Book Drives Los Angeles

Book Club: Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

In *Klara and the Sun*, Kazuo Ishiguro looks at our rapidly changing modern world through the eyes of an unforgettable narrator to explore a fundamental question: what does it mean to love? From her place in the store, Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, watches carefully the behavior of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass on the street outside. She remains hopeful that a customer will soon choose her, but when the possibility emerges that her circumstances may change forever, Klara is warned not to invest too much in the promises of humans. Looking forward to enjoying afternoon tea at the Callisto Tea House in Pasadena. The menu can be found here: [https://callistoteahouse.com/pages/menu](https://callistoteahouse.com/pages/menu) The event fee will secure your reservation and be applied to membership dues, which covers the cost of the website. The event fee is NONREFUNDABLE unless the event is canceled by the organizer. To join the waitlist comment on the event page. If you have RSVPed and can no longer attend, please contact me directly and I will contact the people on the waiting list and then move you to "not going" when I find a replacement. Thank you and happy reading!

Solenoid by Mircea Cărtărescu

WHAT WE'RE READING: Solenoid by Mircea Cărtărescu WHAT IT IS ABOUT: "Based on Cartarescu's own role as a high school teacher, Solenoid begins with the mundane details of a diarist's life and quickly spirals into a philosophical account of life, history, philosophy, and mathematics. One character asks another: when you rush into the burning building, will you save the newborn or the artwork? On a broad scale, the novel's investigations of other universes, dimensions, and timelines reconcile the realms of life and art. The novel is grounded in the reality of late 1970s/early 1980s Communist Romania, including long lines for groceries, the absurdities of the education system, and the misery of family life. The text includes sequences in a tuberculosis sanatorium, an encounter with an anti-death protest movement, a society of dream investigators, and an extended visit to the miniscule world of dust mites living on a microscope slide. Combining fiction with autobiography and history, Solenoid ruminates on the exchanges possible between the alternate dimensions of life and art, as various, monstrous dimensions erupt within the Communist present." WHERE WE'RE MEETING: 4100 Bar in Silver Lake A NOTE ON PARKING: Street parking should be more readily accessible on Sunset Blvd to the west of the meet-up location. A NOTE ON THE MEET-UP SEATING LOCATION: Meet-ups are generally held on the bar terrace, if sufficient seating is available. Please dress warmly in the event of cool evening weather! A NOTE ON RSVPING: If your name is on the attendee list for a scheduled meet-up and you no longer plan on attending the event, please remove your name from the attendee list at least a week before the scheduled event to allow individuals on the waitlist sufficient time to read the book beforehand (no worries if a cancellation has to be last-minute, though!). Happy reading! Colin

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

**The Frozen River** (2023) by Ariel Lawhon is a historical mystery inspired by thediary of Martha Ballard, a midwife & healer in Maine, in the late 1700s. In the winter of 1789, a man is found frozen in the ice of the Kennebec River, and Martha is called to examine the body. Martha investigates through her own careful record-keeping, even as her reputation and family come under pressure. The novel blends a suspenseful whodunit and courtroom drama with a portrait of a sharp, independent woman working within the limits placed on women in early America, along with a warm depiction of her marriage and the frontier community she serves. Please join us at 10:00am for a WALK/Discussion and then Brunch to follow at The Farmhouse at Descanso Gardens. We will meet in front of the ticket counter promptly at 10:00. Any questions, please reach out!

