Talk Story with Pulitzer Prize-Winning Surf Memoirist William Finnegan
From Kaimukī Intermediate student to “New Yorker” conflict reporter, it’s been quite a ride for the author of “Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life.”
William Finnegan first navigated tricky cultural currents as a student at Kaimukī Intermediate and surfer; he then spent a chunk of his 20s living rough while hunting waves around the world. Those skills served him well later as a star conflict reporter for The New Yorker, risking his neck in South Africa, Mozambique, Mexico and, last month, Venezuela.
Hear how Finnegan struggles with the tension of being a surf addict who has a serious job—and a family—this week Wednesday at Books & Spirits, a literary salon that couples imaginative cocktails and pūpū with noted authors. He’ll tell tales from his 2016 Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir, Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life, and sign copies.
This will be the third in a series of talks hosted by Books & Spirits and held at RevoluSun Smart Home at 210 Ward Ave., Suite 140. You can attend the catered author reception from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. for $25; the $20 general admission starts at 7 p.m. and runs to 8:30 ($15 in advance from here). One more point of local pride: Last week Finnegan copped the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award—the richest and most prestigious sports writing prize in the world, given by the London bookmaker.
READ MORE STORIES BY DON WALLACE
