Saturday, February 2, 2013, at 1:00 p.m., San Leandro Main Library

The Big Read 2013 — Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Don't forget to show up for the Readers Roundtable discussion an hour early this month, because the quilt exhibit opening reception starts at 2 p.m. The list of Big Read activities at the Main Branch of the library is as below. Full descriptions of these events are located on the library's webpage.

• “Ancestral Memories” African American Quilt Guild of Oakland Exhibit, Tuesday, January 29— Thursday, February 28.  Quilt Exhibit Opening Reception, Saturday, February 2, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
•  Big Read Kickoff with Special Guest Lucy Anne Hurston, Saturday, February 9, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
•  African American Literature Panel Discussion with writer Mary Monroe and Black Caucus Librarians, Saturday, March 2, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. 
•  Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco, Saturday, March 9, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Meet at Main Library, $25 per person, includes transportation and tour.
•  Film Screening, Friday, March 15, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
•  Hattitude Finale, Friday, March 22, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, by invitation only—for anyone who participates in a book discussion group.

Zora Neale Hurston on YouTube

First, as a trained anthropologist discussing a topic near and dear to the youth of today — zombies:


A glimpse of her home town, Eatonville, Florida:


Part 1 of 11 of the entire movie version of "Their Eyes Were Watching God." I could have imported a YouTube version of the entire movie, but you really need to read the book.

Revisiting Old Friends

January 2009—The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz

Junot Diaz was recently interviewed by Bill Moyers for the entire length of his December 28, 2012, show. Unfortunately, it is not embeddable, so you will have to click this link to see the interview.

February 2012—Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon

I don't really have any update on either the book or the author, but I did recently watch an HBO TV series (via Netflix) that brought the racetrack ambiance of Lord of Misrule back to me in vivid detail. The series is called "Luck," was set at Santa Anita Racetrack, and starred Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte among countless others. If you heard of it at all, it was probably that it had been cancelled after 1 season because 3 horses died during filming, which if true, was totally and without a doubt the right thing to do.  However, I found the series so compelling, that I totally forgot about the grim back-story while I was watching it. Here is the trailer to whet your appetite, those of you who enjoyed Lord of Misrule as much as I did.

Season 1 Trailer

Saturday, January 5, 2013, at 2:00 p.m.

Swamplandia! by Karen Russell (be there or be a Loomis)

Meet the Author


Tourist Traps and Roadside Attractions


Those of us old enough (and fortunate enough ) to have been alive before the network of interstate freeways was complete, witnessed the heyday of the kind of tourist trap represented by Swamplandia! This roadside stops were essential for breaking up long cross-country drive, first of all, with their enticing and totally misleading signage.

Most importantly, if you begged long enough, your parents might even let you take a tour at one, but only one, roadside attraction:

"Because we can afford to let you see either the 'Gator Farm...

...or the IQ Zoo...

...but not both."