Readers' Books hosts the Book Launch for Ada Limón's Startlement

Tuesday, September 30th at 6:00 p.m., Readers’ Books proudly hosts the book launch for Ada Limón’s newest collection "Startlement: New and Selected Poems". This collection offers a unique glimpse into Limón’s life and career, as it draws from her previous work and nestles it among new vibrant pieces. Startlement is one of Limón’s most powerful works, evoking the spirit of the poet’s voice and her attention to detail that showcases her “power to open us up to the wonder and awe that the world still inspires” (The New York Times). Signed copies of Ada's books are available at: https://readersbooks.com/search?q=ada... From Andy Weinberger, owner of Readers' Books: "If you’ve spent more than an hour or a weekend here you know that Sonoma has a host of blessings for which to be thankful. But what you may not realize is apart from the sunshine and the food and the vineyards and our rich history, we also share an amazingly creative community. We’ve got all kinds of artists, from painters to sculptors, and, of course, writers. Which leads me to Ada Limón. Ada Limón is unusual, a rarity, especially in a small town like this, a talent that shows up like a comet perhaps once in a hundred years. I would liken her to our own home-grown version of Jackie Robinson or Paul McCartney. She graduated from Sonoma High School in 1994, was the very first employee at Readers' Books, and she has just recently finished her tenure as the 24th Poet Laureate of the United States. Now, what does that mean, you ask? Let me put it into context: Being Poet Laureate is on a par with winning a Nobel Prize in Physics or an Oscar for Best Actress of the Year. In other words, it doesn’t get any better than that. To say you’ve hit the ball out of the park is an understatement. Many of Ada’s poems concern nature and the place in which we find ourselves. Recently, she returned to live in Glen Ellen, where she was born and raised, but is still writing and traveling around the country giving talks and workshops. Now she has a new book of poems. Startlement: New and Selected Poems is her first book since she's moved back home." Ada Limón is the author of seven books of poetry, including "Startlement: New & Selected Poems"; "The Hurting Kind", which was a finalist for the Griffin Prize; "The Carrying", which won the National Book Critics Circle Award and was a finalist for the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award; and "Bright Dead Things", which was named a finalist for the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the Kingsley Tufts Award. Limón is the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and was named a 2024 Time Magazine Woman of the Year. She is the author of two picture books, "In Praise of Mystery" as well as "And, Too, The Fox", and was the editor of the anthology "You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World". She served as the 24th Poet Laureate of the United States. Readers’ Books has been a Sonoma institution since 1991 and is dedicated to providing a gathering place for readers of all ages. As a fiercely independent and local bookstore, Readers’ strives to serve the community and serve as a meeting place for thinkers of all types. Tickets for the event raised money for a scholarship sponsored by Readers' Books. The Lilla Fund is a scholarship fund created by Readers' Books owner Andy Weinberger. His late wife and cofounder of the store was a staunch advocate for literacy and education, as well as an avid reader. Every year, a Sonoma Valley High School student is selected by their teachers for this award, which gives students a thousand dollars to spend on their college journey. It is a no-strings-attached amount to get them whatever extras they may need, from textbooks to burritos. Giving these students a leg-up in the world would bring a smile to Lilla's face and reminds us all that, while there are always surprise costs to an education, there's also folks who can help them along the way. Ticket sales raised enough to fund a full scholarship and a third of another.