These are the Top Checkouts at NYPL Branches on the Lower East Side In 2019
The New York Public Library just released every bookworm’s favorite year-end list: 2019’s top checkouts.
This year’s favorite page turner from the city stacks was none other than the autobiography, Becoming, penned by former First Lady Michelle Obama. But Lower East Side branches opted for a variety of bestsellers this year. The Seward Park branch’s most popular loan was the acclaimed generational saga, Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee; Tompkins Square patrons loved the fantastically humanizing account of Greek gods and goddesses found in Circe by Madeline Miller; Chatham Square enjoyed Crazy Rich Asians, by Kevin Kwan; Hamilton Fish Park shared in the city-wide top checkout, Becoming; and Mulberry Street’s couldn’t get enough of Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover.
The library also broke down 2019’s top titles by genre:
Classics: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Comics and Graphic Novels: Saga by Fiona Staples and Brian K. Vaughan
Fantasy: Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
Horror: The Shining by Stephen King
Mystery and Detective: The Chef by James Patterson
Romance: Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks
Science Fiction: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Speaking of Farenheit 451, here’s our annual reminder to not let Bradbury’s cautionary tale ever become a reality – visit your local branch, sign up for a library card, and read.
In January, the NYPL plans to announce its top checkouts of all time (our money is on Fitzgerald or Austen), as part of its 125th anniversary celebration. The list will coincide with a New Year’s resolution challenge from the library for all patrons (young and old) to read 20 minutes every day – it will issue reading lists and programs to help readers reach this goal in 2020.
Recent Stories
Electeds Behind ‘Save Our Storefronts Act’ Tour LES Small Businesses
Since last spring, the coronavirus pandemic has laid waste to countless small businesses around the city, with many more barely treading water. Assemblymember Harvey Epstein and State Senator Brad Holyman are looking to change that. The two elected officials visited Lower East Side stores Wednesday in an effort to promote the Save Our Storefronts Act. […]
The Meatball Shop Sues Jersey Shore’s Snooki and Deena over Merch
Jersey Shore alums Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Deena Cortese are in hot sauce this week for a line of “Meatball”-related merch. The Meatball Shop filed a lawsuit against the duo, alleging trademark infringement, according to TMZ. The legal papers also claim that Polizzi and Cortese lifted the restaurant’s merchandise for use on their “Team Meatball” […]
Dr Smood Shutters LES Outpost After 3 Years
Three years later, the Dr Smood organic cafe on the Lower East Side is flatlined. Readers relayed that the neon signs hanging inside 181 East Houston Street were deposed yesterday, along with the writing on the windows. The light housings now sit discarded. When reached for comment, a spokesperson stated only that, “sadly [the cafe] […]
Stanton Street 99-Cent Pizzeria Robbed Before Thanksgiving
Another commercial robbery in Hell Square. Last week, just before Thanksgiving, the 99-cent pizzeria at 105 Stanton Street fell victim. Police say that two men busted through the front door and stole money from the cash register ($1,400) as well as an electronic bicycle (valued at $2,400). Both individuals were seen fleeing eastbound on Stanton Street […]
Running for Chinatown Amidst a Pandemic (Again)
For the second time since spring, one Chinatown native is literally stepping up to help the community. Leland Yu, the 28-year-old member of the Chinese Freemasons Athletic Club, returns to the pavement this Saturday for his 12-hour “Run for Chinatown.” The last time around, he clocked an astonishing 61.2 miles, and raised over $18,000. Yu […]
