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Ghost Town

In conversation with Michael Berry
Date: Tuesday, Apr 25, 2023
Time: 7pm
Location: Westwood Branch Library
LFLA-event_Kevin-Chen

This bestselling author and winner of the Taiwan Literature Award is back with one of the most anticipated books of last fall by The New York Times. Ghost Town, begins a decade after Keith Chen leaves his traditional Taiwanese family in a small village in Taiwan for Berlin. Chen is hoping that he will find support and acceptance far away from the attitudes and practices of his village.

The novel opens with Chen being released from prison for killing his boyfriend. He is about to return to the desolate village in which he grew up. His parents are now gone, and his siblings are angry or have gone mad.

Told in a myriad of voices, both living and dead, Ghost Town weaves a mesmerizing story where we learn what family secrets tore Chen’s family apart and the real tale behind the murder of Chen’s boyfriend.

Frequently asked questions

Co-presented with the Los Angeles Public Library, Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture, and the Taiwan Academy of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles

Kevin Chen

Taiwanese author Kevin Chen started his career as a cinema and theater actor. Now based in Germany, he has published several novels, essays, and short story collections in Taiwan. He is the winner of several literature awards in Taiwan. His first English publication Ghost Town, translated by Darryl Sterk, was reviewed by The New York Times, NPR, Publishers Weekly, etc. Ghost Town was placed on the list of Best Books of World Literature 2022 by Library Journal and the longlist of PEN Translation Prize 2023. Ghost Town will be translated into 10 languages.


Michael Berry

Michael Berry is Professor of Contemporary Chinese Cultural Studies and Director of the Center for Chinese Studies at UCLA. He is the author of several books on Chinese cinema, including Speaking in Images: Interviews with Contemporary Chinese Filmmakers (2006) and A History of Pain: Trauma in Modern Chinese Literature and Film (2008). He has served as a film consultant and a juror for numerous film festivals, including the Golden Horse (Taiwan) and the Fresh Wave (Hong Kong). He is also the translator of several books by contemporary Chinese writers, including Wild Kids (2000), Nanjing 1937: A Love Story (2002), To Live (2004), The Song of Everlasting Sorrow (2008), Remains of Life (2017) and Wuhan Diary (2020) and Hospital (2022).


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.