Los Gatos prepares to read John Steinbeck--as a town
Literary endeavor is local contribution to birthday fete
By Shari Kaplan
Putting a local spin on the centennial celebration of novelist John Steinbeck's birthday--which is being recognized nationwide--the Friends of the Library and the Los Gatos Library itself are sponsoring an event titled "Los Gatos Reads Steinbeck!"
"The idea is for people to meet with other people in coffee shops and strike up conversations," explains Pat Bargetto, senior librarian at the town library, who is working on the project with library director Peggy Conaway.
That conversation topic is The Grapes of Wrath, a novel Steinbeck penned between 1936 and 1938--the same period in which he lived in what is now Monte Sereno. The reason people will be talking about it is because the Friends have some 110 paperback copies for distribution at the library and at three local coffee houses: Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company, Cafe Rouge and Peet's.
After completing the books, readers are on the honor system to return them to one of these venues or share them with a friend. Eventually, the Friends will re-collect and sell the books as part of their used book sale fundraisers. According to Conaway, The Grapes of Wrath, which tells the tale of a poor family migrating from the Dust Bowl to the "promised land" of California, is considered one of Steinbeck's masterpieces.
The inspiration for "Los Gatos Reads Steinbeck!" came last year, Bargetto says, after someone from The Center for Steinbeck Studies at San Jose State University contacted the library about the Steinbeck centennial, as many libraries around the country are observing it in various ways. Additionally, Bargetto says, Conaway had heard of similar citywide reading events in Chicago and Seattle--unrelated to Steinbeck, however--and thought such an event would suit Los Gatos.
When the Friends of the Library learned of this, the group decided to sponsor "Los Gatos Reads Steinbeck!" It is also planning a program on him for one of its monthly Friday forums at the library. On March 1 at 7 p.m., Dr. Susan Shillinglaw, director of the Center for Steinbeck Studies, will give a talk titled "Steinbeck in Los Gatos." There is no charge to attend, and refreshments will be served.
In the meantime, the Friends encourage Los Gatans to pick up The Grapes of Wrath. Start reading and start discussing.
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
