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ALOUD

Let Us Descend

Jesmyn Ward in conversation with Traci Thomas
Date: Wednesday, Sep 4, 2024
Time: 7pm
Location: Mark Taper Auditorium-Central Library
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Join us for a special evening with two-time National Book Award Winner Jesmyn Ward in conversation with Traci Thomas, creator and host of the critically-acclaimed literary podcast The Stacks. Ward returns to the ALOUD stage to discuss her raw, transcendent novel Let Us Descend. Her work has garnered considerable attention both with critics and audiences alike and Let us Descend is no exception—instantly a New York Times bestseller, chosen as an Oprah Winfrey Book Club book, and named one of the best books of 2023 by The New Yorker, Washington Post, and Vanity Fair, among others.

Let Us Descend describes a journey from the rice fields of the Carolinas to the slave markets of New Orleans and into the fearsome heart of a Louisiana sugar plantation. A journey that is as beautifully rendered as it is heart wrenching, the novel is “[t]he literary equivalent of an open wound from which poetry pours.”—National Public Radio

 

Frequently asked questions

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

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).

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

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 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.

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

Book purchases will be only available for in-person pick-up at the event, provided by Skylight Books. 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.

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

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

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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 parking validation?

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

What is your reservation policy 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.

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 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, provided by Skylight Books. 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.

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.

 

630 W. Fifth St.
Los Angeles, CA 90071

213.228.7500

info@lfla.org

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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.