Journalist Ada Calhoun grew up on St. Marks Place in the seventies and eighties, which she describes as simultaneously apocalyptic and magical. She returns home to explore the street’s history in her book, “St. Marks is Dead.” She discusses the special nostalgia for St. Marks Place’s vibe and why she takes comfort from history in ever-changing New York City.
When British author Hari Kunzru moved to America in 2008, he found inspiration for his latest book, “White Tears,” a mysterious ghost story centered on the blues. He talks about the political climate surrounding race in America today and why he wanted to write a ghost story to comment on modern-day racial tensions.
Author Jason Reynolds sat down with Lisa Lucas at the National Book Foundation Conference: Why Reading Matters. They discussed his many projects, including his four-part Track series and his upcoming Miles Morales Spider-Man novel. He talks about the electricity he feels when a story clicks and why we need inclusive storytelling in every medium for every age group.
Jeremiah Moss moved to New York in the 90s, which he calls a "Harold and Maude" story. He started a blog in 2007 to chart the disappearance of beloved small businesses in his neighborhood, forming the basis of his book, "Vanishing the New York: How a Great City Lost Its Soul." He talks about how gentrification changes the character of the city itself and what residents can do to fight back.
Thelma and Louise defied convention - it was the first screenplay by Hollywood outsider Callie Khouri, it starred not just one, but two women... and then there's that crazy ending. In her new book "Off the Cliff: How the Making of Thelma and Louise Drove Hollywood To the Edge," writer Becky Aikman tells the story behind the film and asks how Hollywood might learn from it in this #TimesUp moment.
Brooklyn native Roz Chast has been publishing cartoons in The New Yorker since 1978. She moved to the suburbs to start her family, and when her daughter decided to go to college in the city, Roz found out that she lacked some basic knowledge - like what a block is. Roz created an illustrated guide for her daughter, which became her latest book, "Going Into Town: A Love Letter To New York."
In her new novel, best-selling author Meg Wolitzer explores the life of a young woman growing into her identity as a feminist. After suffering a sexual assault, the protagonist seeks the advice of a famous feminist - but life complicates their mentorship. These themes are particularly relevant today, but Meg has been thinking about them for years. This book is her "warm take" on gender equality.
Steve Berry, Katherine Neville, and Jeffery Deaver are thriller writers who have sold millions of books worldwide. They discuss their advocacy of the Smithsonian Libraries' Adopt-a-Book program and their writing process. The three have been friends for years, and though their books are different, they all have something in common: they got published later in life, after living a little.