Book Drives Los Angeles

Book Discussion: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

Read as much as you can and then let's meet up to discuss our thoughts on the book One Hundred Years of Solitude. "Gabriel García Márquez's most famous book is "One Hundred Years of Solitude" (1967), a multi-generational saga about the Buendía family in the fictional town of Macondo. It is widely considered his masterpiece, a quintessential example of magical realism, and one of the best novels of the 20th century, having sold over 30 million copies worldwide. Plot: The novel chronicles the rise and fall of the Buendía family over a century, filled with epic events, love affairs, and magical occurrences. Significance: It is praised for its innovative narrative structure and its profound exploration of Latin American identity, often cited as a work that compresses the history of the continent into its pages. Legacy: The book's success led to García Márquez's international fame and was a key factor in his winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982. "

August Book Club - The Library Book by Susan Orleans

On the morning of April 29, 1986, a fire alarm sounded in the Los Angeles Public Library. As the moments passed, the patrons and staff who had been cleared out of the building realized this was not the usual fire alarm. As one fireman recounted, “Once that first stack got going, it was ‘Goodbye, Charlie.’” The fire was disastrous: it reached 2000 degrees and burned for more than seven hours. By the time it was extinguished, it had consumed four hundred thousand books and damaged seven hundred thousand more. Investigators descended on the scene, but more than thirty years later, the mystery remains: Did someone purposefully set fire to the library—and if so, who? Weaving her lifelong love of books and reading into an investigation of the fire, award-winning New Yorker reporter and New York Times bestselling author Susan Orlean delivers a mesmerizing and uniquely compelling book that manages to tell the broader story of libraries and librarians in a way that has never been done before. In The Library Book, Orlean chronicles the LAPL fire and its aftermath to showcase the larger, crucial role that libraries play in our lives; delves into the evolution of libraries across the country and around the world, from their humble beginnings as a metropolitan charitable initiative to their current status as a cornerstone of national identity; brings each department of the library to vivid life through on-the-ground reporting; studies arson and attempts to burn a copy of a book herself; reflects on her own experiences in libraries; and reexamines the case of Harry Peak, the blond-haired actor long suspected of setting fire to the LAPL more than thirty years ago. Along the way, Orlean introduces us to an unforgettable cast of characters from libraries past and present—from Mary Foy, who in 1880 at eighteen years old was named the head of the Los Angeles Public Library at a time when men still dominated the role, to Dr. C.J.K. Jones, a pastor, citrus farmer, and polymath known as “The Human Encyclopedia” who roamed the library dispensing information; from Charles Lummis, a wildly eccentric journalist and adventurer who was determined to make the L.A. library one of the best in the world, to the current staff, who do heroic work every day to ensure that their institution remains a vital part of the city it serves.

August 2026 Book Discussion: At the edge of Haight by Katherine Seligman

**📚 Our August Book Has Been Chosen!** Thanks to everyone who voted! Our next **Books & Brew** read is: ***At the Edge of the Haight* — Katherine Seligman** 🌉 Grab a copy, start reading, and join us for a great conversation! **About the Book** Twenty-year-old Maddy Donaldo has built a life for herself on the streets of San Francisco, finding family, routine, and survival in the hidden corners of Golden Gate Park. But when she witnesses the murder of a young homeless boy—and the killer sees her—her world is turned upside down. As police, grieving parents, and her own estranged family search for answers, Maddy must decide whether to continue hiding from the world or risk letting herself be found. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing San Francisco, *At the Edge of the Haight* explores homelessness, belonging, community, and the difficult choices that shape our lives.

Tough Guy Book Club - Los Angeles CA

Join us for the Los Angeles Chapter of Tough Guy Book Club. You can find out this month's book here [https://toughguybookclub.com/books](https://toughguybookclub.com/books?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExcTVleWRsd0ZYSWdqZXV4QXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5aL8E3xpn05czDIaY5kEiHH3oABs4hICFLOrNXUsW-0gY5HePBTW1ni0SYzw_aem_qNxAzG9ij-sVr5-Rf8Uw3Q) If you have the chance, try to pick up the book and read a couple of pages before the night. If you haven’t, come anyway, no one gives a damn. We are not your boss. If you got one, make sure to bring your copy of the books down, it’ll help you talk about bits of it, we suggest underlining stuff that sticks out to you as important. Also like all months, we will be announcing next month’s book at the meeting and handing them out to those of you who were wise enough to pre-order last month. See you there. Want to know more about Tough Guy Book Club? Read this - [http://toughguybookclub.com/about-us](http://toughguybookclub.com/about-us?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExcTVleWRsd0ZYSWdqZXV4QXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5QrDxxQmsaiuIfgbomTP4b6948UogKCm9U4Dudq5-VU_8aUx5RnTiUjO_R1Q_aem_n5AIic3b6NMTZ5TUJGTLkw)

