An Evening with Geraldine Brooks and Mitchell Kaplan

On Wednesday, February 12, the Books & Books Literary Foundation welcomes Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks for a conversation about her poignant new memoir, Memorial Days, with renowned bookseller and literary advocate Mitchell Kaplan. This ticketed event includes one copy of Memorial Days per ticket and is held at Books & Books, a cornerstone of Miami’s literary scene.

In Memorial Days, Brooks shares a deeply personal journey of sudden loss and healing, following the unexpected death of her partner, Tony Horwitz, a celebrated journalist and author. The memoir explores the profound impact of grief and the need for space and rituals to process such a life-altering experience. After three years of overwhelming demands and limited opportunity to grieve, Brooks sought solitude on an isolated island off Australia’s coast. In this setting, she reconnected with nature and explored various cultural approaches to mourning, ultimately finding her own path toward peace. With both a journalistic eye and a poetic sensibility, Brooks brings readers into her journey of love, loss, and resilience, painting an intimate portrait of life, love, and the legacies we carry.

Brooks is celebrated for her bestselling novels, including Horse, People of the Book, and March, which won the Pulitzer Prize. Known for her skillful blend of historical detail and human depth, she has become a global literary voice, with her works translated into over 25 languages.

In conversation with Brooks is Mitchell Kaplan, a champion of literary culture in South Florida and beyond. Kaplan founded Books & Books in 1982, which has since become an iconic independent bookstore, earning the distinction of “Publishers Weekly Bookstore of the Year” in 2015. A co-founder of the Miami Book Fair, Kaplan is also a former president of the American Booksellers Association and recipient of the National Book Foundation’s “Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community.” Through his podcast The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan and his work in film production, Kaplan continues to foster connections between literature and its readers.

Tickets are required, with entry admitting up to two guests and books provided at the door. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear from two literary figures as they discuss themes of grief, resilience, and the power of storytelling.