by T. C. Boyle
First published 2017
The Friends of Santa Barbara's Central Library commissioned over eighty writers to create prose and poetry celebrating libraries for the institution's centennial milestone. Contributors include science fiction master Ray Bradbury, Southern storyteller Fannie Flagg, mystery novelist Sue Grafton, travel writer Pico Iyer, and historian Leon Litwack. The collection draws from Santa Barbara's literary community, featuring all living poets laureate from the city. Local voices include nature writer Gretel Ehrlich, Hilary Dole Klein, and D. J. Palladino, who grew up in the area. Former residents also contribute, including John Daniel, travel writer Jeff Greenwald, and thriller author Gayle Lynds. The anthology captures the enduring relationship between writers and the libraries that shaped their craft, offering readers a diverse chorus of voices united by their reverence for these vital community spaces.
Genres: essays, literary-fiction, anthologies, books-about-books
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
Setting: Santa Barbara, Central Library
Period: Centennial
274 pages · Kindle Edition · Kieran Publishing