The New York Public Library’s Picks for Outstanding Books of 2002 Now Available
 
“Books to Remember” List Honors the 25 Most Notable Works of Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry
 
 
New York, NY, March 22, 2003 -- The New York Public Library unveiled its selection of the 25 Books to Remember for 2002 at a special presentation in the landmark Humanities and Social Sciences Library at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, on Friday, March 21, at 9:30 a.m. Chosen for their ability to provide an informative or transformative reading experience, these outstanding literary works span all genres – from fiction to nonfiction and poetry.

The event was attended by authors whose works are featured in the list, including Kristin Borjesson, editor of Into the Buzzsaw: Leading Journalists Expose the Myth of a Free Press (Prometheus Books), a series of provocative essays that underscore the dangerous trends in American journalism, and  Darin Straus, author of The Real McCoy: A Novel (Dutton), the story of “Kid” McCoy, a boxer, swindler, and bigamist.
 
Books to Remember has a long-standing tradition of featuring the best that the publishing world has to offer. Among this year’s choices are The Pirate Hunter: The True Story of Captain Kidd (Hyperion Books), by Richard Zacks, an entertaining, richly narrated account of the notorious buccaneer's life; Insect Dreams: The Half Life of Gregor Samsa (BlueHen Books), by Marc Estrin, an astonishing debut novel that provides a kaleidoscopic view of the 20th century via Kafka’s cockroach; A Simple Habana Melody (From When the World Was Good) (HarperCollins), by Oscar Hijuelos, a sensual bittersweet story of a Cuban's composer life and loves; and Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil War, by T.J. Stiles (Alfred A. Knopf), a compelling biography about the notorious outlaw placed in the context of Southern Reconstruction.
 
Other selections that made the list are The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Apt. 3W, by Gabriel Brownstein (W.W. Norton), a series of charming, offbeat stories featuring the eccentric tenants of an apartment building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side; as well as Noble Obsession: Charles Goodyear, Thomas Hancock, and the Race to Unlock the Greatest Industrial Secret of the Nineteenth Century (Hyperion Books), Charles Slack's captivating hard luck story of the man who revolutionized the rubber industry.

Poetry is represented by Without an Alphabet, Without a Face: Selected Poems of Saadi Youssef (Graywolf Press), by Saadi Youssef, a collection of lyrical, engaging poetry rooted in urban landscape and the politics of place. The complete list is posted on the Library's website.
 
Selecting the Best
Selection criteria for the “Books to Remember” list include literary excellence, aesthetic appeal, uniqueness of concept, and command of subject matter. The selection committee consists of seven librarians from The New York Public Library's Branch and Research divisions who specialize in working with adults. They begin by reading hundreds of book reviews. Self-described “voracious readers from whom no genre is safe,” the group next takes a closer look, reading on average more than 100 of the most notable books. Discussions and debates follow as the merits of each book are weighed. Finally, each book on the short list is read by all committee members; a final vote decides which 25 contenders will make the list.
 
“Books to Remember,” now in its 47th year, is published by The New York Public Library’s Office of Adult Services. It is an annual list of books chosen by specialty librarians for their ability to provide an informative or transformative reading experience for adults, and includes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The booklist is available free at all 85 branches of The New York Public Library.
 
Selected titles appearing on this booklist may be available in recorded, braille, or large-print versions. For more information, please contact the Andrew Heiskell Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, 40 West 20th Street, New York NY 10011-4211, (212) 206-5400, (212) 206-5458 (TTY).
 

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Contact: Debbie Bujosa at (212) 704-8600.
 
 

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