Book Talk AN EVENING WITH AMY TAN ... Best-selling author Amy Tan of “The Joy Luck Club,” “The Kitchen God’s Wife” and others (including “The Bonesetter’s Daughter,” for which she also wrote the opera libretto), will speak at the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center at 3921 Fabian Way in Palo Alto on April 11. Tan will be in conversation with author Louann Brizendine at the event, which runs from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $30 general, $25 for students and JCC members, and $22 for residents of the Moldaw complex at the center. Info: paloaltojcc.org or 650-223-8699 BECOMING A SUCESSFUL WRITER ...In this three-hour class, from 1 to 4 p.m., San Francisco agent, author and consultant Michael Larsen will be at Kepler’s to talk about “The Nine Keys to Becoming a Successful Writer,” including how to get a book published, making work “rejection proof,” finding an agent or publisher and choosing the best publishing option. Class fee is $99. Info: keplers. com or 800-838-3006
BOOKS INC. ... Future author talks at Books Inc. at Palo Alto’s Town & Country Village include: Harry Brod, “Superman is Jewish?” (April 10, 7 p.m.); Caroline M. Grant and Lisa Catherine Harper, “The Cassoulet Saved Our Marriage” (April 11, 7 p.m.); Jaina Sanga, “Silk Fish Opium” (April 16, 6 p.m.); Christina Schwarz, “The Edge of the Earth” (April 18, 7 p.m.); and Maria Semple, “Where’d you go, Bernadette” (April 22, 7 p.m.). Info: booksinc.net LOCAL POET ... Pearl Karrer’s new collection, “Balanced Between Water and Sky, Poems of the Everglades,” will be published this spring by Finishing Line Press. Karrer, a Palo Alto piano teacher, artist and poet, has two chapbooks, “Weathering” (Slapering Hol Press) and “The Thorn Fence” (Finishing Line Press). She is the managing editor for the poetry journal, California Quarterly. Cost of her latest book is $14. Info (and to preorder): www.finishinglinepress.com (continued on page 22)
A monthly section on local books and authors
1BSBEJTF lost and found
Ellen Sussman’s new novel explores closure and connection amidst a real-life tragedy Veronica Weber
MEET THE AUTHORS ... Upcoming authors and programs at Keplers, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, include: Amanda Coplin, “The Orchardist” (April 9, 7:30 p.m.); Roland Garrigue, “How to Demolish Dinosaurs” (April 10, 10:30 a.m.); Guy Kawasaki, “APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur - How to Publish a Book” (April 10, 7 p.m.); Caroline Paul and Wendy McNaughton “Lost Cat: A True Story of Love, Desperation, and GPS Technology” (April 11, 7:30 p.m.); Pam Houston, “Waltzing the Cat” (April 16, 7:30 p.m.); Jennifer Fosberry, “Isabella: Star of the Story” (April 17, 4 p.m.); Katherine Applegate, “The One and Only Ivan” (April 18, 7 p.m.); Adam M. Grant, “Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success” (April 24, 7:30 p.m.); and Mark Mazzetti, “The Way of the Knife: The CIA, a Secret Army, and War at the Ends of the Earth” (April 25, 7:30 p.m.). Info: keplers.com
Title Pages
by Karla Kane
Ellen Sussman read from her latest book, “The Paradise Guest House,” at Kepler’s on March 26.
“The Paradise Guest House,” by Ellen Sussman; Ballantine Books; 258 pages; $15
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n the autumn of 2002, members of an Islamist terrorist group detonated three bombs in a tourist district on the Indonesian island of Bali. Hundreds were injured and 202 were killed, including seven Americans. “The Paradise Guest House,” local author Ellen Sussman’s latest novel, follows the lives of several fictional characters who’ve been irreparably impacted by the Balinese nightclub bombings. For much of the novel, the leading protagonist is Jamie, a 32-year-old Californian who works as an adventure guide for a Berkeleybased travel company. Jamie was visiting Bali with her Chilean boyfriend, scouting out potential tour opportunities, when she was caught up in the terrorist attacks. After risking her life
to help fellow victims and suffering injury, she was rescued by Gabe, an American ex-pat, and the two quickly formed a strong bond, only to lose each other soon after. One year later, Jamie, still traumatized by her experience, returns to Bali to seek closure, attend a memorial ceremony, confront her haunting memories and, she hopes, find Gabe. In flashbacks, the reader learns of Jamie’s childhood in Palo Alto (including references to local establishments such as the Stanford Park Hotel); how her father installed in her a love of adventure and then abandoned the family, leaving Jamie unwilling or unable to settle down; her overprotective but loving mother; her dissolving relationship with her beau, the doomed Miguel; and her close paternal relationship to her boss, Larson. When the book switches back to the present, Jamie meets her kindly Balinese host Nyoman (the owner of the titular guest house), who also suffered greatly in the attacks of the previous year, as well as the mischievous urchin Bambang, both of whom will help her
make her peace with the stunningly beautiful but now tragedy-tainted island. Midway through, the book’s perspective shifts to that of Gabe. In a similar mix of flashback and contemporary narrative we discover Gabe’s history as a Boston journalist and how family grief led him to leave the U.S. for a relaxed life as an elementary school teacher in Bali. Though he’s closed off his heart due to his past losses, and Jamie’s plagued by guilt over her survival in the face of others’ deaths, the two find their defenses dropping as their connection deepens. “The Paradise Guest House,” with its blend of romance, adventure, action and history, could easily work as a motion picture, so don’t be surprised to see it someday at a theater near you. Sussman is an effective writer who keeps the plot developing at a quick pace. When (spoiler alert) Jamie and Gabe finally have (continued on page 22)
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