Happy, happy Filipino American History Month, book peeps (aka our busiest events month of the year)!
This year, on top of all our normal FAHM festivities, Mr. Bel Canto and I squeezed in an anniversary trip to Paris earlier this month (more on this in a bit), so apologies for this late newsletter edition. It already has been an amazing month, and we have so much more to come with Liwanag Lit Fest (LLF) returning to the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library on October 25th!
Before we talk about Paris and LLF, here are my September Moments of Joy:
EXPERIENCE: Travelers Company USA brought an incredible turnout of journaling and stationery fans to KUBO LB on 9/20! Job and Christina of TRC served hundreds of customers with so much kindness and generosity, and it was so heartening to see folks making fast friends in line. These kinds of joyful in-person gatherings are a balm for our troubled times, so thanks everyone for turning out! (For SoCal peeps, TRC will be popping up at TWELVES RECORD on 10/18! Don’t miss this cool collab!)
MEDIA: If you’ve never watched “Slow Horses” on Apple+, now’s the time to catch up. Based on the Mick Herron novels, the spy thriller features British acting greats Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Jonathan Pryce, along with a full cast. Oldman dominates every scene he’s in with his deceptively sloppy portrayal of washed-up spy Jackson Lamb, and it’s great fun to watch him zing!
FOOD: We were thrilled to pop up at FPAC on September 13th with KUBO LB, mostly so we could overeat from all the food popups! We tried so many things, but standouts were the Filipino-Japanese onigiri from Izakuya.Sama and the Spanish bread from San Honore Panaderia. FPAC is an annual SoCal festival, so make sure to mark your calendars!
JOURNALING: I’m happy to report that I journaled throughout our visit to Paris a few weeks ago, taking time each morning over croissants and coffee to jot down what we did the day before and what we were hoping to get to that day. It’s been instrumental in helping me work on my Paris travel journal in record time (compared to the bags of notes and ephemera still sitting around from our Japan and Ireland trips earlier this year), reminding me of what we did and when and why. I can’t recommend enough taking a few minutes each morning or evening while you’re on a special vacation to create a log that you’ll look back on with laughter and appreciation.
BOOKS: I finished 7 books in September, including book club books SOLITO and THE SONG OF ACHILLES, and two advanced reading copies (EVIL GENIUS and FEW BLUE SKIES). One big achievement was finishing the Becky Chambers’ Wayfarer series, with THE GALAXY, AND THE GROUND WITHIN. Chambers is such a fantastic worldbuilder, and I didn’t want the series to end (prayers to the universe that she returns to it someday!). I also listened to A MARRIAGE AT SEA by Sophie Elmhirst (one of Barack Obama’s favorite books of Summer 2025), and I can confirm that it is worth the hype!
Lastly, I can’t say enough about the excellent public transportation in Paris and how it allowed us to explore beyond the usual sights of our first trip thirteen years ago. Visiting Musee d’Orsay, browsing Puces d’Aligre flea market, walking across the Seine at sunset, and enjoying a meal at the seafood department of Le Grande Epicerie Paris were some of our favorites this time around, along with trips to The Abbey Bookshop, Smith & Son, and Ijii Papeterie (where I got my TRC partner shop stamp!). My favorite meal was moules frites and mini desserts at Seulement Sea in the 6th Arrondissement - definitely worth the visit!
Read on for more info and signup links to our exciting roster of author events and book clubs.
Here’s to books, laughter, and joyful resistance!
Jhoanna
Head Booknerd + Owner of Bel Canto Books
LIWANAG LIT FEST RETURNS 10/25!
We are thrilled to be part of Liwanag Lit Fest 2025, which returns to the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library on Saturday 10/25. The festivities kick off with a free Pan de Sal Reception, followed by Storytime readings, author panels, art workshops, book signings, a popup market, and so much more! We’re so excited to welcome back veteran authors like Randy Ribay, Mae Respicio, and Tracy Badua, along with local KidLit, YA, and adult authors. Join us to enjoy art workshops, a popup vendor market, a Pan de Sal Opening Reception, and even a Silent Reading Club hosted by Libro.fm! Learn more at belcantobooks.net/liwanag or follow us on IG at @liwanaglitfest!
OCTOBER EVENTS
We’re proud to host these amazing authors and artists the rest of this month! Bel Canto Books events are free to attend, unless otherwise noted. Please join us in supporting our authors by RSVPing in advance and purchasing their books from us (or requesting them from your local library)!
Wed 10/15, 5pm (virtual)
Author Talk: Tori Tadiar, ILLUSTRA: DAYBREAKER
Sat 10/18, 1pm @ KUBO LB
Meet the Author: Justine Peralta, GIRL, JUMP!
Sun 10/19, 11am @ KUBO LB
*SOLD OUT* Storytime + Planting: Jenan Matari, EVERYTHING GROWS IN JIDDO’S GARDEN
Friday 10/24, 6-9pm @ BCB Retro Row
Fourth Fridays
Saturday 10/25, 11am-5pm @ Obama Library
Liwanag Lit Fest 2025
OCTOBER BOOK CLUBS
Bel Canto Books book clubs are free to join and attend. We greatly appreciate your support of our work and our featured authors and encourage you to buy from our stores on Retro Row and KUBO LB, Bookshop.org, Libro.fm, and/or request books from your local library. Learn more and kindly RSVP here.
Bel Canto Book Club
MODERATION by Elaine Castillo
Thu 10/16, 6:30pm at BCB Retro Row
Burning Issues Book Club
YOUR FACE BELONGS TO US by Kashmir Hill
Sun 10/26, 12pm PT / 3pm ET (virtual)
Graphic Novel Book Club
GAYSIANS by Mike Curato
Sat 10/18, 10am PT / 1pm ET (virtual)
Queer Book Club
A DOWRY OF BLOOD by S. T. Gibson
Sat 10/18, 7pm at BCB Retro Row
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