Bad Bad Girl: Gish Jen in conversation with Lisa See

Date: Thursday, Oct 30, 2025
Time: 7pm
Location: Mark Taper Auditorium-Central Library

This program will be available for livestream.​
RSVP below to select online livestream option.​

Eventbrite_Gish Jen

Gish Jen—award-winning author of The Resisters—and New York Times bestselling author Lisa See (Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, Dreams of Joy) welcome us into a discussion about Jen’s newest novel Bad Bad Girl. In this moving autobiographical book, Jen spans continents, generations, and cultures, and traces a tumultuous mother-daughter relationship with her brilliant humor, courage, and compassion.

 

“Who cares what genre this is; as portraits of tough mother-daughter relationships go, it’s as moving as they come.” — Kirkus Reviews

Featured Author and Moderator:

Gish Jen

Gish Jen is the author of six novels, two books of stories, and two works of nonfiction. Her honors include fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, and the Fulbright Foundation, as well as the Lannan Literary Award for Fiction and the Mildred and Harold Strauss Living Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Her stories have been chosen for The Best American Short Stories five times, including The Best American Short Stories of the Century. She and her husband split their time between Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Bad Bad Girl is her latest novel.

Lisa See

Lisa See is the New York Times bestselling author of Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, The Island of Sea Women, The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love, Shanghai Girls, China Dolls, and Dreams of Joy, which debuted at #1. She is also the author of On Gold Mountain, which tells the story of her Chinese American family’s settlement in Los Angeles. See was the recipient of the Golden Spike Award from the Chinese Historical Association of Southern California and the Historymaker’s Award from the Chinese American Museum. She was also named National Woman of the Year by the Organization of Chinese American Women.

Frequently asked questions

For questions related to the venue, please visit the event registration page.

Books purchased with your reservation are non-refundable. If the event is ticketed, tickets are also non-refundable. Thank you for supporting the Los Angeles Public Library.

Book purchases are only available for pick-up at the event. We strongly encourage you to purchase your book(s) in advance of the event because we cannot guarantee quantities that will be available for sale day of.

Where should I park?

We recommend taking public transportation.

Parking for the Central Library is available at the Westlawn Garage at 524 S. Flower Street. If you park at the Westlawn Garage, 524 S. Flower Street lot, there is a $10 charge if you exit after 9:00 PM ($1 with Library card validation before 9:00 PM).

LAPL patrons can obtain validation upon presenting a valid library card at the Central Library’s Information Desk (first floor) before the program.

For more information, visit the Central Library’s website: LFLA.org/Parking

As this program is free of charge, it is our policy to overbook. In the case of a full program your free reservation may not guarantee admission.

We recommend arriving early. Unclaimed reservations will be released to standby patrons at the start of each program.

You may access the online livestream of the event here: lfla.org/YouTube.

What is your refund policy?

All books are non-refundable. Thank you for supporting the Los Angeles Public Library.

Where can I pick up my book?

Book purchases will be only available for in-person pick-up at the event. Please note: We strongly encourage you to purchase your book(s) in advance of the event; we cannot guarantee quantities available for sale at the event.

Where should I park?

We recommend taking public transportation. Parking for the Central Library is available at the Westlawn Garage at 524 S. Flower Street. If you park at the Westlawn Garage, 524 S. Flower Street lot, there is a $8 charge if you exit after 9:00 PM ($1 with Library card validation before 9:00 PM).

Where can I get a parking validation?

Patrons can obtain validation upon presenting a valid library card at the Central Library’s Information Desk (first floor) BEFORE the program. For more information, visit the Central Library’s website: LFLA.org/Parking

What if a program is full?

You are welcome to come as a standby guest. Standby numbers are distributed one hour before the program on a first-come, first served basis. Admission is subject to availability.

What is your reservation for free programs?

As this program is free of charge, it is our policy to overbook. In the case of a FULL program your free reservation may not guarantee admission. We recommend arriving early. Unclaimed reservations will be released to standby patrons at the start of each program.

How can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Contact the Public Programs office at programs@lfla.org or by calling 213.292.6254.

Mask Policy

Masks are no longer required in city libraries; like in other indoor places, masks will be strongly recommended.

 

What You Will Need to Register

Your Ranked Dinner Preferences

Review the available dinners and decide on your top choices. You’ll be assigned to one dinner based on availability and your ticket level.

Guest Information

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Payment Method

Have your credit card on hand to complete your purchase.

Important: Please select a different dinner for each of your ranked choices. If you choose the same dinner multiple times and space is not available, we won’t be able to seat you at a dinner. In that case, your ticket will be processed as a donation, and you will not be assigned to a Feasts dinner.

Stacy-Lieberman_headshot_President-and-CEO_LFLA

Stacy Lieberman

As President and CEO of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles (LFLA), Stacy Lieberman is an innovative and inclusive leader whose career dwells at the intersection of arts and culture, lifelong learning, storytelling, and equitable access. Stacy guides the Foundation’s philanthropic and public-facing priorities to serve the Los Angeles Public Library, embracing the notion that libraries are beacons of democracy where everyone is welcome. She works intentionally with community leaders, donors, and internal and external strategic partners to raise awareness and resources for the Library and its life-changing initiatives.

With more than 20 years of experience as a senior executive, Stacy has left an indelible mark on iconic L.A. arts, non-profit, and educational institutions such as The Broad, the Autry Museum of the American West, and the Skirball Cultural Center. Building on an early career in book publishing, she has dedicated her professional life to sharing stories and broadening the reach of public institutions to welcome visitors and students of all ages and backgrounds to experience educational, arts, and cultural opportunities.