Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I'm Mike - this is Riff Raff's Reading Renaissance. Welcome!
Today I'm taking on The New York Book Tag, created by Jim's Books Reading and Stuff - I was tagged by the wonderful Margaret Pinard.
Booktubers mentioned:
Jim - @jimsbooksreadingandstuff
Margaret - @MargaretPinard
There are 11 questions, all inspired by New York City — and my answers take us through books, movies, music, painting, publishing, Broadway, artificial intelligence, 9/11 and some personal memories of visiting New York.
The New York Book Tag Questions:
1. What is your favorite book set in or around New York?
2. New York is famous for its skyscrapers. What is the highest building you have been up?
3. New York, New York, so good they named it twice. What is the last book you re-read?
4. American Psycho was a disturbing novel set in New York. What is the most disturbing book you have read?
5. Where were you when you heard the news about 9/11?
6. What is your favorite movie set in New York?
7. Have you been to New York? When was the last time you visited New York?
8. Who is your favorite painter from New York or what is your favorite painting of New York?
9. What is your favorite song about New York?
10. New York is seen as the publishing capital of the world. What is your favorite publishing house?
11. What's your favorite Broadway musical?
12. Tag some friends!
Chapters / Timestamps
00:00 Intro - The New York Book Tag
00:30 Prompt 1. The Goon Squad from NY
01:39 Prompt 2. Getting High in NY with Dolly!
02:43 Prompt 3. Failing the re-reading test
03:36 Prompt 4. Troubled by Trump and the Singularity
06:59 Prompt 5. Memories of 9/11
08:28 Prompt 6. Three favourite NY movies
09:29 Prompt 7. Visiting NY
09:48 Prompt 8. Favourite NY Artworks
10:31 Prompt 9. My favourite 950 NY Songs!
12:07 Prompt 10. Publishing in South Africa
13:00 Prompt 11. The World’s 2 Best musicals (bar none!)
15:28 Have you been to New York? You’re tagged!
15:59 Final thoughts
📚 Books mentioned:
Jennifer Egan — A Visit from the Goon Squad
Carol Leonnig & Philip Rucker — I Alone Can Fix It
James Barrett — Artificial Intelligence and the End of the Human Era: Our Final Invention
Ray Kurzweil — The Singularity Is Near
Ray Kurzweil — The Singularity Is Nearer
Nelson Mandela — Long Walk to Freedom
🎬 Films mentioned:
When Harry Met Sally
Manhattan
Six Degrees of Separation
🎵 Music mentioned:
Art Garfunkel — “Heart in New York”
Link - youtube.com/watch?v=65rfcOrC6rs
The Milk Carton Kids — “New York”
Link - youtube.com/watch?v=HW_07a0zZlI
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong — “Autumn in New York”
Link - youtube.com/watch?v=OI7Cl0zVG1Q
Jim Croce — “New York's Not My Name”
Link - youtube.com/watch?v=zcWIrualf3w
🎭 Musicals mentioned:
Les Misérables
Riverdance
VIEWER QUESTION:
Have you ever been to New York?
If you have, consider yourself tagged! 😄 And you don't actually need my permission — if you like the questions, do the tag and let me know so I can come and watch it.
I'm particularly curious about your answers to:
📚 Favourite book set in New York?
🎬 Favourite New York movie?
🎵 Favourite song about New York?
🎭 Favourite Broadway musical?
And the big one: Where were you on 9/11?
If you enjoyed this New York Book Tag, please like, subscribe and join me on RiffRaff's Reading Renaissance for more books, BookTube tags, literary discussions, reading challenges, music and the occasional cultural ramble.
And for the almighty algorithm:
#NewYorkBookTag #booktube #newyork #booktags #BooksAboutNewYork #reading
I'm Mike - this is Riff Raff's Reading Renaissance. Welcome!
Today I'm taking on The New York Book Tag, created by Jim's Books Reading and Stuff - I was tagged by the wonderful Margaret Pinard.
Booktubers mentioned:
Jim - @jimsbooksreadingandstuff
Margaret - @MargaretPinard
There are 11 questions, all inspired by New York City — and my answers take us through books, movies, music, painting, publishing, Broadway, artificial intelligence, 9/11 and some personal memories of visiting New York.
The New York Book Tag Questions:
1. What is your favorite book set in or around New York?
2. New York is famous for its skyscrapers. What is the highest building you have been up?
3. New York, New York, so good they named it twice. What is the last book you re-read?
4. American Psycho was a disturbing novel set in New York. What is the most disturbing book you have read?
5. Where were you when you heard the news about 9/11?
6. What is your favorite movie set in New York?
7. Have you been to New York? When was the last time you visited New York?
8. Who is your favorite painter from New York or what is your favorite painting of New York?
9. What is your favorite song about New York?
10. New York is seen as the publishing capital of the world. What is your favorite publishing house?
11. What's your favorite Broadway musical?
12. Tag some friends!
Chapters / Timestamps
00:00 Intro - The New York Book Tag
00:30 Prompt 1. The Goon Squad from NY
01:39 Prompt 2. Getting High in NY with Dolly!
02:43 Prompt 3. Failing the re-reading test
03:36 Prompt 4. Troubled by Trump and the Singularity
06:59 Prompt 5. Memories of 9/11
08:28 Prompt 6. Three favourite NY movies
09:29 Prompt 7. Visiting NY
09:48 Prompt 8. Favourite NY Artworks
10:31 Prompt 9. My favourite 950 NY Songs!
12:07 Prompt 10. Publishing in South Africa
13:00 Prompt 11. The World’s 2 Best musicals (bar none!)
15:28 Have you been to New York? You’re tagged!
15:59 Final thoughts
📚 Books mentioned:
Jennifer Egan — A Visit from the Goon Squad
Carol Leonnig & Philip Rucker — I Alone Can Fix It
James Barrett — Artificial Intelligence and the End of the Human Era: Our Final Invention
Ray Kurzweil — The Singularity Is Near
Ray Kurzweil — The Singularity Is Nearer
Nelson Mandela — Long Walk to Freedom
🎬 Films mentioned:
When Harry Met Sally
Manhattan
Six Degrees of Separation
🎵 Music mentioned:
Art Garfunkel — “Heart in New York”
Link - youtube.com/watch?v=65rfcOrC6rs
The Milk Carton Kids — “New York”
Link - youtube.com/watch?v=HW_07a0zZlI
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong — “Autumn in New York”
Link - youtube.com/watch?v=OI7Cl0zVG1Q
Jim Croce — “New York's Not My Name”
Link - youtube.com/watch?v=zcWIrualf3w
🎭 Musicals mentioned:
Les Misérables
Riverdance
VIEWER QUESTION:
Have you ever been to New York?
If you have, consider yourself tagged! 😄 And you don't actually need my permission — if you like the questions, do the tag and let me know so I can come and watch it.
I'm particularly curious about your answers to:
📚 Favourite book set in New York?
🎬 Favourite New York movie?
🎵 Favourite song about New York?
🎭 Favourite Broadway musical?
And the big one: Where were you on 9/11?
If you enjoyed this New York Book Tag, please like, subscribe and join me on RiffRaff's Reading Renaissance for more books, BookTube tags, literary discussions, reading challenges, music and the occasional cultural ramble.
And for the almighty algorithm:
#NewYorkBookTag #booktube #newyork #booktags #BooksAboutNewYork #reading
