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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
Mon, Aug 18 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Aug 19 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Aug 20 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Aug 21 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Aug 22 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Aug 23 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sun, Aug 24 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

Wed, Aug 20, 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.
Registration is now closed

Wed, Aug 20, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Meeting Room
Join us for an activity inspired by artist Wassily Kandinsky where you will learn about synesthesia by drawing music. For ages 5 - 12 with adult caregiver.

Tue, Aug 26, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Join us weekly on Zoom on Tuesday mornings at 11 am for the Virtual Book Club. In August we will be discussing 'When the Moon Hits Your Eye' by John Scalzi. For adults.

Tue, Aug 26, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Meeting Room
Pasta, gumdrops, and toothpicks are all you need to build and test many bridge types. This STEM-ulating activity opens up a world of engineering possibilities to teens and challenge them to see whose bridge can hold the most. For teens ages 12 - 18.

Tue, Aug 26, 6:30pm - 7:45pm
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.

Wed, Aug 27, 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.

Sat, Aug 30, 10:00am - 11:30am
Are you feeling overwhelmed? Is trying to balance competing demands sending you into a burnout spiral? Join a free-flowing discussion of 'Beating Burnout' by Mike McKinney while enjoying a relaxing morning in your right brain creating art. For Adults

Wed, Sep 03, 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, Sep 09, 6:15pm - 7:30pm
Explore your creative side and learn techniques in creating a decal water bottle to take with you on your daily exercise routine. Learn about how to hydrate yourself in various ways. Check out books on display for more ideas. For adults.

Wed, Sep 10, 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, Sep 17, 11:30am - 12:30pm
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.