Barstow Reads Project Presents A Chat with Author Tommy Orange

Welcome to Barstow Reads, a community initiative inspired by the One Book One City/Community model. By sharing the same literary journey, we aim to foster connection, dialogue, and a deeper appreciation for the written word among our community members.

Our inaugural selection, "There There," authored by the esteemed Tommy Orange, takes us on a poignant exploration of Native American identity and experience. As a Pulitzer Prize finalist, Orange illuminates the complexities of heritage and history with remarkable insight and sensitivity.

In the words of the author himself, "For Native writers, there's a kind of burden to set the record straight because it's been told wrong for so long. So I was trying to find a way to do it in an interesting way. And I started finding all these connections around the Indian head and all these different ways that the Indian head has played out throughout history."

We invite you to join us for an evening of literary engagement, starting with refreshments and followed by a conversation led by Barstow Reads project facilitator, Susan Nylander. This will be an opportunity to delve into the themes of the book, pose questions to the author, and conclude with a book signing session.

Let's come together to celebrate the power of storytelling and the richness of diverse narratives. See you there!