As part of our War Comes Home: California Reads program, Karl Marlantes, Vietnam veteran, Rhodes Scholar, and New York Times bestselling author of What It Is Like To Go To War toured Northern California in early October. Marlantes spoke to audiences about his experiences during and after war, how he came to write the book, and why veteran reintegration is an important issue for us all.
Each program – structured as a conversation between Marlantes and Mary Menzel, Director of the California Center for the Book — was followed by a half-hour Q &A and dialogue session with the audience and a book signing. The kick-off event in Hayward on October 7 at Chabot Community College was attended by over 215 people, including veterans, students, health care and social service providers. Other stops included Sacramento (Central Library), Fresno (City College), Visalia (Veterans Memorial), Seaside (CSU Monterey Bay) and Palo Alto (VA Medical Center).
The tour will resume in November when Marlantes returns for another week-long series of programs in Southern California.
Cal Humanities thanks Karl, Mary, our participating public libraries and community partners, and our funders and sponsors for making these programs possible.
From Top Left:
Karl meeting with attendees at the Palo Alto VA
Karl talking with Mary Menzel at SACPL,* Karl signing books at the SACPL*
*Photos courtesy of Four Seven Photography
