the question is: what are you going to do with all your spare time? Read a very long, complicated book, of course! Here are BPL’s selections for books to read when you’ve really got the time: Outlander (850 pages) by Diana Gabaldon: In 1945, Claire, a former combat nurse, is reunited with her husband for a second honeymoon in the Scottish Highlands. When she walks through a…
A Love Letter (Booklist) to the Caribbean
Raquel PenzoLiterary Destinations: Reading Rhode Island
VLivingstonIf there’s a New York state of mind—a Brooklyn state of mind—surely there’s an Ocean State of mind: a way of being that is quirky, independent, salty and unique to Rhode Island. Like a good book, it’s a small space with a big perspective. I spent some of my youth in Rhode Island and it’s a solace that whenever I crave a stuffed quahog or Del’s frozen lemonade or a dive off of a rocky precipice into cool, blue water, there are books out there that capture some of the state’s atmosphere and spirit. There are times in my life when I’ll sigh and say to myself, I’d rather be in Rhode Island, and…
Arctic Circle Dreaming on Such a Summer's Day
MarkCrime Fiction Recommendations? We’re on the case!
Raquel Penzo*Cue haunting podcast intro* Brian Griffin was the strictest, most demanding teacher at Del Norte High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His students knew he tolerated nothing the best from them, never accepting late work. And plagiarizing would yield the biggest penalties his classes could imagine: repeating the course the following year. In the late spring in 1987, Mr. Griffin bestowed this punishment to a small group of students, as he did every June. Except that, at the end of this school year, Mr. Griffin never made it home. And that summer, he was found buried in the mountains. What…
Out of this World Science Fiction Reads
Moira Peckham
Neverending Summer: Literary Descriptions of Summer
Off the Shelf Editorial StaffHere in Brooklyn we’re not quite ready to say goodbye to summer yet. However, with school just around the corner, we might have to admit that autumn (and winter) are closer than we’d like. To try to keep the summer vibes going, we asked the Brooklyn Public Library staff to submit their favorite descriptions of summer from literature. Have a few favorites of your own? Let us know in the comments!
A Library Mourns Toni Morrison
Off the Shelf Editorial StaffInterview with Author Beth Macy
Off the Shelf Editorial Staff; Erik BobilinOn Tuesday, August 6th, 2019, journalist and best-selling author Beth Macy visited the Leonard Library to launch the paperback edition of Dopesick--a heartbreaking, essential read that takes the reader into the epicenter of America’s twenty-plus year struggle with opioid addiction. From the publisher: Macy sets out to answer a grieving mother’s question-why her only son died-and comes away with a gripping, unputdownable story of greed and need. She investigates the powerful forces that led America’s doctors and patients to embrace a medical culture where…
Sound Strategies for Summer Reading
Booklists for recommended summer reading often use images of paperback spines stretched across colorful beach towels or exciting covers tucked into a carry-on bag en route to some far off destination to conjure the feeling of getting away. Yet rarely do such lists acknowledge the damage that waterlogged pages and books left behind in rental cars and Airbnbs can do your library card fines balance! We at Off the Shelf are realists and see it as our duty to remind you that e-audiobooks, which take up no luggage space nor become homes to stowaway beach sand, are perfect for passing the hours on…
Sister Sister
Michelle MontalbanoI love talking to the women in my life--truly a collection of the smartest and coolest people in the world--about everything, really, but a favorite topic is what unique qualities the bonds between women possess, and how much of it is forged in the fires of a patriarchal society. Relationships between women are complex, crucial, formative things. They leave indelible impressions, make us who we are, inform how we see ourselves, how we understand the world, and who we are in it. Though I hardly need a special occasion to marvel over how amazing women are, August 4th nonetheless delivers unto…
5 Books to Read on Harry Potter's Birthday
Every year, Harry Potter fans around the world mark their calendar for July 31 so they can celebrate Harry Potter’s Birthday. For some that means binge-watching the movies and for others they’ll be revisiting the books. Many readers were introduced to a love of reading because of J.K. Rowlings’ series. If the Harry Potter series is the last set of books you read and loved, or you’re simply looking for a little bit of magic to be introduced to your bookshelf, check out the series on this list! Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo If you’d like to see what Ocean’s Eleven would be like if it were…
Three Beach Reads to Remind You Winter Is Bad!
Well folks, we survived the Great Heatwave of 2019, yet New Yorkers are still complaining about the heat. Oh, is it hot outside? Newsflash: it’s July! It’s basically August! In this blogger’s opinion, summer is the best time to be a book lover—there are official (and not-so-official) Summer Fridays; everyone is either on vacation, about to go on vacation or just got back from vacation (in other words, no one cares about work); and warm weather means you can read on a beach, in a park or in the pleasantly climate controlled establishment of your choice (we're here to push books,…
US Open 2019: An Unauthorized Review
There’s no better way to celebrate the end of summer more than watching world class athletes whack green fuzzy balls back-and-forth on a cauldron-like afternoon in Flushing Meadows park while sipping a cold beverage--quick shout out here to the US Open signature drink the Honey Deuce. If you’re not already a fan of US Open tennis, you are decidedly missing out… the pageantry and country club pretension of professional tennis mixed with well-lubricated New York sports fans, soap opera antics, rising stars beating the odds, and titans of the sport refusing to retire make the Flushing…
Take Time to Make Time: Pop Science in a Hurry
DjazAs the World Churns: Ice Cream Heaven at Home
JessiJuly is a month of unbearable stickiness. The stifling heat and humidity brings one inescapable form, but there is also another with more delicious character resulting from July also being National Ice Cream Month. Like most people, I prefer the stickiness that comes at the end of a delicious cup or cone. Though I am sadly lactose intolerant, it does not stop me from stealing a spoonful from my friends every now and again. Brooklyn has many excellent options for a heat-beating scoop and Brooklyn Public Library has even more options for escaping the heat…