Women in Big Data LA Book Club

Our next **Women in Big Data SoCal Book Club** is here! Join us for an afternoon of good conversation, coffee, and a thought-provoking discussion about how AI is changing the way we live and work. **This Quarter's Book** ***[I Am Not a Robot: My Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything](https://joannastern.com/)*** by **Joanna Stern** What happens when a technology journalist decides to let AI take over almost every aspect of her life? In *I Am Not a Robot*, Joanna Stern documents her year-long experiment using AI to tackle everything from work and productivity to everyday tasks and personal decisions. The book explores what happens when we move beyond simply *using* AI tools and start relying on them to do things we would normally do ourselves. Expect plenty of humor, curiosity, and questions about what AI can—and perhaps shouldn't—do for us. **About the Author** Joanna Stern is an award-winning technology journalist and video creator best known for her work covering consumer technology, AI, and the ways technology impacts everyday life. She was a senior personal technology columnist at The Wall Street Journal, where she has covered everything from smartphones and computers to emerging technologies and now has started her own tech media company, New Things. **What to Expect** This is a casual, welcoming discussion—not a formal book review! **📣 Haven't read the book yet? You're still invited!** **You** **do not need to finish—or even read—the book to join us.** If you didn't get a chance to read it, you're still welcome to come, listen to the discussion, share your thoughts and perspectives, and be part of the conversation. We'd love to have you there! **Event Details** Date: Sunday, November 15, 2026 Time: 2:00 PM Location: Sorry Not Sorry - 11520 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064 We’ll be reserving a space in the front patio, and as always, each guest will be responsible for their own tab. ☕ Grab an afternoon drink, bring your thoughts (and your questions!), and join us for our quarterly book club. We hope to see you there! 📚🤖 \-\-\-\-\-\- Follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14309306/) to get the latest updates on our events. \-\-\-\-\-\- **Photo Release Notice:** By attending this event, you consent to photographs being taken and used in Women In Big Data's promotional materials. Please inform organizers upon arrival if you prefer not to be photographed.

Queer Book Club- "Palaver" by Bryan Washington

November Book Discussion: Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

# **Our November Book Has Been Chosen! 📚** Thanks to everyone who voted! Our next **Books & Brew** read is: ## 📖 *Man's Search for Meaning* — Viktor E. Frankl Grab a copy, start reading, and join us for a thought-provoking conversation! ### About the Book Drawing on his experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps during World War II, psychiatrist Viktor E. Frankl explores how people find purpose and meaning even in the face of unimaginable suffering. Part memoir and part psychological exploration, *Man's Search for Meaning* introduces Frankl's approach to psychotherapy, known as logotherapy, which centers on the human search for meaning as a fundamental source of motivation. Through his reflections on suffering, resilience, freedom, and personal responsibility, Frankl challenges readers to consider what gives life meaning and how we respond to circumstances beyond our control. A powerful and deeply reflective book, *Man's Search for Meaning* offers plenty to think about—and even more to discuss together.

[Book + Movie] HORROR BOOK CLUB (November): “Pet Sematary”

Brown and Gay in LA by Anthony Ocampo

**See you there!**

Book Club Meeting: The Color Line by Igiaba Scego

**Happy November, Mocha Girls! ☕🤎** Join the **Mocha Girls Read Los Angeles Chapter** for an afternoon of reading, friendship, fellowship, and community. 📅 **Saturday, November 7, 2026** ⏰ **1:30 PM** 📍 **Lore Bookstore** Our October Monthly Book Selection is *[The Color Line](https://link.amazon/B01y48eRX)*[ by Igiaba Scego.](https://link.amazon/B01y48eRX) ### 📖 About the Book Inspired by true events, this gorgeous, haunting novel intertwines the lives of two Black female artists more than a century apart, both outsiders in Italy. It was the middle of the nineteenth century when Lafanu Brown audaciously decided to become an artist. In the wake of the American Civil War, life was especially tough for Black women, but she did not let that stop her. The daughter of a Native American woman and an African Haitian man, Lafanu had the rare opportunity to study, travel, and follow her dreams, thanks to her indomitable spirit, but not without facing intolerance and violence. In 2019, an Italian art curator of Somali origin is desperately trying to bring her sixteen-year-old cousin to Europe after she has already attempted the long, treacherous journey to Italy. While organizing an exhibition combining the paintings of Lafanu Brown with artwork created by young migrants, the curator becomes increasingly obsessed with Lafanu's life and secrets. Weaving together these two vibrant voices, Igiaba Scego offers a powerful exploration of what it means to be “other,” to be a woman, and particularly a Black woman in a foreign country, yesterday and today. As our 2026 **AROUND THE WORLD** reading journey continues, *[The Color Line](https://link.amazon/B01y48eRX)* takes us to Italy for our October theme, **IT HAPPENED IN ITALY**. 🇮🇹 And remember, **you don't need to read the book to join us.** Come for the conversation, meet your fellow Mocha Girls, and enjoy an afternoon of books, friendship, and community. **Please RSVP so we know you are coming.**

