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Carla Hayden's Reading List

The librarian of Congress, who wrote the foreword to “The Card Catalog: Books, Cards, and Literary Treasures,” likes to read about the nature of things, most recently, books on mahogany and the history of redheads.

By the Book: Carla Hayden (2017)

NYT By the Book column (2017-08-03).

Source: www.nytimes.com

My Reading Life

Pat Conroy · Buy on Amazon

"I really identify with Pat Conroy's "My Reading Life," because I have different favorites for different reasons."

When Books Went to War

Unknown · Buy on Amazon

"I recently read "When Books Went to War," about librarians working together during World War II to send books to the troops."

Women Who Read Are Dangerous

Unknown · Buy on Amazon

"I also think "Women Who Read Are Dangerous" is such an interesting book. It is about how women readers were portrayed in fine arts, which is not a topic that had ever occurred to me."

A History of Reading

Alberto Manguel · Buy on Amazon

""A History of Reading," by Alberto Manguel, includes a specific chapter that is so important. It is about forbidden reading, and talks about what happens when reading is suppressed. Everyone should understand that reading is not something to take for granted."

Too Soon to Say Goodbye

Art Buchwald · Buy on Amazon

"Art Buchwald's "Too Soon to Say Goodbye." He manages to make getting thrown out of hospice laugh-out-loud funny."

If Beale Street Could Talk

James Baldwin · Buy on Amazon

""If Beale Street Could Talk," by James Baldwin, always gets to me. I have a signed copy from a book event in 1974."

My Soul Looks Back

Jessica B. Harris · Buy on Amazon

"I hadn't picked it up in a long time but was reminded of it when I read Jessica B. Harris's memoir, "My Soul Looks Back," recently."

The Language of Flowers

Unknown · Buy on Amazon

"I remember reading "The Language of Flowers" and at one point being so mad at the main character I had to remind myself, "Carla, this is fiction." But when that happens, you know a story has you hooked. I have given that book to many people."

Bright April

Marguerite de Angeli · Buy on Amazon

"I often talk about my favorite book, which is "Bright April," by Marguerite de Angeli. It was about a young African-American girl who was a Brownie with pigtails. And that was me. It was the first book I remember where I really saw myself."

Little Women

Louisa May Alcott · 1868 · Buy on Amazon

"I was a voracious reader. I was the daughter of musicians and realized pretty early that I wasn't a musical talent. But what I did love was reading, and devoured books like Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women.""

Miss Happiness and Miss Flower

Unknown · Buy on Amazon

"When I was 8 years old, I received the book "Miss Happiness and Miss Flower." It came at a good time in my life."

On their bookshelf (2020)

Books visible on Carla Hayden's bookshelf during an April 2020 TV/media appearance. Compiled by Gal Beckerman for The New York Times. Books extracted by NYT editor from video footage.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Heart of the Ngoni

Harold Courlander with Ousmane Sako · Buy on Amazon

"A collection of centuries-old stories from the Malian kingdom of Segu, translated from the original Bambara."

Minders of Make-Believe

Leonard S. Marcus · Buy on Amazon

"A history of children's literature, from the colonial era until today."

Losing My Cool

Thomas Chatterton Williams · Buy on Amazon

"Williams tells the story of how his father saved him from hip-hop culture by deploying books to give a wider view of the world."

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