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A copy of The Names and a mug.

La Crescenta Book Club: The Names by Florence Knapp

In-Person Program

2026-03-24 18:30:00 2026-03-24 19:45:00 America/Los_Angeles La Crescenta Book Club: The Names by Florence Knapp Join as we discuss 'The Names' by Florence Knapp. Ask for your copy of 'The Names' and the discussion questions at the Customer Service Desk. For adults. La Crescenta Library - Meeting Room

Tuesday, March 24
6:30pm - 7:45pm

La Crescenta Library

Meeting Room

Join as we discuss 'The Names' by Florence Knapp. Ask for your copy of 'The Names' and the discussion questions at the Customer Service Desk. For adults.

"A dazzling debut that asks: Can a name shape the course of a life? In the wake of an enormous, history-making storm, Cora sets off with her nine-year-old daughter, Maia, to register her son's birth. Her husband Gordon, a local doctor, respected in the community but a terrifying and controlling presence at home, intends for her to follow his family tradition going back generations, and name the child Gordon. But on the journey there, Cora wonders if it's right to impose the burden of this name and its legacy onto her tiny newborn son. She herself has Julian in mind, and Maia offers up her own suggestion: Bear. What follows are three alternate and alternating versions of both Cora's life and her young son's life shaped by her brave, last-minute choice of name. Spanning thirty-five years, the novel draws us in from the first page, as we follow three unforgettable journeys of one young man, but also his mother, grandmother, and sister. In richly layered prose, The Names explores the painful ripple effects of domestic abuse, the messy ties of family, and the possibilities of autonomy and healing. With exceptional sensitivity and depth, Knapp draws us into the story of one family told through a prism of what-ifs, and shows us what we each can do with the "one precious life" we are given. The Names's brilliantly imaginative structure and storytelling, and the emotional, gut-wrenching power of the book itself, are certain to make it a modern classic."-- Provided by publisher.

AGE GROUP: | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Books, Poetry, & Writing |

TAGS: | Book Club |

La Crescenta Library

Phone: 818.248.5313

Hours
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Mon, Aug 10 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Aug 11 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Aug 12 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Aug 13 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Aug 14 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Aug 15 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sun, Aug 16 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

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Wed, Aug 12, 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, Aug 18, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Join us on Zoom for a weekly discussion of 'A Far-Flung Life' by M.L. Stedman. Please contact Marta Wiggins via email at mwiggins@library.lacounty.gov for your invitation to join the Zoom Meeting. For adults.

Wed, Aug 19, 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, Aug 19, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Meeting Room
Learn about optical illusions, perspective, and colors as we make a captivating work of kinetic art. For ages 6 - 12 with parent or caregiver.

Tue, Aug 25, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Join us on Zoom for a weekly discussion of 'A Far-Flung Life' by M.L. Stedman. Please contact Marta Wiggins via email at mwiggins@library.lacounty.gov for your invitation to join the Zoom Meeting. For adults.

Tue, Aug 25, 6:30pm - 7:45pm
Meeting Room
Join us for a discussion of Emily Henry's bestselling novel: 'Great Big Beautiful Life'. Find your copy of the book at the Book Club Corner located across from the Customer Service Desk. For adults.

Wed, Aug 26, 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.

Thu, Aug 27, 10:00am - 11:30am
Meeting Room
Are you feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes you just need to slow down. Join us for a free flow discussion of 'In Five Years' by Rebecca Serle while we create slow sewing bookmarks. For adults.

Tue, Sep 01, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Join us for a weekly virtual discussion of 'Keeper of Lost Children' by Sadeqa Johnson. Please contact Marta Wiggins at mwiggins@library.lacounty.gov for your link to join the discussion on Zoom. For Adults

Wed, Sep 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.

Wed, Sep 02, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Meeting Room
Join our dynamic Teen Advisory Board and shape your library experience! Open to teens ages 12 - 17. Meetings every month. 

Tue, Sep 08, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Join us for a weekly virtual discussion of 'Keeper of Lost Children' by Sadeqa Johnson. Please contact Marta Wiggins at mwiggins@library.lacounty.gov for your link to join the discussion on Zoom. For Adults

Tue, Sep 08, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Meeting Room
Are you busy, stressed, and having a hard time keeping up with everything? Teens, stop by the library to learn time management tips and tools to help you prioritize, organize, and stay on top of things. For teens ages 12 - 18.