SAN FRANCISCO – The Filipino American Center of the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) will host an evening with Bay Area author Elaine Castillo in conversation with Jenny Odell on Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. in the Koret Auditorium at the Main Library. The event is free and open to the public. 

Castillo will discuss her critically-acclaimed new novel, Moderation, which explores the complexities of finding genuine connections and real romance in a virtual workplace. Kirkus Reviews calls Moderation “[a] brilliant novel with much to say about work, family, excess, identity, and love” and the New York Times describes the book as “A ‘Pride and Prejudice’ for the Chronically Online.” An audience Q&A session will follow the discussion. 

“We are honored and thoroughly excited to highlight Elaine and her latest book,” says Filipino American Center program manager Jaena Rae Cabrera. “Through events like these, we hope to spotlight Filipino excellence in all forms, whether in literature, sports or music. It will be empowering to witness two prominent Filipina authors in conversation, particularly in a city with such an historically large Filipino population. An event like this helps to underscore that our Filipiniana titles comprise a dynamic collection that shares the multitude of experiences and stories of the Filipino diaspora.” 

Elaine Castillo, named one of “30 of the Planet’s Most Exciting Young People” by the Financial Times, was born and raised in the Bay Area. Her debut novel, America Is Not the Heart, was a finalist for numerous prizes, including the Elle Big Book Award, the Center for Fiction Prize and the Aspen Words Literary Prize. It was also an SFPL On the Same Page selection in 2020. 

Jenny Odell is a writer and artist based in Oakland, California. Her work involves acts of close observation, such as birdwatching, collecting screenshots, researching trash or analyzing e-commerce. She seeks frameworks that reveal new aspects of everyday reality. Her first book, How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy, was published in 2019, and her second book, Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock, was published in 2023. 

The Filipino American Center, located on the third floor of the Main Library, highlights the Filipino American experience through materials in English, Filipino, and other Philippine dialects. Its collection includes fiction, literature, and history, reflecting the diverse narratives of the Filipino diaspora.