Posts by Kerri Wallace

Welcome to this month’s edition of The Reader’s Den! We will be reading and discussing the historical fiction novel, The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent. You can request a copy of the book by visiting the New York Public Library’s online catalog or stopping by your local branch to 

Mulberry Street's Do It Yourself Series continues on October 19th at 6:30 p.m. We'll be constructing a paper magic folding box that is sure to please!

As some of you remember, this year's summer reading theme was "Be Creative!" Here at the Mulberry Street Branch, we participated by starting a summer Do It Yourself Series for adults. The program was held once a month and met with very enthusiastic participants. Mulberry's creative staff members transformed and revamped ordinary items into awesome 

Thank you for participating in this month's book discussion! If you were unable to pick up a copy of The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner, it is never to late to read the book and join the discussion. Feel free to post your comments any time by visiting The Reader's Den!

If you enjoyed the book, here are a few more titles you might 

I hope you have been enjoying The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner. Here are a few discussion questions to think about as you finish up the book. Feel free to post your own thoughts and comments!

Do you think Eric Weiner achieved his goal in finding the happiest places around the world? A few of the places mentioned in the book such as Iceland and Thailand seemed like surprising places to find happiness. Were you surprised by some of the locations that he picked? What 

Eric Weiner, the author of The Geography of Bliss, has been a correspondent for National Public Radio since 1993 and has been assigned to work in various places across the globe including India, Jerusalem, Iraq, and more. Weiner reported on serious topics in these places, so

For some of us, taking an exotic vacation this summer just isn't in our budget, but sometimes it's nice (and maybe a little bit cheaper) to live vicariously through other travelers' stories. Join The Reader's Den this month as we travel with Eric Weiner in his book, The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World.

In this non-fiction 

D.I.Y., or "Do it Yourself," is all the rage lately! On June 24th at 6:30 p.m. the Mulberry Street Branch launches its Summer Do It Yourself Series for adults. We'll be making simple books using recycled materials (bring an empty cereal box if you can). Just one way to Be Creative this summer!

Registration is required. RSVP by calling the library at 212-966-3424 or send us an email at mulberry_branch@nypl.org.

On May 27th at 6:30 P.M., the Mulberry Street Branch introduces you to our neighbors from Crosby Street, the Anne Frank Center USA. Established in 1977, the Center provides education and exhibits on the importance of tolerance through the memory of Anne Frank.

Join us to learn more about the Anne Frank Center USA along with information on the life of Anne Frank.

RSVP at the library, by phone at 212-966-3424, or email 

Saint Patrick's Day is tomorrow and March is usually the time when I reflect upon my heritage and honor my ancestors' history. Since March is also Women's History Month, I thought I would highlight some of my favorite female American Irish writers who inspire others to write and love great literature.

Born in 1851, Kate Chopin was the daughter of Thomas O'Flaherty, an Irish immigrant and a founder of the Pacific Railroad. Chopin was 

The goal of the Reader's Den is to offer library readers with busy lifestyles a convenient and unique way to connect with books and The New York Public Library. This online book club, accessible 24/7, gives readers an easy way to spark insightful discussions with the surrounding community, while reading at his or her own pace.

How does the Reader's Den select its books?

Each month, the selected books are chosen by librarians at The New York Public 

In honor of the Oscar awards that took place this past Sunday, I thought I'd share some Hollywood drama in the fiction form. The following novels are set in Hollywood, California and cover various themes. From satire to mystery, these novels capture the Hollywood essence.

In Charles Bukowski's Hollywood, Henry Chinaski gets caught in celebrity Hollywood as he writes his screenplay, "The Dance of Jim Bean."

After a nervous breakdown, Maria Wyeth reminisces on her days as a frustrated 

Thank you for participating in this month’s discussion! If you enjoyed The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, here are some more titles that you might enjoy:

The Blood Doctor by Barbara Vine The Keep by Jennifer Egan The Lemur by Benjamin Black The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren 

I hope everyone has been enjoying The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. The following are some questions to think about as you finish up the novel. These are just suggestions, so feel free to raise your own questions or highlight passages in the novel that you'd like to discuss further.

In what ways does 19th century literature affect the telling of The Thirteenth Tale? Why do you think Vida changes her storytelling from third person (he, she) to first person (I)? Does this strengthen the 

"A wholly original work told in the vein of all the best gothic classics." — Booklist

"Former academic Setterfield pays tribute in her debut to Brontë and du Maurier heroines: a plain girl gets wrapped up in a dark, haunted ruin of a house, which guards family secrets that are not hers and that she must discover at her peril." — Publishers Weekly

Margaret Lea has been 

Welcome to the Reader's Den! This month we will be reading and discussing The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. You can reserve your copy of the book using the Library's Catalog or by visiting your local library. The Thirteenth Tale is also available in

Looking for a New Year's resolution? Why not join a book discussion group? Don't have time to make it to your local library's book club? Then join The New York Public Library's online book group, the Reader's Den!

Please join us beginning January 2009 to read and discuss titles selected by The New York Public Library's very own librarians. Each month a 

At the age of ten, I was drawn to a particular copy of Moby Dick that my grandmother kept on her bookshelf. Its binding was made of blue and red leather with gold lettering. I was determined to read this book and so at my young age I sat on her bed and dove into the first page. "Call me Ishmael." About an hour later, I woke up. Rather than continue reading, I decided to steal the book from her shelf and finish it at a later time. Fifteen years later, I still have yet 

My grandparents were both born and raised in Newry, County Down, Ireland and remarkably never met until they both arrived in America. My grandmother was the first to come over in 1929 on a very small tugboat that took 10 days and she was apparently seasick for the entire ride and broke one of her favorite teacups. When she arrived in New Jersey, her uncle had told her that she had just missed supper and would have to wait until morning to eat. The next day, he threw a newspaper at her and told her to get a job. In 1930, my grandfather left from Belfast on a larger boat, which he would