Book Reviews

Navigating the In-Between: A Review of Luivette Resto’s “Living on Islands Not Found on Maps”

A book review of San Gabriel Valley resident, poet, mother and teacher, Luivette Resto’s new collection “Living on Islands Not Found on Maps,” written by Compton writer Jenise Miller. Continue reading Navigating the In-Between: A Review of Luivette Resto’s “Living on Islands Not Found on Maps”

Los Angeles Literature Events: 05/23/22 – 05/29/22
L.A. Literary Happenings, Literary Long Beach, Los Angeles Literary Events

Los Angeles Literature Events: 05/23/22 – 05/29/22

NOTE: There Are Both Online and Virtual Events Listed Here

Luncheon with Emma Straub: Book Launch of This Time Tomorrow at Slay Italian Kitchen – In-Person Event

Pages hosts a luncheon to celebrate the publication of Emma Straub’s’ new book, This Time Tomorrow at Slay’s Italian Kitchen.  The author will be in conversation with Janelle Brown, author of I’ll Be You.

On the eve of her 40th birthday, Alice’s life isn’t terrible. She likes her job, even if it isn’t exactly the one she expected. She’s happy with her apartment, her romantic status, her independence, and she adores her lifelong best friend. But her father is ailing, and it feels to her as if something is missing. When she wakes up the next morning she finds herself back in 1996, reliving her 16th birthday. But it isn’t just her adolescent body that shocks her, or seeing her high school crush, it’s her dad: the vital, charming, 40-something version of her father with whom she is reunited. Now armed with a new perspective on her own life and his, some past events take on new meaning. Is there anything that she would change if she could?

NOTE: See site for tickets, guidelines, and details. 

Where: Pages Bookstore at Slay Italian Kitchen

Date: Monday the 23rd   

Time: 11:30 am- 1 pm

Address: 1001 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Website: https://www.pagesabookstore.com/event/emma-straub-slay

Continue reading “Los Angeles Literature Events: 05/23/22 – 05/29/22”
Los Angeles Literature Events: 05/16/22 – 05/22/22
L.A. Literary Happenings, Literary Long Beach, Los Angeles Literary Events

Los Angeles Literature Events: 05/16/22 – 05/22/22

Another busy week in the Los Ángeles Literary community featuring both in-person and virtual events. Readings, workshops, open mics, book clubs, etc. Local Writers reading this week are: Linda Ravenswood, Nicelle Davis, Christian Hanz Lozada, Tommy Domino, Luivette Resto, Namrata Poddar, Melissa Chadburn, Noel Alumit and Pete Hsu. Continue reading Los Angeles Literature Events: 05/16/22 – 05/22/22

How Skylight Became One of L.A.’s Most Beloved Indie Bookstores
Profiles

How Skylight Became One of L.A.’s Most Beloved Indie Bookstores

By Dorany Pineda
FROM: L.A. Times

Rows of Indian laurel fig trees line the streets of Los Feliz Village, home to a historic cluster of locally owned cafes, bars, restaurants, boutique clothing stores — and a flagship bookstore. Squeezed between a neighborhood movie theater and a children’s clothing shop, a giant sign reading “Books” stretches skyward.

Continue reading “How Skylight Became One of L.A.’s Most Beloved Indie Bookstores”
Los Angeles Literature Events: 05/09/22 – 05/15/22
Los Angeles Literary Events, L.A. Literary Happenings, Literary Long Beach

Los Angeles Literature Events: 05/09/22 – 05/15/22

NOTE: There Are Both Online and Virtual Events Listed Here

Book Club Bonanza: Let’s Celebrate Asian Pacific Voices via Central Library, LAPL – Online Teen Event

Teens may join our librarians online as they share books for teens that celebrate Asian Pacific voices in YA literature and celebrate and join the Big Read.

The Best We Could Do, by author Thi Bui, is an illustrated graphic noel portraying one family’s poignant journey from war-torn Vietnam to America and will resonate with all who hope for a better future while longing for a simpler past.

The book club discussion itself will be held on Monday, May 23rd, but we will also host a read-alikes discussion on May 9th.

Watch past episodes on YouTube for more book recommendations.

NOTE: See site for RSVP & event details. 

Where: Central Library, LAPL

Date: Monday the 9th

Time: 4:30 pm

Address: LAPL – Online (see site)

Website: https://lapl.org/whats-on/events/book-club-bonanza-lets-celebrate-asian-pacific-voices

Continue reading “Los Angeles Literature Events: 05/09/22 – 05/15/22”
How Los Angeles Transformed American Literature
L.A. Literary History

How Los Angeles Transformed American Literature

By David L. Ulin
FROM: The Los Angeles Times

Here’s a story I used to tell myself: I moved to Los Angeles to get away. From winter, for one thing, and the weight of history. To find a bit of freedom, or maybe distance. For me, now as then, the two amount to pretty much the same. Or better still, space — the space to stretch, the space to fail, the space to carve a passage for myself. In other words, the space to write.

Continue reading “How Los Angeles Transformed American Literature”
Los Angeles Literature Events: 05/02/22 – 05/08/22
L.A. Literary Happenings, Literary Long Beach, Los Angeles Literary Events

Los Angeles Literature Events: 05/02/22 – 05/08/22

NOTE: There Are Both Online and Virtual Events Listed Here

World Literature Book Club: Story Selections via Central Library, LAPL – Online Event

Join us for a spirited discussion of the world’s best short stories! All selections are from The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story (New York, 2021) ed. John Freeman. This month’s selections are:

May 2: St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves by Karen Russell (2007)

May 9: The Last Thing We Need by Claire Vaye Watkins (2010) 

May 16: Ken Liu: Selection to be Announced

May 23: The Dune by Stephen King (2011)

NOTE: See site for event details and Zoom link.        

Where: West Valley Regional Branch Library, LAPL – Online event

Date: Monday the 2nd

Time: 10 am

Address: LAPL – Online Event

Website: https://lapl.org/whats-on/events/world-literature-book-club-36

Continue reading “Los Angeles Literature Events: 05/02/22 – 05/08/22”