National Humanities Medal winner and bestselling author of The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan joins us to share on her body of work and reflect on the wonder of slowing down and savoring the quiet moments. Her connection to nature is captured in her latest, The Backyard Bird Chronicles, a collection of sketches and essays which debuted at #1 on both the New York Times and the Indie bestseller list. Alison Cuddy will join her in conversation.

Born in the U.S. to immigrant parents from China, Tan’s first bestselling novel, The Joy Luck Club, offered a look at the immigration experience from the perspective of mothers and daughters. Other New York Times best-sellers followed, including The Kitchen God’s Wife, The Hundred Secret Senses, The Bonesetter’s Daughter, Saving Fish from Drowning, and The Valley of Amazement. Tan is also the author of two children’s books, a memoir, and other works. In keeping with her love of science and childhood love of doodling, she recently took up nature journal sketching. When she found herself overwhelmed by our increasingly divisive culture, she turned to nature and the world of bird life outside her own window.
Alison Cuddy is a Chicago-based writer and editor. She is the former host of the award-winning program Eight Forty-Eight on the NPR affiliate WBEZ and served as Artistic Director of the Chicago Humanities Festival. She is a board member of the Arts Club of Chicago and a member of the City of Chicago’s Cultural Advisory Council.

This event will occur via Zoom on Wednesday, February 19  @ 7 PM. The event is free on Zoom and open to the public, but registration is required.