Long Beach Reads One Book

Every year, the Long Beach Public Library sponsors a One Book, city-wide reading event. Long Beach Reads One Book encourages everyone in the city to read the same book, and to meet to discuss it in a variety of venues and formats. There will be activities geared for every reading level (elementary school students as well as high school and college students), plus events intended to include senior citizens and book clubs.

Isabel Allende's retelling of the Zorro legend is the perfect book for a city-wide read: it is a page turner with something for everyone.  Set in California, the Caribbean, New Orleans, and Spain, this historical novel is jam-packed with adventure, intrigue, and romance. Allende's trademark wit, beautiful prose, and unforgettable characters are sure to have  the whole city talking!

Tonight at 7pm, there is "An Evening with Zorro," a presentation of Zorro memorabilia and film, at the Rancho Los Cerritos Historical Site (4600 Virginia Road, Long Beach). There will be a prize for best costume, so get out your mask and sword, and come celebrate with us! The event is free, but reservations are required; please call (562) 570-1755.

Tomorrow, Saturday, there are lots of fun Zorro-related things going on -- there are two events focusing on the Native American history in the novel at the Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch and Gardens, a nature walk at El Dorado Park Nature Center, and a book discussion at the Mark Twain Library.   

Details for all of these events, plus the full events calendar for Long Beach Reads One Book, can be found here.


Apostrophe Books has copies of Zorro (a few autographed!) on sale every day for 10% off!  

Over 800 people gathered in the Terrace Theater at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center last night to hear Isabel Allende speak about her experiences writing and researching Zorro.  The Long Beach Polytechnic High School Symphony Orchestra debuted an original piece, "An Island in Time."  It was a memorable evening, and we were honored to be the bookseller for this very special event!

 

It's the sweetest day of the year in the Shore!  Belmont Shore businesses will be offering all kinds of chocolaty goodies for kids of all ages.  Books of twelve tickets are $10 each, and will be sold the week before the Festival at La Strada (right next door to Apostrophe!), Mail Boxes Etc., Sweet Jill's, We Olive, Salon Soma & The Beach on 2nd St.  Tickets may be purchased during the festival in front of the Chase Bank on 2nd Street.

There will also be a Homemade Chocolate Dessert Contest and a Chocolate Pie Eating Contest.  Check out the Belmont Shore Business Association's events page for more details!

And there will be chocolate samples in front our store, too!  Chocolatier Cherie Balisi will be giving away some yummy chocolate samples from 1 pm to 4 pm - be sure to come enjoy some tasty treats!  For the price of only one ticket, enter the raffle to win a chocolate martini package or chocolate mousse bundle! 

Last September, Patti Varol joined our team of booksellers at Apostrophe Books.  Patti, who is also a freelance writer and editor, has a diverse background and a wide variety of interests and specialties, ranging from crossword puzzles to yoga.  We are thrilled to announce that she is now blogging about books in the Belmont Shore-Naples Patch!

Patti's latest post, an essay reviewing Zorro, can be found here.  Be sure to register with the Patch so you can follow Patti's blog and to keep up with all the latest news on the Shore!

 

Meet the Very Hungry Caterpillar!  He'll be reading stories and handing out Easter Candy!  Free stickers with every purchase!

Have your picture taken with our hungry friend!