Glendale native Colin Legerton spoke about his travels to the far borders of China, and Invisible China, the book he just published, at the Central Library on September 17. Lisa See will discuss her historical novel of sisters who travel from China to Los Angeles, Shanghai Girls, this year’s One Book/One Glendale selection, at the library on Wednesday, October 28 at 7 p.m.
Between those dates, the library, Glendale Community College, and other venues are hosting programs on Chinese culture and identity. The Friends of the Glendale Public Library and several community partners are sponsoring this excellent series of events. If you haven’t attended one yet, don’t miss out!
Legerton, with a Glendale, California frame of reference, was an excellent choice for the kick-off. His book is filled with engaging accounts of the people in China that he met, from Mongolians (Inner and Outer) to Masuo (who are told by the government that they are Mongolian as well). He and his co-traveler offer an inside account of how China categorizes, perceives, and treats minorities and how those they met have responded.
This week writer, educator, and archivist Jenny Cho, author of Chinatown in Los Angeles, will be at the Glendale Central Library Auditorium Tuesday, October 20, at 7 p.m., to discuss her book. Earlier on Tuesday (2 p.m.), the movie Empire of the Sun will be shown free in the Auditorium.
Glendale Community College Associate Professor of Psychology Mike Dulay will discuss Becoming American: A Psychological Analysis on Thursday, October 24 at noon, part of the college’s public lecture series on Asian-American identity and history planned in conjunction with One Book/One Glendale.
One more book discussion about Shanghai Girls is coming up Tuesday, October 27, 6:15 p.m., at the Montrose-Crescenta Branch Library.
Glendale Community College will also host author Lisa See for a discussion of her book On Gold Mountain on Thursday, October 29 at noon.