Andrea Bajani with Andrew Sean Greer

Schedule

Wed Sep 02 2026 at 06:00 pm to 07:00 pm

UTC-07:00
Location

Kepler's Books | Menlo Park, CA

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Andrea Bajani joins us with The Anniversary, his subtle yet heartrending portrait of an abusive marriage in patriarchal Italy.
About this Event

Andrea Bajani joins us with his subtle yet heartrending portrait of an abusive marriage in patriarchal Italy and a son’s liberating decision to cut contact with his parents.

About The Anniversary

“A book that confronts the purity of fact, the tyranny of memory, and the totalitarianism of family like no other.”—Jhumpa Lahiri
Can you leave your family behind? Can you slam the door, walk down the stairs, and decide never to see them again? Can you ever escape the grip of your origins?
A son asks himself these questions as he celebrates a bittersweet anniversary: a decade since he saw his parents. Now he finally feels able to tell their story. This is his eloquent account of a family devastated by a father’s violence and the woman who silently accepts him; of an airless relationship, unsettled only by the ringing of a telephone, a visiting classmate, or a friend soon pushed away. And it is the story of a son possessed by the irrepressible desire to be free: to be himself, to live his own life, to open up to others without fear of reprisals.


ACCESSIBILITY: We never want cost to be a barrier to admission for our community. Please email events [at] keplers [dot] org if you would like to attend this event but cannot afford a ticket. To request an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for this event, please email events [at] keplers [dot] org at least one week prior to the event.
REFUND POLICY: We will refund your ticket up to 7 days before the event.
We want Kepler’s to be a welcoming and comfortable space for everyone. If you are feeling unwell, especially with respiratory symptoms, please stay home. Thank you for helping us create a safe and considerate environment for our community.


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Where is it happening?

Kepler's Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, United States

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

USD 11.49 to USD 30.00

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Kepler's Literary Foundation
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