Women in Big Data LA Book Club

We're excited to launch the **Women in Big Data SoCal Quarterly Book Club!** Join us as we bring together our community to discuss books that inspire professional growth, leadership, technology, and career development. Whether you've read every page or are simply curious about the conversation, this is a welcoming space to share ideas, hear different perspectives, and connect with fellow members. **Our First Book** ***[This Isn't Working](https://www.meghanfrenchdunbar.com/book)*** by **Meghan French Dunbar** This thought-provoking book explores the realities of today's workplace and challenges many of the assumptions we've made about work, success, and workplace culture. Together, we'll discuss key takeaways, personal reflections, and how the ideas relate to our own careers in data, analytics, AI, and technology. **Didn't have a chance to finish the book? Or haven't started it yet?** No problem! You're still encouraged to join us. Come listen to the discussion, meet fellow members, and participate as much or as little as you'd like. The goal is to create meaningful conversations—not quiz anyone on the reading. **Event Details** 📅 **Date:** Sunday, August 30 ⏰ **Time:** 2PM 📍 **Location:** Honesto Cafe 2927 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064 **Parking:** Free parking lot located behind the cafe We look forward to launching this new tradition with you! \-\-\-\-\-\- Follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14309306/) to get the latest updates on our events. \-\-\-\-\-\- **Photo Release Notice:** By attending this event, you consent to photographs being taken and used in Women In Big Data's promotional materials. Please inform organizers upon arrival if you prefer not to be photographed.

HORROR BOOK CLUB (August): “The Lovely Bones”

Book Club: Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald

*Storybook Ending* by Moira Macdonald is a charming story about romance, friendship, and a love of books, in which two women—a lonely remote worker and a widowed single mom—and a handsome local bookstore clerk find themselves in an unusual love triangle when an anonymous note left in a book finds the wrong recipient. Looking forward to enjoying brunch at True Food Kitchen in Pasadena. The menu can be found here: https://share.google/Y5Gn8RwSbwZlGOmvy The event fee will secure your reservation and be applied to membership dues, which covers the cost of the website. The event fee is NONREFUNDABLE unless the event is canceled by the organizer. To join the waitlist comment on the event page. If you have RSVPed and can no longer attend, please contact me directly and I will contact the people on the waiting list and then move you to "not going" when I find a replacement. Thank you and happy reading!

Book Discussion: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

Read as much as you can and then let's discuss our thoughts on One Hundred Years of Solitude. "Gabriel García Márquez's most famous book is "One Hundred Years of Solitude" (1967), a multi-generational saga about the Buendía family in the fictional town of Macondo. It is widely considered his masterpiece, a quintessential example of magical realism, and one of the best novels of the 20th century, having sold over 30 million copies worldwide. Plot: The novel chronicles the rise and fall of the Buendía family over a century, filled with epic events, love affairs, and magical occurrences. Significance: It is praised for its innovative narrative structure and its profound exploration of Latin American identity, often cited as a work that compresses the history of the continent into its pages. Legacy: The book's success led to García Márquez's international fame and was a key factor in his winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982. "

Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag

A short, darkly comic novel about a middle-class Bangalore family whose fortunes change dramatically after the uncle starts a successful spice business, leading to a move to a larger home and a shift in family dynamics. Narrated by the son, the story explores how sudden wealth unravels the family's unity, creating tension, resentment, and a sense of being "tangled beyond repair," a meaning of the nonsense phrase "ghachar ghochar". The book, translated by Srinath Perur, is praised for its masterful crafting, subtle tension, and exploration of class, gender, and morality in contemporary India.

A South Pas/Garfield Park & Beyond, 10K-Step Challenge #27 [TCP MOAI Adventure]

