Bluegrass and Banned Books

The Liquake hosted reading at the Commonwealth Club tonight fed me all sorts of fun facts. Did you know that Steinbeck's classic "The Grapes of Wrath" was banned in the 30's? Did you know that Sutro, of Sutro Tower fame was Jewish? The talk tonight, just after National Banned Book week was well timed. Oh, yes, and banned books are on people's minds since learning of S. Palin's banning of "Daddy's Roomate." But back to S.F.... Rick Wartzman and Frances Dinkelspiel were fascinating, articulate and funny (as was Ethan Rarick whose new book on the Donner Party is also intriguing). I'm a sucker for all things 'California History' and these three authors delivered delicious details of the ups and downs of the history of the California economy, politics, unions, and literacy. Another great Litquake event. And, an insider update: Warren Hellman, of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival and related to Frances, has composed a bluegrass tune about their mutual relative, Isaias Hellman. Frances reports that the final mix will be up on her website shortly.

Authors, creative process, Fiction, jewish issues, Litquake, San Francisco, Writers