Carnegie Medal Laureates Majumdar and Li Honour Libraries as Literary Sanctuaries
Esteemed novelist Megha Majumdar and acclaimed author Yiyun Li have been honoured with the prestigious Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence, celebrating their outstanding contributions to fiction and nonfiction respectively. Beyond their literary accolades, both writers have expressed a deep, personal affinity for libraries, which they regard as vital spaces for creativity, discovery, and community.
Majumdar's Fictional Triumph and Library Devotion
Megha Majumdar has secured the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction for her compelling novel, "A Guardian and a Thief." This powerful narrative delves into the turbulent journey of a woman striving to emigrate from India to reunite with her husband in the United States. The American Library Association announced this accolade, with Majumdar set to receive a $5,000 prize and formal recognition at the ALA's gathering in Chicago this June.
Lillian Dabney, chair of the awards' selection committee, praised Majumdar's work, stating, "Megha Majumdar’s intoxicating novel is filled with emotion and relevance to all people and all places across time." At 38, Majumdar, an immigrant who moved to the U.S. for her studies at Harvard University, has rapidly established herself as a significant voice in contemporary literature. Her debut novel, "A Burning," released in 2020, was a critically acclaimed bestseller, and "A Guardian and a Thief" was previously a finalist for the Kirkus Prize and National Book Award, as well as a selection for Oprah Winfrey's book club.
For Majumdar, libraries are not merely repositories of books but dynamic environments that foster both solitude and social connection. She frequents libraries in New York, where she resides with her family, noting specific spots like the jigsaw puzzle table in midtown Manhattan and the telescope she borrowed from Brooklyn Public Library for stargazing. "I go often enough that I have favourite places to sit," she remarks, highlighting how libraries serve as ideal settings for her writing process.
Reflecting on her experiences in Kolkata and Brooklyn, Majumdar cherishes libraries as inclusive havens. "It’s a very good feeling to be in a place which affirms that we are welcome there, we are part of the life of the city," she explains. "We can enjoy solitude and the company of our fellow city dwellers at once. We can pluck any book off the shelf and read for a bit, we can think and wander in our minds. And we do not have to buy anything to be there. That is rare, and energizing, and beautiful to me."
Li's Nonfiction Achievement and Library Inspiration
Yiyun Li has been awarded the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction for her poignant memoir, "Things in Nature Merely Grow." In this deeply personal work, Li confronts the profound loss of her two sons, both of whom tragically took their own lives. She will also receive $5,000 and be honoured alongside Majumdar at the ALA event.
Dabney commended Li's courage, saying, "Yiyun Li has courageously put almost inexplicable events into words that will benefit all who encounter her book." At 53, Li is a recipient of numerous literary honours, including the PEN/Faulkner Award for her novel "The Book of Goose" and The Guardian First Book Award for her story collection "A Thousand Years of Good Prayers." A native of Beijing who emigrated to attend the University of Iowa in 2000, Li's first encounter with a library was a transformative moment in middle school when she served as a librarian's assistant, an experience she describes as "monumental."
Upon moving to the U.S., Li was captivated by the public library in Ames, Iowa, which became a cornerstone of her education and literary exploration. "I would walk from shelf to shelf," she recalls. "That's how I discovered A.S. Byatt. There was a big collection of A.S. Byatt in the A's, so I started to read her. I read through the collections, from A to Z." Today, as the Robert F. Goheen Professor in the Humanities at Princeton University—a position once held by Nobel laureate Toni Morrison—Li continues to utilise university libraries for writing and finds joy in visiting public libraries to browse collections, particularly language books for immigrants and travel guides.
"In an alternative life, I could have been a librarian," Li muses, emphasising her enduring appreciation for the tangible presence of books. "I'm an old-fashioned person who likes to see the object."
Legacy and Impact of the Carnegie Medals
The Andrew Carnegie Medals, presented by the American Library Association, recognise exceptional works in fiction and nonfiction that demonstrate outstanding literary merit and appeal to adult readers. Previous recipients of these esteemed awards include notable authors such as Percival Everett, Jennifer Egan, and Donna Tartt, underscoring the medals' significance in the literary world.
Both Majumdar and Li exemplify how libraries can inspire and nurture literary talent, serving as essential cultural institutions that promote access, community, and intellectual growth. Their stories highlight the enduring relevance of libraries in an increasingly digital age, celebrating these spaces as sanctuaries for writers and readers alike.
