Learning more about this great state


This is such a great read! I learned so much, and the information was presented in a really accessible way. It's like reading a narrative in which the main character is the state of California. The pace is good, so I never felt a lull.  

 This book was written be Kevin Starr, who was a Californian State Librarian [I didn't even know this was a thing!], historian, and professor at USC.  Very impressive resume. In addition to all the titles above, Kevin Starr was a great writer. I wish I could have met this man!   

 In addition to this one, I bought a few of his other books. I am interested in learning more about the history of my state and my city, and Kevin Starr has several more titles dealing with local and state history, and as a native, he has respect for his subject.  The information is detailed and absorbing.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kings Win!

Image
Nancy and I are the go-ers in our group. We are always getting tickets for something. A plane, a show...in this case, it was to see the Kings play hockey. It was my first hockey game, and I wasn't really sure if I would like it, but...I DID! We got some excellent seats and actually got really involved in the action. It still amazes me that they convert this space for so many different occasions (I, personally, have seen basketball, tennis, and now hockey here) and I couldn't help but wonder about the person whose job or career it is to design and oversee these spaces and transformations. It's pretty fascinating stuff. Final Score! It was great that the home team won!
Read more

I HAVE VOTED =)

Image
I remember when I turned 18...I couldn't wait to vote. I was so excited that I got to have a say in elections. I voted in every election that came up (except the primary that I forgot about because I was having finals at UCLA, oh well...)--and was happy about it. I guess I was not a typical young person--or a typical person, period, if I really think about it. Anyway, today is election day (Midterm Midtacular for John Stewart and Stephen Colbert =)), and I have to admit that I was SERIOUSLY considering NOT voting. I have a general unease about the state of government and politics in America, and I was starting to feel like maybe it WAS unimportant that I get myself out to the poles... Well, I left for work this morning without the information on my polling place, etc. I knew I had a meeting after work and an appointment after that. I was thinking again of giving up, but when I got to work, I discovered that our school library was a polling place! In an inspired moment, I got in the
Read more

WICKED!

Image
The Broadway Phenomenon Comes back to LA! The last time Wicked was in LA, tickets were sold out immediately, impossible to get. That was NOT going to happen to me this time. Thank to quick action--and connected friends (OK, A friend with an American Express card), I was able to get tickets to take my mom, aunt, and grandmother out for my Grandmother's 73rd Birthday. It was pretty cool. I don't think either of them had been to a live show for quite a long time. Here they are as we wait outside The Pantages Theater for Nancy and Larry to arrive. Nancy was the connected friend, in case you were wondering. This theater has a lot of Hollywood History, and there's really something special about going to a show there. It has been fairly recently renovated, so it is beautiful inside, but it doesn't have an elevator for old people--or any people for that matter. That's what we discovered as my grandmother balked at walking up all the stairs that led to our seats.
Read more