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The
New York Public Library Young Lions Fiction Award ceremony |
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Rick
Moody, Peter Rock, Ben Marcus, Adam Johnson, Anthony Doerr, Paul
LeClerc, Ethan Hawke, and Jennifer Rudolph Walsh
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week Anthony Doerr and Jonathan Safran Foer won The
New York Public Library Young Lions Fiction Award. It was the first
time the New York Public’s Young Lions fiction Award went
to two of the five finalists.
Anthony Doerr was awarded for his story collection, The Shell
Collector and Jonathan Safran Foer, for his novel Everything
Is Illuminated.
“These two works of fiction are both so different and yet
so accomplished in their own distinct ways that the judges felt
the prize should be shared by both authors," said Dr.
Paul LeClerc in presenting the awards. The other finalists
were Adam Johnson for Emporium, Ben
Marcus for Notable American Women and Peter
Rock for The Ambidextrist. The ceremony was held
in the Library's landmark building at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue.
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Uma
Thurman and Ethan Hawke |
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The Fiction
Award honors a novel or collection of short stories published within
the calendar year by an American author age 35 or younger. The award
was established by the Young Lions, a membership group for supporters
of the Library in their 20s and 30s, and it is the only major book
prize that recognizes fiction by younger writers. The establishment
of the award was spearheaded by committee members Rick Moody,
Ethan Hawke, and Jennifer Rudolph Walsh.
The ceremony, held in the Library’s Celeste Bartos Forum,
featured actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman reading excerpts from
the finalist's works. Novelist Rick Moody (The Ice Storm, Demonology)
spoke about the challenges facing aspiring writers, and literary
agent Jennifer Rudolph Walsh introduced the writers
and their work.
Anthony Doer was there to accept his award and graciously acknowledge
the other finalists. Jonathan Safran Foer was out of the country.
His award was accepted by his editor, Eric Chinski,
who explained that Foer spent hundreds of hours in The New York
Public Library's third-floor Rose Main Reading Room "writing
and pondering the Library's pneumatic tube system."
A Reading Committee of Young Lions members, writers, editors, and
librarians selected the Fiction Award finalists. The award judges
were Joyce Carol Oates, Caryl Phillips, and Colson
Whitehead. Whitehead was the award-winner in 2002 for John
Henry Days. In 2001 the prize went to Mark Danielewski for
House of Leaves.
Nominations for the 2004 award are now being accepted. Award nomination
guidelines and entry forms are available from the Library's web
site by clicking
here or by calling 212-930-0887. Submissions for books published
in 2003 will be accepted through August 1, 2003.
About the Young Lions:
For an annual contribution of $300, Young Lions members are invited
to special events created for the group by the Young Lions Committee.
Programs include panels, lectures, VIP exhibition openings, behind-the-scenes
tours and the Young Lions Fiction Award. For more information on
the Young Lions and upcoming events, please call 212-930-0670 or
check the Library's web site by clicking
here. |
The
Council of Fashion Designers of America and Gen Art
hosted an event last night "The Future of Fashion: A Panel Discussion
on the Challenges Facing Young Designers Today," followed by
cocktails at the Graduate Center of C.U.N.Y.
Bridget Foley, vice president and executive editor
of W and Women's Wear Daily, moderated the discussion.
The guest panelists were designers Narciso Rodriguez
and Rebecca Taylor, Julie Gilhart, fashion director
of Barneys New York, attorney Elizabeth Pearce of
Pearce LLP, who represents many notable fashion clients, and Sally
Singer, fashion news / features director of Vogue.
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