Gabrielle Zevin Likes to talk about failure.
Her first adult novel, released nearly 20 years ago, did “very badly,” in her words.
“I really have never had such a failure in my life,” says Zevin.
At the time, she was living in New York City and it seemed as if the whole world was witnessing her downfall.
“I think I’d go into a store and they’d say, ‘Here’s your bagel, this is your lox, and sorry your novel failed so badly,'” she said. “I think they can see it as a layer of ash covering me.”
No trace of that ashes lasted Saturday, when fans of her latest book – the bestseller in the heart of Los Angeles “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow” — gathered at USC’s Norris Theater to hear her speak. This event is one of the most anticipated attractions at the 43rd Los Angeles Times Book Festivaltook over the campus of the university this weekend.
More than 500 writers, experts and storytellers have come together to celebrate all things literary with a throng of book-loving fans. The numerous book tents and food carts contributed to the upbeat atmosphere.
Attendees of the Los Angeles Times Book Festival walk among tents on the USC campus on Saturday.
(Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)
The festival identifies itself as biggest literary event domestic. Last year’s event, the first live festival after a two-year pandemic hiatus, drew more than 155,000 people over two days.
Matthew Perry, right, discusses his New York Times best-selling memoir “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing” with LA Times editor Matt Brennan during the Book Festival.
(Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)
In addition to Zevin’s afternoon talk, Day One of the festival also features events with the “Friends” star Matthew Perrysinger “All About That Bass” Coach Meghan“Bad Feminist” author and cultural critic Roxane is gay and children light up the megastar Lois Lowry. There are also several panel discussions focused on memoir writing as well as talks on climate change, justice and journalism.
Some of Monday’s most anticipated events include talks with singers and social justice activists Joan Baez and suffrage activist Stacey Abramsand a table about banned books.
Richard Stokes, left, and his son Karter, 8, read books in a booth on Day One of the Los Angeles Times Book Festival.
(Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)
In addition to books, music, a poetry stage, food court, and more than 250 vendors and exhibitors, the festival offers a variety of fun interactive stops, including dotted crossword puzzles. in the bustling campus where passersby can stop to solve puzzles together on the giant whiteboard.
Before Zevin’s event began, long lines of people lined up to enter the theater, a testament to the success of “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow,” which tells the story of a pair of teenagers passionate about the game. electronics grew up to create their own games.
“The title,” says Zevin, “is about the fact that every day you live is an opportunity to start over and it becomes a metaphor for video games.”
People cheer for author Gabrielle Zevin during her talk Saturday at the Los Angeles Times Book Festival at USC.
(Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)
But the book isn’t so much about gaming, says Zevin, but about the process of creating them — or any art form.
“One of the best things you can do for yourself as an artist is be good at overcoming failure,” she quips. “I’m pretty good at it.”
For some attendees, it was the part of her talk that interests them most.
Joy Park, a 24-year-old actress who came out of the theater with a bright smile, said, “It hit the bottom of me.
“I feel like an artist,” she said. “And in a strange way, it encouraged me to think of failure as part of the creative process.”
For Kyle Kallman, the festival marks his second consecutive week of creative rejuvenation.
Last weekend, this 30 year old man came Coachella music festival, and he made an unlikely comparison between the two events.
“Being involved in a huge field of 100,000 people is great,” he said. “But now being in an auditorium full of people reading books feels the same way.”
However, he notes that the book festival has “less drugs and more crowds in the morning”.
Around noon, several dozen people stopped by Mudd Hall to listen Kevin Meridaexecutive editor of The Times, discusses journalism and newspaper initiatives focused on finding new ways to cover mental health, religion, and life in Los Angeles .
“It’s a magical place,” he said, turning to an impromptu poem about the city. “Everybody can have their own experience here, there are many LAs. You can’t define it by one thing.”
People read books at the two-day Los Angeles Times Book Festival. The event ends on Sunday.
(Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)
A few feet away, Andrew Tonkovich spend the day at the exhibition table handing out copies of Santa Monica Review. As editor of Santa Monica University’s semi-annual literary magazine, he has attended the festival almost every year since it debuted on the UCLA campus in 1996.
He says the poem is “really good this year,” though he admits he won’t get to see much else because he’s often too busy “spreading” the review.
His shirt, however, seemed perfectly suited to attract a book festival. It read: “Make America Read Again.”
People write the titles of books they love or are reading on the board at the Los Angeles Times Book Festival.
(Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)
