The 31st of May was a truly beautiful day in Los Angeles. Not only was the sky clear and the temperature a pleasant 70 degrees, but the downtown Central Library was graced by the presence of Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Richard Ford. 
Richard Ford with Library Foundation members. All photos by Gary Leonard.
As his new book, Canada, premiered at number eight on the New York Times bestseller list, Ford graciously joined the Library Foundation of Los Angeles’ most generous donors for a private reception in the Children’s Courtyard before taking the ALOUD stage in the Mark Taper Auditorium as the evening’s special guest. Together, our most ardent library supporters gathered under a bright blue sky, enjoyed wine and hors d’oeuvres, and mingled before taking their seats for a program that also featured local treasure, Michael Silverblatt, creator and host of KCRW’s Bookworm.
Together, the two, pictured above, provided insightful and entertaining commentary on topics that included crossing moral, psychological, national and sexual borders; principle metaphorical structure; and, the arc of the narrative. Accessible and full of Southern charm, Ford mentioned to a guest at the reception about how he felt winning the Pulitzer Prize for Independence Day: someone else on his block in Jackson, Mississippi had already been awarded the honor and he was merely the second. (Eudora Welty was the first.)
To listen to the podcast of this special ALOUD program, click here. Also, Canada received much praise from the New York Times Book Review, which can be accessed here.
Thank you to all who joined us for a truly wonderful evening! We are grateful for your meaningful support for the Los Angeles Public Library.
-Posted by Erin Sapinoso