On Thursday, April 25, Wayfinder Bookshop partnered with Fairfax Recreation to host an inaugural book talk to begin a monthly cycle of free local book events. The bookstore held the event at the Fairfax Women’s Club, welcoming locally-based author Lisa Hamilton to discuss her 2023 nonfiction novel, The Hungry Season: A Journey of War, Love, and Survival.
To kick off the event, attendees of mixed ages mingled amongst each other and poured themselves complimentary cups of hot chocolate. Attendees roamed the room, snapping photos of the picturesque setup framed by a fresh flower arrangement and cozy chairs for Hamilton and fellow local author Anne Lappé.
As it neared 7 p.m., guests made last-minute grabs for free baked goods and settled into their chairs, chatting with each other. The room filled with excitement as they waited for Hamilton and Lappé’s conversation to begin.
The Hungry Season: A Journey of War, Love, and Survival follows the true life story of a Hmong refugee named Ia Moua who migrated from Laos to California. Throughout the evening, Hamilton read passages from the novel and further discussed the different layers of Ia’s life, giving attendees more insight into the main character’s story.
Hamilton, who has a strong background in agriculture and journalism, set out on a 10-year mission to document Ia’s life. Her novel takes readers through Ia’s resilient journey while tying in themes of migration, identity, and agriculture throughout its 368 pages.
The event was open to all guests, regardless of their reading history. To kick off the book talk, Hamilton asked guests to raise their hands if they had read the book, and while a large portion of them raised their hands, a few did not. For those who had not yet indulged in reading the lovingly and delicately crafted novel, Hamilton and Lappé’s conversation surely convinced them of its must-read status.
Hamilton and Lappé held an intimate and thought-provoking conversation, unpacking the book’s themes and leaving a lasting message for the audience. They opened up the floor for guests to ask questions and speak freely while also creating a formally designated time at the end of the discussion for attendees to raise their hands to voice their questions.
Wayfinder workers stationed a table selling copies of The Hungry Season for guests to buy copies for themselves, family members, and friends. The opportunity to purchase the book on-site added another immersive component to the evening and offered a way for attendees to support Wayfinder. After Hamilton and Lappé wrapped up their conversation, Hamilton signed book copies, answered remaining questions, and thanked everyone for attending the first of hopefully many book talk events hosted by Wayfinder and Fairfax Recreation.
The first book talk was a massive success and a perfect free local event. Wayfinder and Fairfax Recreation hope to partner up again, for future book talks to get the community more involved with Fairfax’s newest bookstore and in conversation with locally based authors.
