Litquake

Trethewey writes about loss and monuments with a masterful hand, but what made the talk exceptionally poignant were Foster’s considerate but challenging questions.

Beyond its rich history as a literary landmark, the Bay Area has undoubtedly proven itself to be a pioneer in its work to change the industry — to promote diversity, amplify underrepresented voices and draw much-needed attention to foreign literature.

In the chattering crowd seated on the floor of the shop, I could see a wide demographic of people present — young college students, parents with a child on their lap, older adults with a cane in hand. And at the center stood the authors: six women writers of color ready to share their stories with the crowd.

Maybe the events of last week — Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court, UC Berkeley’s abysmal equity index score and the disappearance of Washington Post columnist and Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, for a start — have made you feel a sense of deep dissatisfaction in governments, both local and global.