Anita Felicelli
Anita Felicelli is Alta Journal ’s books editor and the author of How We Know Our Time Travelers, Chimerica, and Love Songs for a Lost Continent.
Q&A: A Conversation with Amy Tan
In conversation with Anita Felicelli, the beloved author discusses bird-watching, writing, and how nature journaling helped her rediscover purpose and emotional truth.
Event Recap: Adrian Tomine
Cartoonist Adrian Tomine sat down with California Book Club host John Freeman and special guest David L. Ulin for a candid and insightful conversation about the CBC’s August selection, Shortcomings.
Introducing the Special Guest
In this week’s newsletter, we announce that David L. Ulin will be the special guest to discuss Shortcomings with author Adrian Tomine and host John Freeman.
Announcement of Fall 2025 Books
In this newsletter, we introduce the California Book Club’s autumn selections: a collection of literary criticism, a poet’s new and selected poems, and a family history.
Event Recap: Rosanna Xia
Rosanna Xia, the author of California Against the Sea, the July California Book Club selection, sat down for an engaging conversation with host John Freeman and special guest Marthine Satris.
Introducing the Special Guest
In this newsletter, we announce that Marthine Satris will be the special guest to discuss the California Book Club’s July selection, California Against the Sea, with its author, Rosanna Xia, and CBC host John Freeman.
Imagining into History
Nishant Batsha’s sophomore novel, A Bomb Placed Close to the Heart, uses historical practices to investigate questions of ambition and love in the early part of the 20th century.
Writer’s Room: Evanthia Bromiley
Colorado novelist Evanthia Bromiley discusses Crown, childhood poverty, and resilience.
Writer’s Room: Storytelling for Survival
Caro De Robertis shares the process behind their latest book, So Many Stars.
Event Recap: Manjula Martin
Author Manjula Martin, special guest Susan Orlean, and host John Freeman convened for a rich discussion of the California Book Club’s June selection, The Last Fire Season.
Announcing the Special Guest for Manjula Martin
In this newsletter, we introduce journalist Susan Orlean as the special guest to discuss The Last Fire Season, the California Book Club’s June selection, with the author and host John Freeman.
Announcing Summer ’25 Books
In this newsletter, we cover our California Book Club lineup for July, August, and September.
Event Recap: Claire Vaye Watkins
Author Claire Vaye Watkins, special guest Karen Russell, and host John Freeman discussed Watkins’s stunning debut novel, Gold Fame Citrus, the May California Book Club selection.
Introducing Karen Russell
In this newsletter, we announce that Karen Russell is the special guest to discuss Gold Fame Citrus, the May California Book Club selection, with author Claire Vaye Watkins and host John Freeman.
Event Recap: ‘Mumbo Jumbo’
Author Ishmael Reed, host John Freeman, and special guest Justin Desmangles gathered with members to discuss the April California Book Club selection.
Introducing the Special Guest for Ishmael Reed
In this newsletter, we announce that Justin Desmangles will join the California Book Club gathering to discuss Mumbo Jumbo, the April selection.
The Mars Room
Rachel Kushner’s The Mars Room explores poverty, justice, and mass incarceration through the eyes of a woman in a California prison.
Less Than Zero
Bret Easton Ellis’s Less Than Zero captures the dark, alienated lives of wealthy, disaffected Los Angeles youth in 1980s California.
Interior Chinatown
Charles Yu’s Interior Chinatown blends metafiction and satire to explore Asian American identity and Hollywood stereotypes.
The Maltese Falcon
Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon defines San Francisco noir with its dark streets, sharp cynicism, and iconic detective Sam Spade.
The Barbarian Nurseries
Héctor Tobar’s The Barbarian Nurseries explores identity, immigration, and class divides in multicultural Los Angeles with sharp insight.
Event Recap: Rita Bullwinkel’s ‘Headshot’
Author Rita Bullwinkel, special guest Lucy Corin, and host John Freeman gathered to discuss the California Book Club’s March selection.
Writer’s Room: Eowyn Ivey
Author Eowyn Ivey discusses writing and researching her third magic realist novel set in Alaska, Black Woods, Blue Sky.
Introducing the Special Guest for Rita Bullwinkel
In this newsletter, we announce Lucy Corin as the special guest to discuss Headshot, the California Book Club’s March selection.
Announcing the Special Guest for Manuel Muñoz
In this week’s newsletter, we introduce fiction writer Talia Lakshmi Kolluri, the special guest joining author Manuel Muñoz and host John Freeman at the California Book Club to discuss The Consequences.
Art in the ‘Death Rattle of Capitalism’
Joshua Mohr harnesses punk energy in the first installment of a saga based in gentrified West Oakland and Norway.
Announcement of Spring 2025 Books
In this newsletter, we introduce the California Book Club’s next picks: a classic experimental novel, a dystopian novel, and a book that combines the personal with natural history.
Event Recap: Viet Thanh Nguyen
Author Viet Thanh Nguyen, special guests Don McKellar and Rumaan Alam, and host John Freeman engaged in a rousing discussion of The Sympathizer, voice, adaptation, and belonging.
Memories Can’t Wait
In Reading the Waves, Lidia Yuknavitch rewrites her life.
Announcement of Special Guests for Viet Thanh Nguyen
Two special guests, Don McKellar and Rumaan Alam, will join the California Book Club to discuss The Sympathizer with host John Freeman and the author.
Announcing the Special Guest for Rachel Khong
In this newsletter, we recommend Rachel Khong’s second novel and introduce special guest Mimi Lok, who will join the California Book Club’s December 12 meeting to talk about Goodbye, Vitamin.
Event Recap: ‘Violent Spring’
Author Gary Phillips, special guest Naomi Hirahara, and host John Freeman engaged in a lively conversation about Phillips’s Los Angeles crime novel, the California Book Club’s November selection.