By Heidi Simmons
Author and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Hector Tobar was the guest speaker at the Friends of the College of the Desert Library’s 44th Annual Author Luncheon. Over 100 people attended the fundraiser at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort, where Tobar charmed and provoked the attentive audience.
Tobar is the author of four books and is a Los Angeles Times’ book critic. His novel, The Barbarian Nurseries (Picador, 420 pages), was presented to those in attendance by the Friends of COD Library. The book has been named a New York Times Notable Book and also won the 2012 California Book Award gold medal for fiction. In 2006, Hispanic Business Magazine named Tobar one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States.
The son of Guatemalan immigrants, Tobar was born and raised in Los Angeles. He has an open, casual nature that native Californian’s often possess. He is forthcoming, feisty and friendly. He said he was honored to be invited and thanked those present for what they do for books, book culture and for learning.
“I grew up in public libraries,” said Tobar. “I spent hours and hours after class reading. I know that a library is opening a window into civilization and culture. By supporting this library, you do that for thousands of young people and I congratulate you on your work.”
Tobar grew up in an accepting and open-minded California, but in 1995 Proposition 187 that banned illegal immigrants from services became an issue. He saw a different image of the state – one of intolerance, irritation and anger at people he considered like himself.
“I wanted to talk about this atmosphere of hatred and suspicion that people were starting to feel in California,” said Tobar. “The Barbarian Nurseries was originally called ‘Farewell California.’ It was my saying goodbye to the tolerant California I had known.”
After submitting the novel and getting rejections, Tobar put the book aside. In 2005, he took another look and realized it was awful. “It was an intimate portrait of a family, and at the time I didn’t even have a family of my own,” said Tober. “All those experiences teach you something about life.” So he went back and rewrote the book.
Tobar shared the secret code inside his novel. The children in the novel are the same age as his kids at the time he was revising the story. As a foreign correspondent for the LA Times, Tobar and his young family lived a privileged lifestyle with servants behind gates. The main character, Araceli, is really his alter ego even though the character is a woman.
The Barbarian Nurseries is the story of Araceli, a Spanish speaking, educated maid in an Orange County upscale community, who finds herself the only caretaker of two children after their parents have a fight over their financial future and disappear. The maid decides to find the children’s Mexican grandfather. She journeys the southland with the kids looking for him. When the parents return, they call the police, thinking their children have been kidnapped.
It is a story about social class, ambition and cultural differences set in today’s Southern California. Tobar captures the tone and voices that reflect a very familiar lifestyle. The novel has been translated into six languages.
After Tobar talked about the book he answered questions. Many were interested in the subject and challenges of immigration. Tobar patiently listened and shared his experience and knowledge of Mexico, Latin countries were he lived and the difficulties for immigrants today.
Friends of COD Library President, Marge Dodge, invited Tobar to the Author’s Luncheon after reading The Barbarian Nurseries. “It totally changed my perspective,” said Dodge. “It’s part of what Friends of COD Library do. It’s about bringing up issues for discussion. It’s about literacy and exposing the community to ideas and fabulous authors like Hector.”
Attending the fundraising event was Iris Anderson who has been involved with the Friends of the College of the Desert Library for twenty years. “There are very few literary luncheons is this area,” said Anderson. “This is where we can find out how the author wrote their book, what caused them to write it, and how they’re selling their work.”
Anderson was especially interested in Tobar’s novel and personal story because she had worked as an English teacher at a Central Los Angeles High School.
Friends of the COD Library is a nonprofit group with over 600 members. Its mission is to maintain an organization based at COD that share members’ enthusiasm for literature and libraries with the Coachella Valley communities, and to raise funds for COD students. The COD library is primarily focused on learning and reference materials for students. They accept donations of all kinds of books.
As part of the fundraising event, there was a silent auction of thematic gift baskets filled with goodies including books from the COD Library Bookstore. Raffle prizes included a biplane trip from the Palm Springs Air Museum and tennis BNP Paribas VIP tickets.
For Tobar, libraries have been a big part of his life and success. Organizations like Friends of COD Library keep libraries thriving. For more information or to become a member call 760 333 0733 or go to the website CODLibraryFriend@aol.com
