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A copy of The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl sits next to a cup of tea.

La Crescenta Book Club: The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl

In-Person Program

2025-08-26 18:30:00 2025-08-26 19:45:00 America/Los_Angeles La Crescenta Book Club: The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl Join us as we discuss notable food critic Ruth Reichl's fiction: 'The Paris Novel'. Find your copy & discussion questions at the Book Club Corner located across from the Customer Service Desk. New members always welcome. For adults. La Crescenta Library - Meeting Room

Tuesday, August 26
6:30pm - 7:45pm

Add to Calendar 2025-08-26 18:30:00 2025-08-26 19:45:00 America/Los_Angeles La Crescenta Book Club: The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl Join us as we discuss notable food critic Ruth Reichl's fiction: 'The Paris Novel'. Find your copy & discussion questions at the Book Club Corner located across from the Customer Service Desk. New members always welcome. For adults. La Crescenta Library - Meeting Room

La Crescenta Library

Meeting Room

Join us as we discuss notable food critic Ruth Reichl's fiction: 'The Paris Novel'. Find your copy & discussion questions at the Book Club Corner located across from the Customer Service Desk. New members always welcome. For adults.

"When her estranged mother dies, Stella is left with an unusual inheritance: a one-way plane ticket and a note reading "Go to Paris." But Stella is hardly cut out for adventure; a childhood trauma, and her mother's negligent parenting style, have kept her strictly confined to her comfort zone, even in adulthood. When her boss encourages her to time off, Stella resigns herself to honor her mother's wishes, even if a spontaneous trip to Paris is the last thing she wants. Even in a new city, Stella can't help but fall into old habits, living cautiously and frugally. But one day, she stumbles across a consignment store and tries on a fabulous vintage dress. The shopkeeper allows her to borrow it for the day if she goes on an adventure. So Stella decides to treat herself to oysters and wine for lunch, where she has a chance encounter with a dapper octogenarian art collector, Jules. He immediately recognizes Stella needs a proper introduction to the magical side of Paris and takes her under his wing. Amid decadent meals and encounters with a veritable who's who of the 1980s Paris art and culinary worlds, Stella begins to understand what it might mean to live a bigger life. As weeks pass, Stella ends up living at the bookstore Shakespeare & Company as a "tumbleweed," uncovering a hundred-year-old art mystery, and unlocking a passion for food that may be connected to her past, and the true reason she has been sent to Paris. A feast for the senses, this novel is a testament to what it means to live deliciously: to be authentic, to embrace adventure, and to find a home in the last place you might expect"-- Provided by publisher

AGE GROUP: | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Books, Poetry, & Writing |

TAGS: | Book Club |

La Crescenta Library

Phone: 818.248.5313

Hours
We're closed Friday July 04
Mon, Jun 30 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Jul 01 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Jul 02 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Jul 03 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Jul 04 Closed
Sat, Jul 05 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sun, Jul 06 1:00PM to 5:00PM

About the branch

La Crescenta Library first opened in November 1914 as the 78th branch of the Los Angeles County Public Library. The collection was first housed in a local church building, and subsequently moved several times; once into a school house, later into a local store front, and into the Sears building in 1926.

By 1932, the library had settled into a building at 3930 La Crescenta Avenue. As the population of La Crescenta grew, so to did the demand for a new building. The library found an appropriate site on the corner of Foothill Blvd and La Crescenta Ave, and opened in March of 1963.

By 2005 the population had once again outgrown the library's space, so the La Crescenta community sought a new building. Thanks to funding from Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, and Congressman David Dreier, the County of Los Angeles was able to construct an updated facility in its current location.

The building broke ground in 2007, and reopened in January 2010. The new 14,000 square foot facility, built in the style of the arts and crafts movement, features modern technology and meeting space open to the public.

Upcoming events

Tue, Jul 01, 11:00am - 5:00pm
Make a difference in lives of others by donating blood. Join the American Red Cross in a good deed. The Blood Drive will be held in the Library Community Room.
Register

Tue, Jul 01, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Join us weekly on Zoom on Tuesday mornings at 11 am for the Virtual Book Club. In July we will be discussing 'The River is Waiting' by Wally Lamb. For adults.

