OC Faux Pas of the Millennium!!!
Setting: West Hollywood Book Fair, 'round noon, Librería Martínez booth.
Protagonists: Me, Librería Martinez volunteer Jess Baudillo, and a gaggle of gals from the Mission VIejo Public Library.
Scene: They had just invited me to speak at some author's festival they're proposing for next year. I, having a new book to hawk, graciously accepted. I told them I had a successful book signing a couple of weeks ago sponsored through Librería Martínez.
Silence.
"You've never heard of Librería Martínez?" Jess asked incredulously.
Silence.
"What is it?" one of the librarians asked.
I start naming its attributes--the legendary authors that visit again and again (Sandra Cisneros soon!), the Macarthur Genius-winning head Rueben Martínez, the wonderful books, the fact that it's a shining jewel in SanTana...
"Oh, we don't travel north of the El Toro Y," one lady laughed, half-serious, half-smugly.
Jess and I looked at each other painfully. Folks, it's somewhat acceptable if the average Juan and Jill have never heard of Librería Martínez, but for LIBRARIANS TO NOT KNOW ABOUT A WORLD-FAMOUS BOOKSTORE IN THEIR OWN PINCHE COUNTY gets to the heart of our Sunkist memories. It's almost as stupid an oversight as the Huntington Beach Fourth of July parade organizers who at first denied a parade permit to Sylvia Mendez of Mendez vs. Westminster fame because the civil rights icon didn't possess enough "entertainment value." I'm sure the ladies personally are alright, but professionally, they're pendejas (in the literal sense of the word--look it up!).
Afterwards, Jess and I discussed what happened. "Think they'll visit Librería Martínez now that they know?" I said.
Silence. And we moved on to talk with folks from across Southern California--young, old, none librarians, all wonderful folks, white, black, Latino--looking to speak with Mr. Martínez.
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of course says:
Typical clueless racist South County bitches.
Posted on Tuesday, Sep. 30 2008 @ 7:35AM
And this is different how? says:
"racist south county bitches"
Nice.
Has the bookstore ever been promoted to south OC residents? A book-buying, library-using populous.
But then that would involve traveling south of the El Toro Y and running the risk of having ignorant, cliched assumptions challenged.
Lots of people of all colors and persuasions south of the El Toro Y.
Posted on Tuesday, Sep. 30 2008 @ 8:53AM
Publius says:
To get from Mission Viejo to WeHo these ladies had to take the 5 or (more likely) the 405 north from the Y.
Maybe one day they will stop in Santa Ana and discover this gem.
Posted on Tuesday, Sep. 30 2008 @ 9:19AM
Gustavo Arellano says:
Different how?: Libreria Martinez has long promoted itself to all audiences and regions, through articles in all the major English-language paper and a lot of media coverage. I do expect everyone in Orange County to know our treasures, whether we're in North, South, or in the beaches, but I also know how people like to stick to their region. But for librarians to not know about what's arguably the most-famous bookstore in Orange County is inexcusable. I wouldn't go as far as what the first commentator wrote, but come on!
Posted on Tuesday, Sep. 30 2008 @ 11:18AM
Anonymous says:
I live in Dana Point and found out about Libreria Martinez years ago when they had Tom Hayden do a book signing there. Those women are foolish and aren't doing their jobs.
Posted on Tuesday, Sep. 30 2008 @ 4:26PM