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.
Event Recap: Adam Hochschild’s ‘American Midnight’
Author Adam Hochschild, special guest Michael Meyer, and host John Freeman gathered for a timely and illuminating discussion about American Midnight.
Announcing the Special Guest
In this newsletter, we introduce Michael Meyer as the special guest in conversation with author Adam Hochschild and host John Freeman about Hochschild’s American Midnight.
10 Books for Your Beach Bag
Heading to the coast? These 10 California-connected reads—from literary fiction to celebrity memoirs—are easy to sink into all summer long.
Writer’s Room: Native Forms of Knowledge
Julian Brave NoiseCat discusses We Survived the Night.
Event Recap: Susan Straight’s ‘Mecca’
Susan Straight, Gustavo Arellano, and John Freeman gathered to discuss the California Book Club’s June selection, Mecca.
Announcement of Special Guest
In this newsletter, we introduce the special guest who will talk with author Susan Straight and host John Freeman about Mecca.
18 LGBTQ+ Books by California Authors to Read for Pride Month
Celebrate Pride with 18 striking works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from some of California’s most compelling LGBTQ+ voices.
Event Recap: Dagoberto Gilb’s ‘The Flowers’
Author Dagoberto Gilb, special guest Héctor Tobar, and host John Freeman gathered to discuss The Flowers, the California Book Club’s May selection.
Announcing the Special Guest
In this newsletter, we introduce Héctor Tobar as the special guest to discuss The Flowers with its author, Dagoberto Gilb, and California Book Club host John Freeman.
Books by AAPI Authors You Need to Read
Whether you’re new to AAPI literature or looking to go deeper, these 20 books, spanning memoir, fiction, graphic novels, and more, are essential reading all year long.
Announcement of Summer 2026 Books
In this newsletter, we introduce our summer-quarter books: American Midnight, The Library Book, and Native Country of the Heart.
Event Recap: Robert Hass’s ‘Praise’
Author Robert Hass, special guest Jesse Nathan, and host John Freeman gathered to discuss Hass’s Praise, the California Book Club’s April selection.
Announcing the Special Guest
In this newsletter, we introduce Jesse Nathan as the special guest in conversation about Praise with this month’s CBC author, Robert Haas, and host John Freeman.
Writer’s Room: In the Shadow of Space Monkeys
Joshua Wheeler reimagines his ranching family’s stories in The High Heaven.
The Habit Jane Smiley Could Not Get Rid Of
In her forthcoming book, Lidie: The Further Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton, the novelist returns to women’s lives, curiosity—and horses.
Event Recap: Janet Fitch’s ‘White Oleander’
Janet Fitch, Dylan Landis, and host John Freeman discussed White Oleander, the California Book Club’s March selection.
Announcing the Special Guest
In this newsletter, we introduce Dylan Landis as the special guest in conversation with Janet Fitch and John Freeman about White Oleander.
Gavin Newsom’s Bid for Likability
In Young Man in a Hurry, Governor Gavin Newsom provides a California story that focuses on defining himself.
Event Recap: Greg Sarris’s ‘Grand Avenue’
Greg Sarris, Lisa See, and John Freeman discussed Grand Avenue, the California Book Club’s February selection, and storytelling.
Announcement of Special Guest
In this newsletter, we introduce Lisa See as the special guest in conversation with author Greg Sarris and California Book Club host John Freeman.
Announcing the Spring 2026 Books
In this newsletter, we introduce the three books that make up the California Book Club’s choices for April, May, and June.
Alta Journal ’s Literary Rediscoveries of 2025
Bringing a fresh set of eyes to seven classic works.
Alta Journal ’s Top Book Reviews of 2025
From timely social histories to joyful writer memoirs, here are some highlights from this year’s book reviews.
Fiction: ‘Delilah’
A biotech prodigy, a charismatic predator, and a pirate-obsessed notebook collide in a sharp, unsettling tale of consent and revenge.
Writer’s Room: After the War
Automatic Noodle author Annalee Newitz discusses robots and world-building.
Event Recap: Lisa See’s ‘On Gold Mountain’
Author Lisa See, special guest Michael Luo, and host John Freeman had an illuminating conversation about the California Book Club’s December selection.
Announcing the Special Guest
In this newsletter, we introduce special guest Michael Luo, who will be in conversation about On Gold Mountain with Lisa See and host John Freeman at this week’s California Book Club gathering.
Event Recap: Ada Limón’s ‘Startlement: New and Selected Poems’
Author Ada Limón, special guest Matthew Zapruder, and host John Freeman gathered to discuss Startlement: New and Selected Poems, the California Book Club’s November selection.
Announcement of Special Guest
In this newsletter, we introduce Matthew Zapruder as the special guest to discuss Startlement: New and Selected Poems with Ada Limón and John Freeman at this week’s California Book Club gathering.
Announcing the Winter 2026 Books
In this newsletter, we introduce our California Book Club lineup for the winter quarter.
Event Recap: John Freeman’s ‘California Rewritten’
Critic and poet John Freeman and special guest host Walter Mosley had an illuminating conversation about literature and California Rewritten, the California Book Club’s October selection.
Introducing the Special Guest Host
In this newsletter, we announce that Walter Mosley is the special guest host in conversation with author John Freeman about California Rewritten, the California Book Club’s October selection.