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Catherine Gacad

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San Francisco Bay Area

Book Club of California

I took a walk the other day, in a daze, as I am totally depressed about the election (is this really happening?), the Oakland Fire, and work shit. I just had to get the F away from my cubicle and breathe in fresh air. I walked away from the Financial District toward Union Square, heading for a place I’d never been.

Who doesn’t love book club?

I don’t remember where I first read about the Book Club of California. Probably an online article. I jotted it down in my notebook and promptly forgot about it. But feeling down, I retreat to what comforts me: a sniff of lavender, the company of others, books, the spa, a library.

Hidden on the 5th floor of an office building, the Book Club of California is a non-profit organization that supports books associated with California and the West. You have to ring a doorbell for access (which caught me off-guard), but the reading rooms and the honor bar are open to the public. They have rotating exhibits and when I went it was the closing day for Ansel Adams and Yosemite.

When I am retired, you will find me here, sipping tea and reading one of the classics.

Need a book recommendation? You can find my favorites here.

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12.13.16

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Janine Huldie

    December 13, 2016 at 2:58 pm

    OK now I wish I lived closer as this place looks like a reader’s heaven! 😉

    Reply
  2. Tamara

    December 16, 2016 at 10:34 am

    What a dream! I know it’s somewhat related and somewhat not related, but when I lived in San Francisco, I had the best book clubs ever. West Coast takes it seriously!
    Also, I’m still depressed about the election.

    Reply
  3. Patrick Weseman

    December 16, 2016 at 11:22 am

    I need to head there. And steal your idea and create a blog. It looks so cool and realxing

    Reply
  4. Dana

    December 18, 2016 at 1:29 pm

    Just googled Book Club of Maryland, and sadly, there were no matches. That place looks wonderful! I’ll just have to be content with my chair by the window in my own house.

    Reply
  5. Esther JuLee

    December 23, 2016 at 2:09 pm

    Seriously… it still doesn’t even seem real.

    This space is amazing!! I’ll join you when we’re all retired. 🙂

    Reply

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Welcome to my site, derived from an advice column I wrote while getting my MBA. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I give helpful, opinionated advice based on my own experience and from the expertise of my extensive network. For more, click here.

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