Librarians Share Their Death-Sex-Money Book Picks

Death, Sex & Money

• Episode: Librarians Share Their Death-Sex-Money Book Picks
• Website: Death, Sex & Money
• Feed URL: http://feeds.wnyc.org/deathsexmoney
• Published: 2014-12-16 18:00

When we put out the call for your favorite books about death, sex and money, we should have known that it would be a task no librarian could resist. A couple of staffers at the New York Public Library sent along their favorite books that include all three topics — carefully vetting each pick for its deathiness, sexiness and money-ness. We also asked all of you for your favorite books with all three — here's the full list.

Jenny Baum, Supervising Librarian, Jefferson Market Library

(Jenny Baum)

Beautiful You by Chuck Palahinuk (2014)

A polarizing satirical book. Penny meets billionaire playboy C. Linus Maxwell and becomes the test subject of his sex toy inventions. The inventions are so successful that women lock themselves in their rooms with them and no longer come out. Chaos ensues as the men are left bereft of their womenfolk.

Checklist: Death (not sure, possibly Maxwell's first test subject) Sex (check) Money (see billionaire playboy)

The Deep Whatsis by Peter Mattei (2013)

Another satire, antihero Bill Nye is an unhinged ad exec who sees his life of carte blanche "Mad Men" style excess derailed by an intern. "Intern" as he calls her, proves infuriatingly illusive and unforgettable, contrary to the one-night stand that he meant her to be.

Checklist: Death (no, but gunshots, without giving too much away) Sex (check) Money (check)

Lynn Lobash, Manager, Reader Services

(Lynn Lobash)

The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters (2014)

Period piece to steamy romance to crime thriller. Amazing!

Checklist: Death (check) Sex (check) Money (class, so it's implied - check)

Debbie Doesn't Do It Anymore by Walter Mosley (2014)

Debbie is determined to get out of the porn business but it won't be as easy as giving two-weeks notice.

Checklist: ​Death (check) Sex (check) Money (check)

​Some Dead Genius by Lenny Kleinfeld (2014)

A fast paced slick black comedy of a book about the art scene and a plan to capitalize on all its pretensions. ​

Checklist: ​Death (check) Sex (check) Money (owed - check)

​The Circle by Dave Eggers (2014)

At first you think you have read this story a hundred times, a culmination of all the New Yorker and New York magazine profiles on the tech industry and San Francisco, but this telling will make you shut down your Instagram account.​

Checklist: Death (check) Sex (check) Money (tech billionaires - check)

The Patrick Melrose Novels by Edward St. Aubyn (2012)

Patrick Melrose is at once a snob, selfish, and mean while mocking everyone around him for these very reasons. I had to put these down at times because I began to see the world through his paranoid lens, but I always came back because I missed his sense of humor. ​

Checklist: Death (check) Sex (check) Money (check)

Maura Muller, Manager, Volunteer Program

(Maura Muller)

Sway by Katarina M. Spears (2014)

This YA novel has all three elements. High school senior Jesse Alderman, a.k.a. Sway, is a heartless survivor who will do anything for money. We should hate him, but his twisted sense of humor and smart, snide remarks make us laugh out loud at his ruthless pursuit of sex, power and money. Did the death of someone close to him really make him this cold? Is there a girl out there who can win him over?

Checklist: Death (check) Sex (check) Money (check)