We asked our book experts to pair a book they love with a something to eat. We hope you find something delicious.

Harry Potter

Photo by popculturegeek on Flickr

A nice cup of butter beer could keep you hydrated while reading Harry Potter. Don't know how to make butter beer, check out the recipe in The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook, which (or witch?), needless to say, contains a multitude or other fantastic recipes to make! —Emily Lazio, Tompkins Square

Motherless Brooklyn and A Confederacy of Dunces

Photo by Sh4rp_i on Flickr

In the spirit of upcoming summer barbecues, I would like to recommend a hamburger book and a hot dog book. Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem immediately brings to mind salty, greasy burgers, as the novel opens with the protagonist scarfing down a few to sate both his hunger and Tourette's: "Food really mellows me out," he says. Me too. To pair with your summer hot dogs I strongly recommend a famous tale of a larger-than-life, failed hot dog salesman/Medieval scholar: A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. —Nancy Aravecz, Jefferson Market

Oryx and Crake

Photo by james_mann on Flickr

Reading the revolting description of "ChickieNobs" in Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake—which skewers genetically modified food—makes me want to eat green vegetables pulled directly from the ground, like a handful of spinach or a whole zucchini. Or anything except ChickieNobs. —Gwen Glazer, Readers Services

The Lord of the Rings

Photo by eraphernalia_vintage on Flickr

How about a dish of mushrooms and The Lord of the Rings (Hobbits love mushrooms)? A mushroom omelette for second breakfast? —Nicole Rosenbluth, Pelham Bay

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Image by thostinsl on Flickr

How about Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with the full tea party spread. You know, cucumber sandwiches and lovely cakes and such. —Althea Georges, Mosholu

Bruno, Chief of Police

Photo by dgmckelvey on Flickr

I reminisce about Martin Walker's Bruno, Chief of Police, wandering through a small village market in the South of France, sneaking some illicit raw cheese with freshly baked baguette, before the EU inspectors crack down! —Sherri Machlin, Mulberry Street

Little House

Photo by Michael Stern on Flickr

Whenever I think of the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder all I want is a big stack of pancakes and real maple syrup. —Anne Rouyer, Mulberry Street

Iron Druid Chronicles

Photo by o_0 on Flickr

Reading Kevin Hearne's hilarious Iron Druid Chronicles makes me hungry for 6,000-year-old Atticus O'Sullivan's favorite meal: a hearty breakfast comprising an omelette with sausage and bacon on the side, with extra links and rashers for his sentient, faithful Irish wolfhound Oberon. —Joshua Soule, Spuyten Duyvil

Scotland Street

Photo by santos on Flickr

Alexander McCall Smith's Scotland Street novels would be lovely with smoked salmon sandwiches and prosecco. (The prosecco is from Italy, but McCall Smith's Edinburghers do love their Italian specialities.) —Elizabeth Waters, Mid-Manhattan

Summer Sisters

Photo by jpallan on Flickr

Set on idyllic Martha's Vineyard, Judy Blume's Summer Sisters would pair perfectly with steamed lobster and corn. And for dessert...ice cream from Mad Martha's. —Annie Lin, Mulberry Street

Empire Falls

Photo by m01229 on Flickr

Empire Falls would go great with diner fare: burger, fries and a shake. —Ariel Landau, Web team

My Life in France

Photo by DocteurCosmos on Wikimedia Commons

I suggest Julia Child's My Life in France with boeuf bourguignon? Yum! —Susie Tucker Heimbach, Mulberry Street

The Blue Bistro

Photo by personalcreations on Flickr

I would love to pack a beach picnic to read anything by Elin Hilderbrand. Not only because all of her books are juicy beach reads set in Nantucket, but also because the meal prepared in each book are mouthwatering (especially The Blue Bistro). —Morgan O’Reilly, Aguilar

Dune

Photo by dreyboblue on Flickr

Dune by Frank Herbert: Bottled Water and Gummy Worms —Seth Pompi, Ottendorfer

The Search for Delicious

Photo by cookbookman on Flickr

How do you define 'delicious'? Is it a meal of pork, watermelon, and raisin cake (which sounds delectable to me!)? Natalie Babbitt's The Search for Delicious will have you snacking the whole way through...until the search is over and the definition for 'delicious' is determined. —Alexandria Abenshon, Yorkville

The Rubáiyát

Photo by dottorpeni on Flickr

Photo by Lehightrails on Wikimedia Commons

For Edward FitzGerald's version of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám: A jug of wine, a loaf of bread ... and thou. A perfect picnic in the wilderness. —Kathie Coblentz, Cataloging

On the Road

Photo by Lilitik22 on Wikimedia Commons

Whenever I think of Jack Kerouac's On the Road, I get a craving for apple pie and ice cream, the meal of choice for Sal and Dean as they race around the continent. Great to eat while reading the book at home - but much better to order while reading the book in a great old diner, especially if you can get a booth or a swivel stool at the counter. —Jeff Katz, Chatham Square

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

Photo by beckayork on Flickr

While reading Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg, you must have, well, fried green tomatoes. If you've seen the movie, (spoiler alert) we'll skip that human barbecue, thanks. "Secret's in the sauce." —Leslie Bernstein, Mott Haven

Harriet the Spy

Photo by byjane on Flickr

Well, obviously, one has to eat tomato sandwiches while reading Harriet the Spy. —Ronnie Krasnow, Morningside Heights

Devil May Care

Photo by galant on Flickr

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks (a James Bond novel in the tradition of Ian Fleming) introduced me to the omelette aux fines herbes, which might be nice paired with a Bond-inspired martini. —Jenny Baum, Jefferson Market

Stephanie Plum novels

Photo by randychiu on Flickr

I think it would have to be meatloaf and chocolate cake with any one of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels. Or maybe an Italian meatball sub and a dozen donuts. Then again, fried chicken in a bucket would also be nice. Stephanie and her family and friends are always eating! —Virginia Bartow, Cataloging

The Silence of the Lambs

Photo by Steven Walling on Wikimedia Commons

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris calls for liver and fava beans. ff ff ff ff ff ff ff —Billy Parrott, Mid-Manhattan Library

Please Ignore Vera Dietz

Photo by Contributorwiki12 on Wikimedia Commons

Photo by Reedy on Wikimedia Commons

Pizza and Vodka are just the thing to pair with Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King —Jacqueline Quinn, George Bruce

The Importance of Being Earnest

Photo by grandgrrl on Flickr

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde should be paired with cucumber sandwiches, of course! —Emily Merlino, Yorkville

Nero Wolfe

Photo by stevendepolo on Flickr

How 'bout some Nero Wolfe—while drinking multiple bottles of beer (or milk), followed by a leisurely, perfect dish of scrambled eggs? —Kay Menick, Schomburg

Ancillary Justice

Photo by thebountifulbird on Flickr

I do hope that when you start the fabulous Imperial Radch trilogy with Ancillary Justice, that you do so with a pot of fancy tea in the nicest tea set that you can manage. —Carmen Nigro, Milstein Division

Kitchen Confidential

Photo by scaredykat on Flickr

Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly should be eaten with a juicy, medium rare steak, some frites, and a glass of good red wine. —Rebecca Dash Donsky, 67th Street

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

Photo by notahipster on Flickr

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers is best read over fish tacos (from a truck obviously.) —Lynn Lobash, Readers Services

Have trouble reading standard print? Many of these titles are available in formats for patrons with print disabilities.

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!