Blog Posts by Subject: Romance

You know that romantic tale of one fair maiden and a prince who has been cursed to look like a beast. The love of the young woman helps to free the prince from the curse and he becomes a handsome young man once again. Here are several retellings of the fairy tale that appeal to modern day teens.

Do you shiver at the thought of winds whistling down the Yorkshire moors and waves crashing against the Cornish coast? Wrap yourself up in one of these cozy gothic romance titles.

Romance titles that didn't make our Top 25, but that will still make your heart go pitter-pat.

How do you like your romance? Driven by story, character, setting or language? (Passion is a given.)

New books and movies from these three authors.

Romance and fantasy to look forward to next year.

Heroines on the high seas say "shiver me timbers" for these swashbuckling titles.

"Gaslamp Fantasy" is essentially a sub-genre of Steampunk Fantasy. But, whereas Steampunk often involves gadgets and mad scientists in an alternate Victorian universe, Gaslamp stories are set in a magical version of the 19th century, think Jane Austen or Charles Dickens meets Harry Potter. The stories can take place at any time between the Regency Era (early 1800s) all the way up to the beginning of WWI (1914). You'll find historical settings, gothic ambience, ballrooms, wit and romance, witches, dark magic, fairies and all manner of supernatural creatures but very little science.

My romanticized view of history was crushed in college when my history professor explained that historians in writing history sometimes create fictional narratives around the facts to make it coherent and more interesting to read. I much prefer reading that George Washington cut down the cherry tree or that Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

I have to admit that I’m a tough audience when it comes to romance novels. Whenever I see a book that promises readers a heart-pounding romance, often featuring someone looking dramatically windswept on the cover, my first instinct is to look at it and laugh.

If you want a YA book with demon lovers, fairy tale-Greek mythology mashups, wicked heroines, a castle full of shadowy secrets, and a passionate romance that begins with a murder attempt, look no further.

Amour, passion, suspense… Laissez-vous emporter par des émotions à vous couper le souffle avec cette sélection de romans dont vous trouvez dans le catalogue de NYPL. Réservez-les et cherchez-les à votre bibliothèque de quartier la plus proche.

I recently had the distinct honor and utter delight of posing interview questions to an author as talented as she is gracious, Ms. Victoria Thompson. This Edgar and Agatha award-nominated writer is the author of over thirty books, including one that is the featured work (Murder in Chelsea) of the upcoming Great Kills Library Book Discussion Group, scheduled to convene on Saturday, February 8 at 

'New Adult Books?' 'What's that, as opposed to Old Adult?'

That depends on who you ask. Various media outlets have their own interpretations of what "New Adult" is. Elizabeth Burns, a blogger for School Library Journal, has an interesting spiel on what it is, and compiles other interpretations on the ideology of "New Adult."

From what I have gathered, 'New Adult' fiction is an emerging genre of literature that is exploding in popularity. It aims to delve into a 

Each year multiple literary prizes are awarded to recognize the works of great writers. Some of these awards are well known and much anticipated like the prestigious Nobel Prize for Literature, while others are lesser known. Here is a list of some of the more popular literary awards given out this year.

The Nobel Prize for Literature was established in 1901 at the bequest of Alfred Nobel (Swedish chemist, engineer, innovator and inventor of dynamite). It is awarded by the Swedish Academy in 

Finding a good book can be a Herculean task. It seems impossible and even when you think you've found something will it match your expectations or will the ending have you wanting to throw the book across the room? (Something I have done before!) Here I try to take the guess work out of finding a good book in some of your favorite genres.

Dystopia/Science Fiction

Are you fan of books with apocalyptic landscapes? Technology run amok? Villains with evil henchman? A good dystopian fantasy can immerse you in a world gone bad and have you living a character's paranoia 

Cassie, a 6th grader, is an avid reader and has pretty much read everything worth reading in the Seward Park teen collection. In fact, to find her something she hasn't read usually takes a lot of effort — on both our parts. Her favorite genre? Supernatural romance. "You're not getting bored by it?" I ask. "Never! It's so interesting to see the connections between the human characters and the supernatural ones. Even if it's the same type of supernatural being there is always a different plot." That's not to say that she likes everything she reads. She definitely 

If you are like me, then the one thing you would like about Valentine's Day is the day after: chocolates on sale!

Godiva, Ferrara, chocolate truffles, M&Ms, you name it — all those brand name sweets at 50% off or on a buy-one-get-one-free basis totally makes up for this senseless tradition.

Though the only people actually winning from this scheme are your dentists and candy makers, who's really counting your cavities when the most-ridiculous "holiday" of the year just ended?! (In my humble opinion...)

Don't get me wrong, I am not 

The Night Circus, as we've discussed, has a nearly obsessive focus on time; its passing, linearity and infinite nature. This is exemplified in the workings of its magnificent clock and its mechanical operation.

However, within the clockworks resides a nearly infinite number of possibilities to enthrall attendees. For example splashes of color are found throughout the strict black-and-white scheme. The twins' red scarves and the fires lit on the circus's opening night come to