After spending several months investigating books that are relevant to Culver City itself, we chose West of Sunset by best-selling author Stewart O’Nan for our Citywide Centennial Read. This is the fictionalized story of F.Scott Fitzgerald’s life while he was trying to make ends meet as a screenwriter at MGM studios, now the Sony Pictures Entertainment lot on Overland. Filled with references to the Golden Age of Hollywood, local color and the actors, movies and players of the time, this is a perfect complement to our celebration of Culver City’s Centennial.

We are planning several activities to enhance your enjoyment of the book. Among other activities, we will have a readers’ discussion at the library and one at the senior center, a historical tour of the Sony lot, and a talk by Stewart O’Nan himself at the library on Saturday morning, October 15 at 10:30 a.m. In addition, the author will be speaking to students at Culver City High School on October 14 during lunch, and to a couple of classes during the day.

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