Open Book, Open Mind; Anna Quindlen, “After Annie”
Anna Quindlen, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, discusses "After Annie," her latest poignant bestseller about family, community, loss and growth, with Elisabeth Egan of The New York Times. After the discussion, there will be a Q&A period.
The event will take place at the First Congregational Church of Montclair, 40 S. Fullerton Avenue. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. This is a ticketed event. Tickets cost $25 and include a signed copy of the book. REGISTER at tinyurl.com/OBOMQuindlen
Open Book / Open Mind is sponsored by Montclair Public Library Foundation, Watchung Booksellers, the New Jersey Council on Humanities, Anonymous Dr. Alex and Doris Malaspina, David and Mary Lee Jones, and our individual Underwriters. We are also grateful for the generous support of our in-kind sponsors, First Congregational Church of Montclair, The George, and Amanti Vino. To support Open Book / Open Mind and other library programs, click here to donate.
- Date:
- Saturday, March 15, 2025
- Time:
- 4:00pm - 6:00pm
- Location:
- Montclair - First Congregational Church of Montclair
- BCCLS Library:
- Montclair Public Library
- Categories:
- Adult School Author Talk Open Book / Open Mind
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anna Quindlen is a novelist and journalist whose work has appeared on fiction, nonfiction, and self-help bestseller lists. She is the author of many novels including "Object Lessons,""Still Life with Bread Crumbs," and "Miller’s Valley." Her memoir "Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake," was a #1 New York Times bestseller. Her book "A Short Guide to a Happy Life" has sold more than a million copies. While a columnist at The New York Times she won the Pulitzer Prize and published two collections, "Living Out Loud" and "Thinking Out Loud."
ABOUT "After Annie"
A New York Times bestseller. Anna Quindlen’s trademark wisdom about love, loss, family and putting things back together.
Annie Brown is a warm, funny, working mother of four, a plumber's wife, a nurse’s aide in an assisted living facility, and the lifelong friend of a woman in recovery from alcoholism. Annie's gift is for loving and appreciating her life as it is, including her acid-tongued mother-in-law and never having enough time or money. When Annie dies unexpectedly of an aneurysm, everyone around her must find their own way forward.
This book reads a little like “It’s a Wonderful Life”: we see what happens when a linchpin character disappears from the lives of her family and community. But in this version, we watch those left behind put their world back together again. The book has the feel of an instant classic and is, surprisingly, never corny nor manipulatively sentimental.
“Part of Quindlen’s gift is that you don’t just read about these characters, you inhabit them. . . . Luminous with life, hope and the power of love.”—People magazine.
ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER
Elisabeth Egan is a book critic at The New York Times, where she writes reviews, author profiles, personal essays and other stories about the world of reading. She has worked in the publishing industry for 30 years. Before coming to The Times, she was the books editor at Glamour for six years. She is the author of “A Window Opens,” which was named a notable book of 2015 by the Washington Post. Egan is a resident of Montclair and a member of the Open Book / Open Mind advisory committee.
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