One Book, One New York is a program in which residents of all five boroughs are encouraged to read the same book at the same time. Because it is challenging to choose one book for eight million readers, the organizers held a vote. The five contenders included: 

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Sellout by Paul Beatty, Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz.  The five finalists make a wonderful set of books with much in common. They are all moving, thought-provoking, seriously well-written reflections on race, identity, society and culture.

But there can only be one winner... the votes are in, and the winner is...Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Here is a bit about your next read: 

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi, (pronounced Chim-mah-MAHN-duh en-GOH-zee ah-DEECH-ee) is a Nigerian novelist, nonfiction writer, and short story writer.

Americanah was published in 2013 and received the National Book Critics Circle Fiction award. Americanah tells the story of a young Nigerian woman, Ifemelu, who emigrates to the United States to attend university. The novel traces Ifemelu's life in both countries, threaded by her love story with high school classmate Obinze.

“This may well be the best narration of the year. ­[“Witty, wry, and observant, Adichie is a marvelous storyteller who writes passionately about the difficulty of assimilation and the love that binds a man, a woman, and their homeland.” – Library Journal

Adichie writes a vibrant tale about love, betrayal, and destiny; about racism; and about a society in which honesty is extinct and cynicism is the national philosophy. She broadens her canvas to include both America and England, where she illuminates the precarious tightrope existence of culturally and racially displaced immigrants. – Publishers Weekly

The best part about reading a book together is talking about the book together. NYPL will hold several events for New Yorkers to come together and share their thoughts and impressions.

Upcoming #OneBookNY Events at NYPL:

April 5: In a panel moderated by author, journalist, and cultural critic Touré, a group of experts will discuss the themes of Americanah in the context of current events. 6:30 PM at The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

April 18: Immigrant Stories: A discussion featuring novelist Min Jin Lee and author Simon Winchester that examines how writers are humanizing the experience of immigration. 6:30 PM at The New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.

The NYPL Podcast: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Zadie Smith on Race, Writing, and Relationships

For more from  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, listen to her appearance with Zadie Smith on The NYPL Podcast. She was joined by author Zadie Smith for a discussion on clear writing, race, and relationships . The incredible conversation was part of the "Between the Lines" series at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in 2014. Listen to the episode here.

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