In a community where more than a third of the residents were born outside the United States, this year’s Silicon Valley Reads touches on a subject that couldn’t be more relevant: “Home and Homeland: The Immigrant Experience.”
The program, featuring some 140 events throughout the county, kicks off on Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. with a free program moderated by Mercury News columnist Sal Pizzaro at the Campbell Heritage Theater.
Pizarro will interview authors of the three books selected for the 13th year of Silicon Valley Reads: NoViolet Bulawayo, author of “We Need New Names;” Cristina Henriquez, author of “The Book of Unknown Americans;” and Bich Minh Nguyen, author of “Stealing Buddha’s Dinner.”
Bulawayo’s novel is based on her life as a young child in Zimbabwe where paramilitary soldiers closed the schools and destroyed homes. At age 10, she had an opportunity to go to the United States, where she struggled as an immigrant. Today, she teaches in the writing program at Stanford. “We Need New Names” was short-listed for the 2013 Man Booker Prize.
Nguyen was just a baby when her family escaped Vietnam as the last of the Americans were leaving Saigon, so she had no real memories of her homeland when she was growing up. She knew only that she was different and tthat he food served at home was not American food; she obsessed over Pringles and other junk food she saw other kids eating.
Henriquez was born in this country but based her novel on the experiences of her father, who came from Panama in 1971. Her story takes place in an apartment complex in Grand Rapids, Mich., where residents come from a variety of Latin American countries. The story is told from the pespectives of several of the residents.
The three authors will appear together again at the closing event of Silicon Valley Reads on March 28 at the Cupertino Community Hall.
A wide variety of events have been planned for the two-month program focusing on the immigrant experience. Highlights include Silicon Valley Reads Day at History Park San Jose on Feb. 22 from noon to 4 p.m.; and “Mooncakes, Churrow and Cherry Pie,” an art exhibit at the Euphrat Museum of Art at De Anza College Feb. 2-March 19.
“A Taste of Diversity,” on March 7 at Park Valencia at Santana Row features local chefs demonstrating traditional cuisine from different cultures; a panel discussion on March 12 at the Tech Museum of Innovation exploring why technology innovators are drawn to America; and “Poetry and the Art of Immigration,” March 12 at the Mexican Heritage Museum.
A series of film showings has been planned, and a selection of children’s authors writing on the immigration theme will be featured at a variety of libraries and schools over the two month period.
Silicon Valley Reads is presented by the Santa Clara County Library District, San Jose Public Library Association and the Santa Clara County Office of Education, with support from a variety of corporate, foundation and individual donors.
“Our apolitical programs encourage people to read, think and engage in community dialogues and activities that allow them to share their experiences and gain new perspectives from others that will help them find common ground,” says Diane McNutt, program coordinator.
A complete schedule of events is listed on the website, SiliconValleyReads.org.
