Features & Columns

Michael David Lukas

Rick Atkinson: 'The British Are Coming'
Jun 10
Kepler's Books, Menlo Park | keplers.org
The moniker "powerhouse historian" would fit Rick Atkinson. He won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for An Army at Dawn, the first book in his Liberation Trilogy—a rich, lyrical and vivid trio of volumes about America's involvement in WWII. Together, the trilogy was a monumental feat, about 2,500 total pages of deeply researched reporting and storytelling. Now Atkinson is turning his efforts toward the American Revolution with a new trilogy. The first of the three, The British Are Coming, tips the scales at 800 pages. Prepare to be informed. (GS)

Scott Kupor: 'Secrets of Sand Hill Road'
Jun 10
Oshman Family JCC, Palo Alto
commonwealthclub.org
As managing partner at Andreessen Horowitz, one of Silicon Valley's most storied VC firms, Scott Kupor has overseen the firm's growth from $300 million in assets to $7 billion since its inception 10 years ago. His new book, Secrets of Sand Hill Road, gives readers insight into how VCs actually think, how they view business relationships, how they decide what to invest in, and tons of firsthand experience borne from years in the business. Kupor will appear in conversation with "Fresh Dialogues" host and BBC Contributor Alison van Diggelen. (GS)

Michael David Lukas: The Last Watchman of Old Cairo
Jun 19
Oshman Family JCC, Palo Alto
booksinc.net
A member of the San Francisco Writers Grotto, Michael David Lukas wrote The Oracle of Stamboul, a finalist for the California Book Award, the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association Book of the Year Award and the Harold U. Ribalow Prize. His most recent novel, The Last Watchman of Old Cairo, came out last year and tells the story of a literature student at Berkeley whose Jewish mother and Muslim father create the backdrop for a multigenerational voyage into a tangled family history. (GS)

CLA Book Club: A River of Stars
May 26
Academic Coffee, San Jose
litart.org/cla-book-club
The Center For Literary Arts (CLA) at San Jose State University regularly hosts a star-studded cast of authors for major events all year long. This year, the CLA launches its own book club to discuss the presented authors. Anyone can attend, but RSVPs are encouraged (litart.org). Vanessa Hua's debut novel, A River of Stars, is a dark and humorous story of two undocumented single moms struggling to overcome obstacles in the underbelly of Chinatown and obtain at least a piece of what it means to be American. (GS)