(No Host) An Evening with LeVar Burton

Overview LeVar Burton discussing his memoir, "[Take My Word for It"](https://link.amazon/B06CO8pSc) **Please note:** **\-\- Tickets cannot be resold on reseller platforms\. Resold tickets will not be honored\.** **\-\- Tickets are non\-refundable and are not transferable\.** **\-\- All ticket holders should be ready to show ID at the event\.** **\-\- The name\(s\) you provide during registration will be on a will\-call list at the event\, where you will check in and get your ticket to enter the theatre\.** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Join us for an in-person and virtual\* Live Talks Los Angeles event:** ### Wednesday, November 18, 2025, 8 pm *\*Virtual event airs on November 27 at 6 pm PT/9 pm ET* ### **An Evening with LeVar Burton** **Discussing his memoir, ["Take My Word for It"](https://link.amazon/B06CO8pSc)** **TICKETS: (sold here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-with-levar-burton-tickets-2002943446767)** * $60 General Admission ticket + signed book * $95 Two General Admission tickets + ONE signed book * $100 Reserved Section Seating +signed book (first three rows) * Additional signed books available for purchase at event * The virtual version of this event airs on November 25, 2026, at 6 pm PT/9 pm ET and is available on video-on-demand for five days. Tickets include a copy of the book. * [Virtual Tickets can be purchased here.](https://livetalksla.stellartickets.com/events/in-conversation-with-levar-burton-virtual-event/occurrences/e9ecb0b6-ff33-47a1-902a-07743b7fe85c) * ASL interpreter provided upon request. * Free parking at the venue **The legendary actor behind *Roots, Star Trek: The Next Generation,* and *Reading Rainbow* shares never-before-told stories from a life that has shaped generations in this “compassionate, vulnerable memoir” (*Time*).** **LeVar Burton** played Kunta Kinte in the acclaimed miniseries *Roots,* and he starred in *Star Trek: The Next Generation* as Lt. Commander Geordi LaForge. Other credits include a regular role on the CBS series *Christy*, and he served as host and contributing producer of the Emmy Award-winning children’s program *Reading Rainbow*, for which he received twelve Daytime Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award. He is an educator committed to improving children’s education through innovative uses of storytelling. *This is my attempt to pull back the curtain. Not just on the roles I’ve played, but on the life I’ve lived. The fears. The fight. The survival. And yes, the joy. All of it.* Tracing the different eras of his life—from Kunta Kinte to Geordi La Forge to *Reading Rainbow* and far beyond the camera—celebrated actor LeVar Burton fearlessly opens up about growing up during the Civil Rights Movement, being raised by a remarkable mother, and discovering his calling as a storyteller. He explores how acting has served as both a source of transformation and an escape from the most difficult parts of his past, while also confronting the challenges of being a parent, husband, and householder. As Burton honors the loved ones whose strength and resilience shaped him in this inspiring memoir, he also asks what we owe to our ancestors and to each other, reflecting on the deep necessity he’s always felt advocating for liberation and equity. Generous, deeply moving, and illustrated with personal family photos, *Take My Word For It* is a courageous self-portrait of an iconic artist.

Yesteryear- Caro Claire Burke

[Book Only] HORROR BOOK CLUB (November): “The Harrowing”