Musings Newsletter # 1 May 2023
A couple of weeks ago, Bill and I rode the Amtrak from Oceanside to Los Angeles to visit our granddaughter, Billie, age 2 ½, and her parents, our son Tom and his wife, Sarah. Sarah had told me about the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books happening on the USC campus over the weekend. “Interested?” she asked me. “Yes!” I replied.
So, Bill, Tom, Sarah, Billie and I crowded into their car early Saturday morning and made our way to the event. It was warm and sunny. We passed the iconic Hollywood sign, looking proud, having been refurbished last year in honor of its 100th birthday. It seemed to smile down at the passing cars on the 101 freeway from its perch atop the greener-than-usual hillside. Thank you, Winter of 2023 Rains.
Entering the festival grounds was like arriving in Book Heaven. Author interviews, book signings, booth after booth of used and new books. Also, music of every sort: from the USC Marching Band to a rock band playing loudly on the main stage. Near the Children’s Stage, right after the cookbook booth, we found the food carts. Now we had not only a book fest but an aroma fest. We all sat under a shade tree near the children’s stage and shared delicious soft tacos.
My first book purchase of the day was “Frog and Toad.” Billie snuggled into Tom’s lap as he read it to her. I felt nostalgic, remembering reading these delightful stories to Tommy and his sisters when they were little.
The rest of the family left in the early afternoon for naptime at home, but I stayed. I wandered from booth to booth, landing at a giant display of used books for sale at the Open Book Store’s booth. I found a stack of treasures including a hardback “Charlotte’s Web “for Billie and an excellent translation of War and Peace in paperback for Tom. Six books filled my tote bag and cost me only $23. Not bad.
I ended the day by attending an interview with Gabrielle Zevin, the author of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. She won me over, and it was fun being in a hall filled with book lovers. Great energy.
As soon as I finish “Solito,” the heart-wrenching memoir by Javier Zamora, I want to begin Zevin’s novel. Except, my daughter Laura has been swept away by Barbara Kinsolver’s latest novel, “Demon Copperhead.” Hmmm. Such a lovely dilemma; what to read next!
Drop me a note via the “Contact Us” page, and let me know what book you can’t put down.
Sally
https://www.sallyhuschdean.com/
