Category Archives: readings

Luis Alberto Urrea’s reading in Berkeley was more a recap of how the act of living has prepared Urrea to write his fantastic stories. How he learned that “sooner or later, the stories you’re told not to repeat become the stories people want to hear.”

The evening started with Urrea going over the story of his parents, how they met and married, his upbringing in the border towns of Tijuana and San Diego, the insane cast of characters he called familia, how his childhood home was transformed into a micro-version of the US-México border, and how the tragic death of his father all led up to the start of his writing career.

Another story recalls Urrea’s time in the Tijuana landfill where he was keeping a journal of the events around him. A local asks if he is writing everything down, when Urrea confirms he is detailing all he can, the local tenses with emotion. Urrea is unsure if the local is going to hit him or hug him but the local responds, “I was born in this dump. I’ve always lived by the dump. And, when I die, they’ll bury me in the dump. You tell them, tell them that I was here.”

It’s these moments when you feel like writing is not a hobby or chore, an endless debate over what is inclusive or exclusive; it’s these moments that you know you write because it is your purpose in the world. This balance between the wonder of the universe and detail to the everyday came out as Urrea read from his newest novel, Into the Beautiful North.

A wonderful Q&A followed where Urrea spoke of how he balances his father and mother languages, the way he deals with the tragedies in his writing, the importance of choosing the right mentors, and, one of his most important messages to audiences, to always leave a record of who you are. (Barb’s thoughts on the reading are here.)

Definitely the right messages, backed up by excellent prose, from a writer who understands the point of writing is to bear witness to “the daily sacred.”

More Luis Alberto Urrea
• Author’s website
• Biblio
• First three chapters of Into the Beautiful North

As soon as I heard about a new literary series starting up in SF, I was already down to check it out and support. But when I heard it was going to be happenin in a barbershop and I might have a chance to enjoy some quality fiction and poetry in the comfort of a barber’s chair, I was hooked.

If you’ve ever hung out at a barbershop, you know the deal. There’s a whole lot of smack talk going on, some from very reputable sources, some from some seriously shady origins, but no one stops to ask for references and sources, everyone just keeps on adding their own dash of Kool-Aid to the mix. And the one person who hears all the bravado and knows if it’s justified or not, is the barber. Part referee, part shrink, part minister, part sage, part part fool; this is the person who really knows it all but puts it all to the curb to focus on getting you your proper shape-up. Now imagine this source of so much orature actually housing some quality fiction and poetry literature readings… good times.

The first Barbershop Reading Series was jam packed with all the good seats taken quick but still plenty of space for everyone and the occasional straggler, plenty of refreshments and even some homemade cupcakes.

Kicking off the festivities was Barbershop Writing Group director Michael McAllister with a quick welcome and then going right to the first reader, Lorelei Lee. Lee’s reading was a beautiful story of mother and daughter connecting with each other as the 14 year old girl in the story comes out to her mom about losing her virginity. “Are you going to see him again?” mom asks. “I don’t think so,” says the daughter. Mom replies, “Sometimes it’s better that way.” And they proceed to celebrate with corner store champagne and Chinese takeout. A great story that bends in all the unexpected place to highlight what can happen when a family has enough love to expose all their dirt to each other.

Matthew Clark Davison was up next, gave us some background on his story, and then invited one of his other students (Lorelei is also in his class) to read the story. Lorena Laredo then read the piece–full of SF landmarks (even mentioning Joe’s Barbershop), ripe with introspection, detailed in the resolution over a recent tragedy–with a voice highlighting the nuance of the narrator. It was a fine moment for both Davison, a writer and teacher confident that all the work is on the page, and for Laredo, honoring the confidence her professor has in her speaking voice that (as Davison mentioned) also exists in Laredo’s written work.

Wolf Larsen was the musical guest and her acoustic songs added another layer to the evening. The refrain “You carry my coat/I’ll take your name” was haunting and strangely loaded with possibility.

Ending the night was Randall Mann whose work stay focused on one clear point, the realities of gay male life. Never focusing too keenly on overwrought drama or frivolous partying; Mann’s work finds a balance with the dark and the joy, using both elements like a film noir director would use smoke and shadow to obscure key characters and focus the bright streetlamp on the supporting actors. Mann achieves the same effect in his poetry shining a glaring light into the complexities of modern living.

Big shout outs to all the organizers for putting together a great reading for an audience that was focused on every phrase, music note and stanza and, most importantly, contributing to the future of literature by giving it a new venue to thrive.

More info on the Barbershop Reading Series can be found on their website, Twitter and Facebook.

Historic setting, well paced reading, solid poetry, and free books. What more could ya want?

Last night’s reading was another City Lights joy as most readings there are and this one even more so with the Small Press Distribution’s Poetry Trading Post in effect with a broad selection of poetry books ready to give away for one poem. For the record, I traded two poems from my in-progress chapbook (ripped em right out of the beta version I’m carryin’ around with me) for a copy of Carl Hancock Rux’s Pagan Operetta. Huzzah!

The reading itself was focused and tight with readers coming up and delivering their poems with minimal hype. Host Laura Moriarty kept the spotlight on SPD, Small Press Month, the New Lit Generation, and the featured poets’ current projects while reminding the standing room only crowd the importance of supporting independent bookstores.

A special shout out should go to Anthony Boyd and Hong Le, the two youth poets representing Newark Memorial High. They came to the mic ready with their work and presented it with polish and style avoiding the mistake some older poets make of over explaining the work or forcing the audience into a set mind frame to better “listen” to the work. Their presentation showed confidence in their poems and the hard work it took them to reach the City Lights stage.

Props also to Javier Huerta who closed the evening out with a dynamite reading from Some Clarifications y Otros Poemas, an excerpt from “American Copia,” the “Undocumented Poem to End All Undocumented Poems,” and a new found poem. Javier’s poetry pockets are hella deep with layered poems that reveal new secrets at each reading and has me wishing I was able to jot down notes in my journal while still being able to record the reading.