What are you reading? Every month at our Open Book Hour at Mid-Manhattan Library at 42nd Street, readers meet to exchange fiction and nonfiction book recommendations. If you'd like to join us, Open Book Hour meets the second Friday of each month at 1 PM, at Mid-Manhattan Library, in the alcove outside the Program Room (room 78).

Next up: Friday, September 13 at 1 PM we're celebrating the freedom to read by sharing our favorite banned books.  You can also check out our upcoming Open Book Hour themes and see our past reading lists.

At our August session, Open Book Hour readers shared recommendations about winning, losing and competitions of all kinds.

August Open Book Hour: Rooting for the Underdog

Fiction

I’m Still Here by Clelie Avit (2016)

Joan was struck by the suspense in this story of Elsa, a mountain climber left in a coma after an accident. Looking for solace, the relative of another patient visits Elsa. The odds of her recovering are slim but the new relationship with this stranger might prove to give her something to fight for.





 

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (1939)

The story resonated with Albert. Packing up and leaving home is an emotional rollercoaster:  It’s difficult to leave behind all that is familiar in search of a better life, and people don’t make the choice lightly. To see the kindness of the human spirit is very moving.  Albert observed the timeliness of this classic novel, as it gives a different perspective on migration.

Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee (2007)

According to Helen, this novel provided a panoramic view of New York City with an eye trained on a working-class family in Queens, headed by a strict Korean father with traditional views who wants his daughters to be successful.  Plot twists and well-drawn characters made it a treat to read.





 

Old Filth by Jane Gardam (2006)

A "failed" lawyer in London tries his hand in Hong Kong. Mary Ann enjoyed the dry, ironic, "British" sense of humor.

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (2012)

A female perspective of close friendships shone bright for Michal in the first of the author’s Neapolitan Novels. The constant question of which is the brilliant friend and which is the underdog kept it interesting. An adaptation is available on HBO. 

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin (2018)

Four siblings have their fortunes told as middle schoolers in 1950s New York.  How they live with that knowledge—the choices they make, their relationships, the secrets they keep—was very interesting to Michelle, and prompts readers to wonder what they would do in their circumstances.

Nonfiction

Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin (2017)

I was fascinated by the story of one of the winningest teams in football history. The Carlisle Indian School Football team and its players faced heartbreaking hardships and challenges, but fought to play a sport simply because they loved it and excelled at it. Along the way, the team accomplished feats and devised innovations that contributed to early football’s survival as a viable sport.