During this month of busy holiday planning and celebrating, we suggest four events and one grand finale outing. On November 30, celebrate Small Business Saturday by visiting your favorite local bookshop and purchasing one or more of Exedra’s recommended books listed below. Having kept your dollars local and supporting the mighty booksellers in your neighborhood, buckle down for some great home reading or prepare the selections for gifting.
Author/Artist L. John Harris @ Mrs. Dalloway’s Bookstore | Thursday, Nov. 7
Berkeley-based Harris reads portions of his new book, “Portrait In Red: A Paris Obsession,” published by the city’s admirable Heyday Books. Harris will be joined in conversation by Marion Abbott, who with Ann Leyhe co-founded and co-owned Mrs. Dalloway’s from 2004-2021. Portrait in Red chronicles the impetus Harris found in Paris after coming upon an abandoned, unfinished painting of a girl wearing a bright red head wrap in 2015. The mysterious artwork prompted Harris to commence a multi-year exploration full of intrigue, humor, and fine meals that bridged into the powerful aura of original art, his personal history, the characteristics of critiques, and more. The intriguing life story of Harris is in itself a fascination—attend the in-person event to learn more about his adventures and books (The Book of Garlic, and a series of illustrated memoirs: Foodoodles, Café French, My Little Plague Journal).
Nov. 7 @ 7:00pm | FREE | mrsdalloways.com
Berkeley Public Library Comic-Con 2024 @ Central Library location | Nov. 9
Spin out and join in when areas of the Central Library branch are transformed by a cavalcade of the Bay Area’s best authors/artists and other special guests. The free, six-hour festival includes panels and talks, workshops, book, zine, and comic sales, an artist alley, and a vendor hall. Sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library, there are sessions on toy design, fantasy worlds, drawing, animation, graphic novels for teens and adults, nonfiction comic writing, a cartoon concert, and a lightsaber demo. An art exhibit on loan from the Cartoon Art Museum extends the pleasures. The all-ages event is wheelchair accessible and sign language interpreters or other access needs are available by calling the library in advance at 510-981-6195.
Nov. 9 from 10:30am to 4:30pm | FREE | berkeleypubliclibrary.org/events/bpl-comic-con-2024-central
Holloway Poetry Series: Douglas Kearney @ UC Berkeley campus | Nov. 13
Many people outside of UC Berkeley—and even people studying or working at Cal—might not know about this terrific, free series sponsored by the university’s English Department. Established to support the works of renowned and rising contemporary poets, the program raises the genre’s visibility and annually offers one poet a residency that includes teaching, research, and participation in lectures. On the 13th, poet Douglas Kearney reads from his work on campus at Wheeler Hall. Kearney has published eight books featuring either poetry or essay collections that have earned numerous awards. The recipient of several honorary residencies and fellowships, Kearney is a Samuel Russell Chair in the Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts and Professor of English at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. Books will be available for signing and purchase.
Nov 13 @ 5:30pm | FREE | english.berkeley.edu/annual-series/holloway-poetry-series
Dorianne Laux, Kim Addonizio and Joseph Millar @ Pegasus Books Downtown | Nov. 21
Three widely respected poets appear at at Pegasus Books Downtown for a reading and celebration of their new books. The prolific Addonizio (Exit Opera) has spun out poetry and short story collections, novels, a nonfiction book on poetry and a memoir. Her work’s raw brilliance has earned awards, honors, fellowships, translations into multiple languages and more. Laux (Life on Earth; Finger Exercises for Poets) boasts a similar resumé and with her intimate, imaginative writing voice, unveils the profound essence of everyday things, relationships and experiences. Millar newest book, Shine, is a collection of half songs centering love, death, desire, work and artistic pursuits. Sculptural and sparse, his poems often present the mystery of language with unexpected or irregular rhythms, metaphoric complexity and lyrical juxtapositions. Following the reading and conversation, books will be available for purchase. Reservations are not required.
Nov 21 @ 7:00pm | FREE | pegasusbookstore.com/laux-addonizio-millar
Small Business Saturday @ your favorite local independent bookshop | Nov. 30
Support your favorite local independent bookshop during the annual celebration with the purchase of one or several books. Select from this tightly curated list of recent and new books in a variety of genres by Bay Area authors, or choose spontaneously from a personal list. Either way, small business owners will value your participation. Bonus beyond these great reads? Most stores offer special sales and events. Stella & Marigold, by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall; Tell Me Something, Tell Me Anything, Even If It’s a Lie, by Steve Wasserman; Golden Gate: Building the Mighty Bridge, by Elizabeth Partridge; Third Ear: Reflections on the Art and Science of Listening, by Elizabeth Rosner; I Love Hearing Your Dreams, by Matthew Zapruder; Portrait In Red: A Paris Obsession, by L. John Harris; The Comfort of Ghosts, by Jacqueline Winspear; The Memory of Taste: Vietnamese American Recipes from Pho Quoc, Oakland, and the Spaces Between, by chef Tu David Phu and writer Soleil Ho; Adventures on Land and Sea: Searching for Culinary Pleasures in Provence and Along the Cote d’Azur, by Carole Bumpus.
Nov. 29 | Hours vary | Check bookstore websites for hours and special events