Wed, Jul 02, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Meeting Room
Let’s get ready for school! Enjoy books, songs, rhymes, and movement while learning school readiness skills and having fun. For ages 2 - 5 with their parent or caregiver.

Tue, Jul 08, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Join us weekly on Zoom on Tuesday mornings at 11 am for the Virtual Book Club. In July we will be discussing 'The River is Waiting' by Wally Lamb. For adults.

Tue, Jul 08, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Meeting Room
Duct tape is a highly versatile and durable material. Learn about its history and make yourself a water bottle holder to keep your water handy and stay hydrated during the hot summer months! Part of Summer Discovery Program. For ages 12 - 18.

Tue, Jul 08, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Learn to create sand art with colored sand and make one-of-a-kind designs. Check out sand art craft books on display. Part of Summer Discovery Program. For adults.

Wed, Jul 09, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Meeting Room
Let’s get ready for school! Enjoy books, songs, rhymes, and movement while learning school readiness skills and having fun. For ages 2 - 5 with their parent or caregiver.

Wed, Jul 09, 3:30pm - 4:15pm
Meeting Room
Watch and learn from master physics demonstrator James Lincoln as he prepares you see invisible light, trains you to hear ultrasonic sounds, and teaches you the physics of lasers, sound, electricity and magnetism. For ages 5 - 12.
This event is full

Sat, Jul 12, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Meeting Room
Dive into the world of journaling to boost your mindfulness, memory, and communication skills. Learn where to begin to make it a habit and practice with writing exercises. All materials will be provided. For adults.

Tue, Jul 15, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Join us weekly on Zoom on Tuesday mornings at 11 am for the Virtual Book Club. In July we will be discussing 'The River is Waiting' by Wally Lamb. For adults.

Wed, Jul 16, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Meeting Room
Let’s get ready for school! Enjoy books, songs, rhymes, and movement while learning school readiness skills and having fun. For ages 2 - 5 with their parent or caregiver.

Tue, Jul 22, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Join us weekly on Zoom on Tuesday mornings at 11 am for the Virtual Book Club. In July we will be discussing 'The River is Waiting' by Wally Lamb. For adults.

Tue, Jul 22, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Meeting Room
Test your engineering skills and learn about air movement and displacement, then create your own hand-held air cannon and complete to see how far you can launch a pom-pom across the room! Part of Summer Discovery Program. For ages12 - 18.

Tue, Jul 22, 6:30pm - 7:45pm
Meeting Room
Join us as we discuss 'An Unfinished Love Story' by Joyce Kearns Goodwin. Find your copy of the book and the discussion questions at the Book Club Corner located across from the Customer Service Desk. For adults.

Wed, Jul 23, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Meeting Room
Let’s get ready for school! Enjoy books, songs, rhymes, and movement while learning school readiness skills and having fun. For ages 2 - 5 with their parent or caregiver.

Wed, Jul 23, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Meeting Room
Learn about different art styles and join in with others to create a unique and imaginative work of art! Everyone will get a chance to add to the art as we pass our masterpieces around the room. For kids ages 5 – 12.
This event is full

Tue, Jul 29, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Join us weekly on Zoom on Tuesday mornings at 11 am for the Virtual Book Club. In July we will be discussing 'The River is Waiting' by Wally Lamb. For adults.

Wed, Jul 30, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Meeting Room
Let’s get ready for school! Enjoy books, songs, rhymes, and movement while learning school readiness skills and having fun. For ages 2 - 5 with their parent or caregiver.

Wed, Jul 30, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Meeting Room
Learn about some of the rulebreakers in architecture and put your own structural engineering skills to the test by building a stick structure! For kids ages 5 – 12.

Thu, Jul 31, 11:00am - 5:00pm
Make a difference in lives of others by donating blood. Join the American Red Cross in a good deed. The Blood Drive will be held in the Library Community Room.
Register