Book Discussions/Events

The Peoples Temple is notorious for the way it ended—mass death in a jungle in Guyana. Few people realize that half of those who died in Jonestown were in their twenties or younger; one-third under eighteen. Judy Bebelaar got to know the kids of the San Francisco Temple. They were vibrant, talented, full of spunk. Bebelaar brings out their stories, sometimes in their own words, in the book she wrote with fellow teacher Ron Cabral, And Then They Were Gone: Teenagers of Peoples Temple from High School to Jonestown. Join us for an online return to that fascinating and turbulent time.

Join us for a virtual book discussion of Hamnet: A Novel of the Plague by Maggie O'Farrell. A historical fiction re-imagining of the death of Hamnet, Shakespeare's 11-year-old son. Agnes, a young healer who strolls about with a falcon on her shoulder, happily marries an impecunious Latin tutor and aspiring writer. He is just emerging as a gifted dramatist when their son falls victim to the bubonic plague, and what's left is a couple shattered by grief.

This online book group will discuss recent literary fiction books:

March 30: Exhalation: Stories by Ted Chiang

All sessions meet at 2pm

The discussion will take place over Zoom and include 15 participants with a waitlist. Registration is now closed.

Participants can pick up a free bundle of all three books (to keep!) at the Central Library, once registered. You will receive an email from Berkeley Public Library when you are registered, otherwise you will be placed on a waitlist.

Register here:

Join George Takei for a Day of Remembrance event at your public library.

Seventy-nine years ago, Executive Order 9066 paved the way to the profound violation of constitutional rights that resulted in the forced removal and incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans.

Free digital access to the documentary And Then They Came for Us for one week only, starting Friday, February 12th. Please sign up to watch the film here http://gooddocs.net/attcfu-ca-public-libraries.

This online book group will discuss three recent literary fiction books over the next three months:

January 26: The Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Conteras

February 23: Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli

March 30: Exhalation: Stories by Ted Chiang 

All sessions meet at 2pm

The discussion will take place over Zoom and include 15 participants with a waitlist.

Join us for a virtual book discussion of The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. Beginning after WW II, when a brother and sister are exiled from their childhood home by their stepmother, this novel spans five decades, telling the story of these siblings who, despite every outward sign of success, are only truly comfortable when they’re together.

Join us on November 17, and December 15 (third Tuesdays) from 4:00-5:00 pm on Zoom for a fun, non-competitive space to enjoy books with other kids. New members are welcome at any meeting.