**SNIFF - EXPLORE - EXERCISE** **Welcome to [The Canis Pack IKIGAI 10K Adventure] + Purpose, Friendship, Togetherness & Support!** **We Will Not Wait Until Life Is Not Hard To WELCOME Strength, Beauty & Joy Into Our Lives!** [**THIS IS A WALK FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE DOGS - AND FOR THOSE WHO DO**] **AGENDA;** **\- Gathering at 5:45 \- 1000 Park Ave\ Garfield Park** **\- Leaving at 6:00 pm Promptly** **\- Bathroom Break as we head out** **\- Continue with the Inner and Outer Loop walk** **\- After the Loops\, then exploring the surrounding South Pasadena neighborhood\.** **\- This will be a 10K Walk – About 6\.2\-5 miles** **\- 2 Hours or so Walk** **\- 8:00 pm \- Returning to Garfield Park** **WHAT TO BRING;** **\- Water** **\- A Warm Jacket for Chilly Nights** **\- Flash Lite** **\- Bug Spray** **\- Snacks if needed** **\- Good walking shoes** **\- Comfortable walking clothes** **\- A bright Jacket for the Dark days** **LISTEN, THERE'S MORE** **Goal: A STRONG LIKE-MINDED TOGETHERNESS!** \* We will Establish Togetherness \* We will Bring about a Strong Awareness \* We will Establish a Strong National Presence \* We will Be Active and Responsible \* We will Always Think as a Like-Minded Group \* We will Put our Health and Wellbeing First \* We are a Pack-Family \* We will Gather and Walk with Harmony **THE IMPORTANT POINTS ARE THESE;** ONLY (10) TEN DOGS FOR THIS WALK, SO SIGN UP QUICK AND BE ACTIVE AND SHOW UP. CALLING UP TO (60) HUMANS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING SOME STRONG, INVIGORATING, FRESH AIR! **[ALSO, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE BRINGING YOUR DOG!]** We will be walking around. No running involved. Just a casual, social walk. Bring water if you need it. Around the center loop of GP and around the outer loop of GP. Then we will venture through the neighborhood and back to the Park. At the end of the walk, the humans with the dogs may stay for 15 to 20 minutes to ask questions or get tips on dog behavior. 🙏🏾Space is limited, so **Please (RSVP) only if you’re 100% sure you will attend.** If you (**RSVP)** and don’t show, it is a **🚩Red Flag🚩** for future events—we all appreciate strong reliability and respecting others’ being able to have a spot.🙏🏾 We’ll be **walking until** **around 8:00 PM.** Expect to hit somewhere between **10,000–12,000 steps (approximately 7.5-9 miles),** depending on the pace and group. This is going to go really well, and I will be hosting more **midweek walking events** **every other week** so we can **stay active together** and **make exercise a routine in our day-to-day lives.** **NOW IS THE TIME, LET'S GET TO IT – GENERAL INFO;** This meetup group is for Dog owners and Humans who enjoy exploring, exercising, and socializing with their furry friends. Whether you're into agility training, dog training, or simply love visiting the great outdoors and fun places with your pup, or just yourself, this group is for you. All sizes and breeds of dogs are welcome to join us for group walks, or meetups, and social gatherings. Let's make new friends, strengthen the bond with our dogs, neighboring humans, and have a Pawsitively good time together! Join us and become part of the pack today. Garfield Park allows dogs. But they must be on a leash, and it will be your own responsibility. **Free street parking is available in the surrounding areas** **Garfield Park is located at 1000 Park Ave. South Pasadena, CA 91030**

📚 Not Our First Rodeo - Inaugural Book Club 📚

A San Marino/Lacy Park & Beyond, 10k-Steps Challenge #42 [TCP MOAI Adventure]

**Welcome to [The Canis Pack IKIGAI 10K Adventure] + Purpose, Friendship, Togetherness & Support!** **We Will Not Wait Until Life Is Not Hard To WELCOME Strength, Beauty & Joy Into Our Lives!** **SNIFF - EXPLORE - EXERCISE** [**THIS IS A WALK FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE DOGS - AND FOR THOSE WHO DO**] **AGENDA;** **\- Gathering at 5:45 \- 1485 Virginia Rd\. Lacy Park** **\- Leaving at 6:00 pm Promptly** **\- Bathroom Break as we head out** **\- Continue with the Inner and Outer Loop walk** **\- After the Loops\, then exploring the surrounding San Marino neighborhood\.** **\- This will be a 10K Walk – About 6\.2\-5 miles** **\- 2 Hours or so Walk** **\- 8:00 pm \- Returning to Lacy Park** **WHAT TO BRING;** **\- Water** **\- A Warm Jacket for Chilly Nights** **\- Flash Lite** **\- Bug Spray** **\- Snacks if needed** **\- Good walking shoes** **\- Comfortable walking clothes** **\- A bright Jacket for the Dark days** **LISTEN, THERE'S MORE;** **Goal: A STRONG LIKE-MINDED TOGETHERNESS!** \* We will Establish Togethereness \* We will Bring about a Strong Awareness \* We will Establish a Strong National Presence \* We will Be Active and Responsible \* We will Always Think as a Like-Minded Group \* We will Put our Health and Wellbeing First \* We are a Pack-Family **\* We will Gather and Walk with Harmony** I know—10,000 steps might not sound like a lot, but for those of us who sit at desks or stand in one place all day, it's not always easy to hit that goal. And while 15,000 or 20,000 steps would be great, they also require more time. So to make it fun and manageable, we’re starting with 10k steps as a challenge—and we may increase the goal in future events. **THE IMPORTANT POINTS ARE THESE;** Space is limited, so **please RSVP only if you’re 100% sure you’ll attend.** 🙏🏾If you RSVP and don’t show, you will be 🚩Red Flagged 🚩for future events—we all appreciate reliability and respect for others' abilities to get a spot to walk!🙏🏾 Expect to hit somewhere between **10,000–12,000 steps (approximately 7.5-9 miles),** depending on the pace and group. This **midweek walking event** is going really well. So, let’s **stay active together** and **make this a Strong part of our routine. See You There** [COMMENT BELOW IF YOU ARE IN AGREEMENT] **NOW IS THE TIME, LET’S GET TO WALKING** Btw. Yes, Lacy Park allows dogs. However, they must be on a leash and it will be your own responsibility. No running involved. Just a casual, social walk. Bring water if you need it. **Free street parking is available in the surrounding areas. Please avoid parking inside the park lot, as the gates may close before we finish our walk.** **Park closes at dusk so I strongly advise against parking inside any of the lots. Just drive around, and you can easily find free open parking spaces.** **Lacy Park is located at 1485 Virginia Road, San Marino, CA 91108**