Why is the third Thursday our favorite day of the month? Because that’s when the team here at Alta Journal convenes the California Book Club. For five years now, we have invited the author of an esteemed work of fiction, poetry, or nonfiction from or about the Golden State to discuss their work with our audience over Zoom. Each conversation is hosted by literary light John Freeman and attended by readers from across the country (and often, the world), who celebrate, analyze, and debate aspects of each month’s pick. Did we mention the interviews are free to attend? And discussions include a special guest appearance as well that is invariably memorable. If you haven’t joined already, you can do so here.
This year, the conversations were bigger than ever. These are the five events that you showed up for the most.
APRIL: MUMBO JUMBO, BY ISHMAEL REED
This spring, Reed, the multihyphenate writer, discussed his classic novel of an anti-plague virus, Jes Grew. Its themes of white supremacy, radical movements, and Black nationalism felt especially relevant for readers.
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JULY: CALIFORNIA AGAINST THE SEA: VISIONS FOR OUR VANISHING COASTLINE, BY ROSANNA XIA
Climate change—and disaster—was in the forefront of headlines this year, making Rosanna Xia’s deeply reported book about what rising seas mean for beach communities and the state’s future a timely summer choice. She discussed California’s coastline through the lens of science and local and state activism.
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SEPTEMBER: THE BACKYARD BIRD CHRONICLES, BY AMY TAN
To escape hatred and divisive misinformation before and during the pandemic, Amy Tan began writing, drawing, and reflecting on the many birds that visit her house. Her beautiful collection of journal entries was a fitting read after that tumultuous period, a sentiment shared by the famed Joy Luck Club author herself.
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OCTOBER: CALIFORNIA REWRITTEN: A JOURNEY THROUGH THE GOLDEN STATE’S NEW LITERATURE, BY JOHN FREEMAN
As part of the club’s development of a new, meaningful California canon, CBC host John Freeman writes rich literary pieces about each month’s club selection. To mark the club’s fifth anniversary, he gathered and added to these essays for a new book, giving us the opportunity to host the host (in conversation with Walter Mosley) this fall.
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NOVEMBER: STARTLEMENT: NEW AND SELECTED POEMS, BY ADA LIMÓN
We closed out November with acclaimed poet Ada Limón, whose latest collection includes more than 20 new poems alongside selections from her earlier work. Readers were moved by the clarity, curiosity, and precision of this former U.S. poet laureate.
