Brooklyn Eagles Literary Prize Shortlists Announced

Brooklyn Librarians Select Fiction, Nonfiction Candidates for Inaugural Prize from Nominees Submitted by Borough Bookstores

Brooklyn, NY—The search for the defining Brooklyn literary works of the past year continued today as Brooklyn Public Library announced the shortlists for the inaugural Brooklyn Eagles Literary Prize. The shortlist committees selected three fiction and three nonfiction works from a longlist of nominees submitted by borough bookstores, librarians and Brooklyn Eagles.

“The shortlists for the Brooklyn Eagles Literary Prize feature works of fiction and nonfiction that contribute much to our understanding of both contemporary and historical Brooklyn,” said BPL President and CEO Linda E. Johnson.

The prize was created by the Brooklyn Eagles, a community of young professionals who volunteer their time and raise funds for the Library, to celebrate Brooklyn's literary culture with input from the people and institutions essential to its vibrancy: bookstores, librarians and artists. The books on the shortlist are the works of authors who have lived in Brooklyn, portrayed it in prose or addressed themes relevant to the life and culture of the borough.

“Exactly what constitutes a great 'Brooklyn book' is difficult to pin down, but each of the shortlisted works captures some unique and defining aspect of the Brooklyn experience,” said Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times editor and Literary Prize Co-Chair Charles Duhigg.

The shortlisted works:

Fiction:

  • James Hannaham, Delicious Foods (Little, Brown and Company): A brutal yet compassionately rendered tale of a mother desperate to escape addiction and enslavement to reunite with her son. Nominated by Barnes & Noble on Court Street.
     
  • Atticus Lish, Preparation for the Next Life (Tyrant Books): An acclaimed, PEN/Faulkner Award-winning debut novel that charts the tortured love story of a Chinese immigrant and a returning American combat veteran as they confront homelessness, incarceration and alienation in New York City. Nominated by Community Bookstore.
     
  • Anya Ulinich, Lena Finkle's Magic Barrel (Penguin): A thoughtful and wholly original graphic novel that examines with frank honesty the challenges of parenting and dating in Brooklyn. Nominated by WORD Brooklyn.

Nonfiction:

  • DW Gibson, The Edge Becomes the Center: An Oral History of Gentrification in the 21st Century (The Overlook Press): A refreshingly democratic and clear-eyed take on a subject of central, even consuming, interest to Brooklynites. Nominated by a Brooklyn Bookmatch librarian.
     
  • Claire Prentice, The Lost Tribe of Coney Island: Headhunters, Luna Park, and the Man Who Pulled off the Spectacle of the Century (New Harvest): An absorbing look at a disturbing and nearly forgotten story from America's sideshow past. Nominated by the Brooklyn Collection.
     
  • Kent Russell, I Am Sorry to Think I Have Raised A Timid Son (Knopf): A bold collection from a Brooklyn-based essayist whose distinct voice unites his wide-ranging subjects. Nominated by a Brooklyn Eagle.

The Brooklyn Eagles Literary Prize shortlists will be evaluated by accomplished writers who have contributed greatly to the borough's literary community and culture. The judges, to be named later this summer, will award the fiction and nonfiction prizes on October 23 at the fall Classic, the Brooklyn Eagles' premier annual fundraising event.

The Brooklyn Eagles Literary Prize is supported by the Peck Stacpoole Foundation, which is funding the prizes that will be awarded to the winners.

About Brooklyn Public Library

Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) is an independent library system for the 2.5 million residents of Brooklyn. It is the fifth largest library system in the United States with 60 neighborhood libraries located throughout the borough. BPL offers free programs and services for all ages and stages of life, including a large selection of books in more than 30 languages, author talks, literacy programs and public computers. BPL’s eResources, such as eBooks and eVideos, catalog information and free homework help, are available to customers of all ages 24 hours a day at our website: www.bklynlibrary.org.

About the Brooklyn Eagles

The Brooklyn Eagles are a community of engaged young Brooklyn Public Library supporters whose mission is to connect with new patrons, promote BPL as a cultural center and build a vibrant community around the Library. The Eagles support BPL by fundraising, advocating and raising awareness for Library programs and resources. Since 2013, the Eagles have volunteered their time and engaged hundreds of young professionals through their service projects, happy hours and the annual Brooklyn Classic fundraiser.

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