New York Times Best Seller headlines new 410 Reading Club

In a joint collaboration between the Texas A&M University-San Antonio Library and the Palo Alto College Ozuna Library, both institutions welcomed the first evening of a brand new reading club on the South Side of San Antonio offering a series of literary events for the fall. Called the 410 Reading Club, the new series will focus on the contemporary Mexican American experience in South Texas.

“As neighboring educational institutions on the south side of San Antonio, the Palo Alto College Ozuna Library and the TAMU-SA Library’s goal is to regularly schedule intellectually stimulating events that are free and open to our institutions’ population, as well as the surrounding community,” said Tina Mesa, Palo Alto College’s Dean of Learning Resources. “The 410 Reading Club will provide participants with an opportunity to listen to presenters and to discuss a variety of literary works. We are hopeful that this venture will lead to other collaborative initiatives, further strengthening our two institutions’ ties.”
The series celebrated its launch on Thursday, September 26 at the University’s downtown facility, the Educational & Cultural Arts Center, by welcoming author Domingo Martinez, who delighted the audience with readings from his book, The Boy Kings of Texas.

The book charts the author’s life as a Mexican American youth growing up along the Rio Grande Valley, offsetting his struggles with a spin of humor. Abuse and neglect from his parents, aggression, a community of substance abuse and a culture of machismo were his inspiration in writing what became the 2012 National Book Award finalist.

The presentation took place amidst a display of local paintings which illustrated for his audience the locality of his south Texan memoir. An ambience of laughter filled the evening as he proceeded to take questions from his audience after treating guests to two excerpts from his New York Times Best Seller.

Questions ranged from his childhood memories of Texas to the creative process behind his memoir and a discussion of his sequel, followed by a session of book signings.

Dominguez’s lecture marks the first of three events in the 410 Reading Club. The next event welcomes acclaimed poet, Laurie Ann Guerrero, on October 17, 2013 at 2 p.m., at Palo Alto College’s recital Hall in Room 190 where she will share poetry from her book, A Tongue in the Mouth of the Dying. The third event is November 14, 2013 at 7 p.m. in Palo Alto College’s Main Auditorium (Room 140), featuring a panel discussion about David Montejano’s Quixote’s Soldiers, which details the Chicano Movement in San Antonio. Speakers include Dr. Laurie Hernandez-Ehrisman from St. Edward’s University, Rosie Castro, activist and mother of U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, and Dr. James Barrera from South Texas College. Topics will include research and experiences about the Chicano Student Movement in South Texas.

All events are free and open to the public.