Top row, left to right: Ahmad Johnson, Ashaki M. Jackson, Robin Coste Ruiz, Khadija Queen, Jay Dodd, Natalie J. Graham, Kima Jones, Douglas Carney.
(Victoria Smith/Jason Gutierrez/K. Miroir/Michael Cheek/Jay Dodd/Maya Washington/Kima Jones/Bao Pi)
On September 24th, the LA Times Book Club hosted “Black Poets in a Time of Unrest,” featuring National Book Award winners. Robin Coste RuizPoet Laureate of Los Angeles, Conversation with Reporter makeda easter.
Lewis joins Poet performer lineup Share their experiences in poetry: Natalie J. Graham, Ashaki M. Jackson, Douglas Carney, Jay Dodd, Ahmad Jamor Johnson, Queen Khadijah and kima jones Co-organizer of events with the LA Times Book Club. clock.
August’s book selection is “The Vanishing Half”. Britt Bennett A best-selling novel about twin sisters, identities and family secrets. “You can escape the city, but you can’t escape the blood.”
Bennett joined the Readers of the Book Club August 25th In a conversation with a Times writer Kara Hall. look here.
Continue reading: Book reviews, book club newsletters.
(Lindsay Skiba/Algonquin Books
)
“Why We Swim” To Bonnie Tsui Book club July selection.
Bay Area journalist, surfer and former swimmer Tsui joins Times reporter and master swimmer James Rainey July 28th for virtual meetups.long distance swimmer Lynn Cox She shared her favorite passage during the event.
“Why We Swim” is a blend of memoir, history and swimming adventures that travels from the California Coast to the swimming culture of Iceland to ‘Hawaii’ in the South China Sea.
“Compton Cowboys” A true story about identity and belonging Walter Thompson HernandezJune selection.
Book Trace the history and fragile legacy of black cowboys in the bedroom community of Los Angeles. The cowboy creed is: Horses saved us. ”
Thompson Hernandez Joined June 24th for a conversation with The Times reporter Angel JenningsFive things to know about the Compton Cowboys.
Continue reading: Author interviews, book excerpts, book club newsletters.
Emily St. John Mandel Author of best-selling pandemic novel “Station Eleven” I attended the Los Angeles Times Book Club on May 19th. her new book “Glass Hotel” revolves around the current major concern, the financial crisis.
Watch Mandel’s conversation with The Times reporter Carolina A. Miranda.
Mandel and other authors Susan Olin, TC Boyle, marlon james, Charlie Jane Anders and Jess Walter Helped me put together my End of the World reading list.
Writer Funny Singer and her mother, celebrity chef Alice Waters, join readers of the Los Angeles Times Book Club for a virtual meetup on April 21 from the kitchen of Waters’ home in Berkeley.
In April we read “Always Staying Home: My Daughter’s Recipes and Stories” funny singer A memoir of growing up in the epicenter of California cuisine.the singer is the daughter of Alice WatersChef of Berkeley’s Chez Panisse Café and founder of the Edible Schoolyard Project.
Singer and Waters joined the LA Times Book Club. April 21st Discuss food and family with The Times Arts & Entertainment editor Laurie OchoaWatch their conversation here.
The singer’s memoir with recipes strikes a fitting note for this strange haven time. “It feels like a moment that redefines how we relate to what we consume.” says Singer in an interview. Here’s her favorite roast chicken recipe.
(LR)- Maria La Ganga, Basset Hound Milo and Steph Cha live on virtual event at Los Angeles Times Book Club
(Los Angeles Times Staff)
March 30th, LA Times Book Club Relaunches with First Virtual Event: Novelist Steph Cha and Joe Ide Joined The Times Reporter Maria L. La Ganga Discuss the new world of LA Noir.
Cha is the author of the best-selling thriller of 2019 “Your house will pay for it.” Ide’s new mystery “High Five” The fourth book in his “IQ” detective series set in East Long Beach. Book club conversations were streamed live on Facebook and YouTube.
Poet Luis Rodriguez speaking at Burbank’s Colony Theater during an LA Times Book Club event.
(Valong Panganiban)
Saturday, February 15thFormer Los Angeles Poet Laureate Luis J. Rodriguez Discussed “from our land to our land” New collection on race, culture and identity, with The Times Reporter Daniel Hernandez At the Colony Theater in Burbank.
more: Is poetry important? Former LA Poet Laureate explains why lives change. Read the author interview.
Ocean Vuong joins Book Club readers at The Montalban Theater in Hollywood.
(Valong Panganiban)
January 27, the author ocean vong share his debut novel, “On Earth We’re Easily Gorgeous” With the Times Arts and Culture Reporter Carolina A. Miranda At the Montalban Theater.
Father Gregory Boyle received a standing ovation at Book Club Conversation Writer Hector Tovar.
(Ana Venegas/For the Times)
On December 16th, the book club welcomed the founder of Homeboy Industries Gregory Boyle Breakfast Conversation with the Author Hector Tobal almost “Howl at the choir.‘ Read our interview with Boyle and five things to know about his book and his work. There is a “Barking to the Choir” discussion guide for school groups and book clubs.
Julie Andrews discussed her memoir with columnist Mary McNamara at the Orpheum Theater. Many people attended.
(Ana Venegas/Ana Venegas/For the Times)
November 18th, Julie Andrews A shared story fromHomework: Memoirs of my Hollywood daysIn a conversation with a Pulitzer Prize-winning Times columnist Mary McNamara at the Orpheum Theater.
Read The Times’ interview with Andrews and review of her new memoir. movie critic Justin Chan Commentary.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ronan Farrow talks about “Catch and Kill” at the Orpheum Theater downtown.
(Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)
October 22nd, Ronan Farrow Discussed Surveillance, Countersurveillance, and the Story Behind “catch and kill,” His new book detailing allegations of sexual abuse against Harvey Weinstein and others in power.read Interview with Farrow for The Times.
Michael Connelly spoke about ‘The Night Fire’ at the Montalban Theater.
(Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
October 21, bestselling crime writer Michael Connelly Joined the Book Club readers for the launch of “”night fire. ” He also previewed two upcoming books and talked about living with the same character for 27 years.
Keep reading: watch here 15 Iconic Harry Bosch Haunting LA, plus 20 Essential LA Crime Booksand for this special report Why Los Angeles Is The Eternal Dark Center Of Crime Fiction.
Writer George Takei and his book They Called Us Enemy.
(George Takei; Top Shelf Productions)
September 10, actor and writer George Takei Discussed “they called us enemies,” A graphic memoir about his childhood in a Japanese American internment camp during World War II. Check out some of the events from LA Times Today.
For book clubs and school groups, Here is a discussion guide.
Laila Lalami joined the Book Club Leaders at the Skirball Cultural Center.
(Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)
author Lyra Larami Joined The Times Reporter Lorraine Ali for conversation almost “other Americans, A tale of mystery and family set in the Southern California desert.
this is Interview with Larami and 5 things you should know about “The Other Americans”.
Author Susan Olin (left) converses with Times Associate Editor Julia Turner at the Los Angeles Times Book Club’s inaugural meetup at the Barnsdall Art Park Theater on June 25, 2019.
(Luis Cinco/Los Angeles Times)
read in june “library books” by best-selling authors Susan Olin Hosted a community forum where Orléans and readers shared library stories. We also took a deep dive into what LA is reading right now and showed book lovers how to read for free in the library app.
The LA Times Book Club builds on the success of America’s largest literary event. Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, 150,000 people visit every April. Our community book club keeps storytelling and conversation going all year long.
