Library Live.

Thomas Fuller

The Boys of Riverside: A Deaf Football Team and a Quest for Glory
Thursday, October 16, 7:00pm

The event will be held at the Civic Center Community Room

The Boys of Riverside by New York Times reporter Thomas Fuller tells the inspiring story of the California School for the Deaf’s high school football team, which achieved an undefeated season. The narrative highlights their strong brotherhood, the challenges they faced, and their dedicated coach, Keith Adams. Captivated by their journey after receiving an email about the team’s success, Fuller documents their historic 2021-2022 seasons, showcasing personal stories of determination, such as a player who continued despite a broken leg. The book portrays the power of high school athletics, inspiring camaraderie and the experience of deafness in America. The book was chosen by Amazon as the Best Book of 2024. Fuller has reported from more than 40 countries for The Times and International Herald Tribune and is currently Page One Correspondent for the Times based in the East Bay of San Francisco.

Susan Straight

Sacrament: A Novel
Thursday, November 6, 7:00pm

The event will be held at the Civic Center Community Room

From National Book Award finalist Susan Straight comes a gripping novel about nurses during the Covid pandemic in San Bernardino due to be released in October 2025. In August 2020, Larette, Cherrise, and Marisol work tirelessly in the ICU, living in RVs to protect their families. As they face rising patient numbers and personal struggles, Cherrise’s daughter goes missing, prompting a search led by Grief’s friend, Johnny. The journey explores themes of love, loss, and the quiet heroism of first responders. Sacrament showcases Susan Straight’s powerful voice in American literature.

A Southern California native, Straight has authored nine novels, including Mecca and Highwire Moon. She has received numerous accolades, such as the Lannan Prize, O. Henry Award, Edgar Award, and the Robert Kirsch Award for lifetime achievement. Her work has been translated into ten languages.

Colm Toibin

Long Island and Brooklyn
Thursday, March 12, 7:00pm

The event will be held in Friends Room, Central Library

Colm Tóibín is a renowned Irish writer known for his extensive body of work, including fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry. His latest novel, Long Island, is a New York Times bestseller and continues the story of Eilis Lacey from his acclaimed book Brooklyn, which received multiple awards and was adapted into a film. Tóibín’s notable works include The Master, which explores the life of Henry James, and The Magician, a portrayal of Thomas Mann, both of which have earned critical acclaim. He has received numerous literary awards, served as the Laureate for Irish Fiction, and is a professor at Columbia University. Tóibín’s writing often delves into themes of Irish society, exile, Catholicism, and personal identity. In addition to novels, he has written essays, edited collections, and staged plays, showcasing his diverse literary contributions.

Anthony Doerr

Cloud Cuckoo Land and All the Light We Cannot See
Thursday, April 23, 7:00pm

The event will be held in Witte Hall

Anthony Doerr is the author of several acclaimed works, including the story collections The Shell Collector and Memory Wall, the memoir Four Seasons in Rome, and novels such as About Grace, All the Light We Cannot See (winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize), and Cloud Cuckoo Land (finalist for the 2021 National Book Award). His short stories and essays have earned five O. Henry Prizes and have been featured in notable anthologies. Doerr’s works have been translated into over forty languages and have received numerous awards, including the Barnes & Noble Discover Prize and the prestigious Story Prize. All the Light We Cannot See was a bestseller, remaining on the New York Times Bestseller List for over 200 weeks.