“Locke, The Monte Carlo of California:” book talk with the authors of “Bitter Melon: Inside America’s Last Rural Chinese Town”

Come to CHSA for a book talk and readings with Jeff Gillenkirk and James Motlow, authors of Bitter Melon: Inside America’s Last Rural Chinese Town. This book talk will be held on Tuesday, October 27 at 7pm.

This is the 6^th edition of Bitter Melon, updating the story of Locke in honor of the town’s 100^th anniversary (1915-2015).  Signed copies of the new edition will be for sale at the reading.

Please RSVP!

Book synopsis:

With vivid historical and contemporary photographs and poignant oral histories with the residents of Locke, BITTER MELON tells the largely forgotten story of the Chinese pioneers who came to California during the time of the Exclusion Act. In 2015 the town of Locke celebrates its 100th anniversary, a surprising testament to the stamina and perseverance of California’s Chinese pioneers. Read more on Amazon.

Authors’ Bios

Jeff Gillenkirk is a San Francisco-based writer whose work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, Mother Jones magazine and other publications. In addition to Bitter Melon, he is the author of the novels Home, Away and Pursuit of Darkness.

James Motlow’s photographs have been published in New West, the New York Times, Place Magazine and others, and exhibited in the Crocker Museum, Oakland Museum and San Francisco Camerawork. He lives in Locke, California and is actively working to preserve the town’s Chinese heritage.