Edan Lepucki will be in conversation with Sherman Alexie at the Central Library tonight at 7 p.m. The reading is free.
Colbert and Alexie chose one such upcoming novel to spotlight: California, by Edan Lepucki. "It's an incredible book," Alexie enthused, about a "United States where an economic/social/political apocalypse has happened," but also a "love story of a young couple who are trying to survive." Colbert announced that through a partnership with Portland independent bookseller Powell's, he'd be making copies of the book available for pre-order on his website.
The plan, Colbert announced, was to land California (Little, Brown and Company, $26) on the New York Times best-seller list without Amazon's help. The plan worked; California debuted at number three on the hardcover fiction list on the week of July 27, and Lepucki is now on a nationwide tour in support of the book. Tonight, she'll be appearing in conversation with Alexie at the downtown library.
So, after all the well-meaning celebrity showboating and anti-Amazon sentiment, how is California? The flip answer would be "pretty good."