Jay’s Gay Agenda (YA fiction) by Jason June
There’s one thing Jay Collier knows for sure: he’s an anomaly as the only out gay kid in his small rural Washington town. While his classmates constantly discuss their heterosexual relationships, Jay can only dream of his own firsts. From debut novelist, Jason June, comes a unique story that is as fun as it is moving. It’s a sex-positive story about the complexities of first hookups, first loves, first breakups, and first heartbreaks. At the core of Jay’s Gay Agenda is how to stay true to oneself.
The Death of Vivek Oji (fiction) by Akwaeke Emezi
While dealing with a detached father and over protective mother, Vivek suffers disorienting blackouts. Additionally, he often experiences moments of abject loneliness as he grapples with the complexities of not being able to be openly gay in a repressed Nigerian community. As adolescence gives way to adulthood, Vivek finds solace in friendships with the warm, boisterous daughters of the Nigerwives, foreign-born women married to Nigerian men. His closest bond, though, is with Osita, the worldly and outgoing cousin who masks a guarded private life. As their relationship deepens on several levels, the mystery of Osita gives way to a heart-stopping act of violence in a moment of exhilarating freedom. The Death of Vivek Oji is a quick read that is wholly absorbing. This is author Akwaeke Emezi’s (they/them) impressive follow-up to the novel Freshwater, which was named a New York Times Notable Book.
Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire (nonfiction) by Lizzie Johnson
On November 8, 2018, the people of Paradise, California, awoke to a mottled gray sky and gusty winds. Soon the Camp Fire was upon them, gobbling an acre a second. Less than two hours after the fire ignited, the town was engulfed in flames, the residents trapped in their homes and cars. By the next morning, eighty-five people were dead. As a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, Lizzie Johnson was there while the town of Paradise burned. She saw the smoldering rubble of a historic covered bridge and the beloved Black Bear Diner and she stayed long afterward, visiting shelters, hotels, and makeshift camps. Drawing on years of on-the-ground reporting and reams of public records, including 911 calls and testimony from a grand jury investigation, Johnson provides a minute-by-minute account of the Camp Fire. This is considered the definitive firsthand account of America’s deadliest wildfire in a century. It stunned the nation and shook a community to its core, but this riveting piece of news reporting puts forth an infinitely important cautionary tale by an impressive journalistic talent.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, November 10 @ 1 pm (live online) – Hitha Palepu, We’re Speaking: The Life Lessons of Kamala Harris
We’re Speaking provides inspirational lessons about life, work, and overcoming adversity—drawn from Kamala Harris’s norm-shattering ascent to Vice President of the United States. Kamala Harris is one of our country’s most awe-inspiring political figures, dawning on a new age as the first—but not last—Black and Asian-American female Vice President. Having spent her entire career smashing glass ceilings and influencing the next generation of young women, Harris has completely redefined what it means to be a woman in politics. In We’re Speaking, Palepu connects illuminating stories from Harris’ unique biography with tactical advice that will teach you to own the power of your multitudes, act on and embrace your ambition, and develop your unique voice and style. Best of all, We’re Speaking will leave you feeling empowered to follow in Harris’ footsteps—shattering glass ceilings of your own as you live the life of your dreams!
Wednesday, November 10 @ 5:30 pm (in-person/ticketed event at Dominican University) – Lidia Matticchio Bastianich in conversation with Noah Galuten, A Pot, a Pan and a Bowl. From the beloved TV chef and best-selling author comes a collection of her favorite recipes for flavorful, no-fuss Italian food that use just one pot or pan (or two.) Don’t miss this companion cookbook to the public television series Lidia’s Kitchen: Home Cooking. Lidia Bastianich—doyenne of Italian cooking (Chicago Times)—makes Italian cooking easy for everyone with this new, beautifully designed, easy-to-use cookbook. Here are more than 100 homey, simple-to-prepare recipes that require fewer steps and fewer ingredients (not to mention fewer dirty pots and pans), without sacrificing any of their flavor.
Saturday, November 13 @ 7:30 pm (live/ticketed event at Masonic Auditorium, SF) – Katie Couric in conversation with actor Leslie Jordan
Katie’s new memoir Going There is a completely riveting and ultra-honest story of her rise to the top of the broadcasting world, complete with high highs and heartbreaking lows. This fall, she—along with some very special celebrity guests—are visiting cities across the U.S. for incredible conversations that’ll leave you inspired and enthralled.
Published on November 4, 2021
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