The readings and celebration will take place Tuesday, July 16, 2013, from 6-7:30 pm at the Central Branch of the Berkeley Public Library, in the 4th floor Story Room. The Central Branch is located in downtown Berkeley at 2090 Kittredge St.
The six-week class, hosted by the Berkeley Public Library, was part of the History of the Rest of Us: Community Memoir Project, and was taught by writer Frances Lefkowitz who received funding from the SF Foundation’s Koshland Program. The book will be presented with refreshments, time for chatting, and then readings about the fascinating lives of our Berkeley neighbors, including “big” stories of escaping Berlin during the Holocaust, fleeing inland to avoid the Japanese-American internment camps, as well as stories of quieter but crucial moments–divorcing, teething, forgiving, and grieving.
Instructor Frances Lefkowitz is the author of To Have Not, a memoir about growing up poor in San Francisco in the 1970s and an examination of what poverty does to the soul. To Have Not was named one of five “Best Memoirs of 2010” by SheKnows.com. Her articles, essays, and short stories have appeared in commercial magazines (Whole Living, Body+Soul, Utne Reader…) and literary journals (Tin House, The Sun, Glimmer Train Stories…) and have earned two special mentions for the Pushcart Prize and one for Best American Essays, among other honors. She is the book reviewer for Good Housekeeping and teaches writing workshops throughout the Bay Area.
For more program information call 510-981-6148 or connect to Berkeley Public Library
The Central Library is open Monday, noon-8 p.m., Tuesday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday afternoons from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. For questions and accessibility information, call 510-981-6195, TTY 510-548-1240.