Overusing Localities in Recent Titles

There has been a trend to overuse local references when writing about a story or incident in a particular place. Examples of such phenomenon are too abundant to list them all.

Courtesy of https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Cannabis-author/dp/1954118627

Recently I have read two books in a row that demonstrate this tendency, i.e., Meg Waite Clayton's Typewriter Beach (2025), and Scott Eden's A Killing in Cannabis (2026). The former has literally exhausted place names like Carmel, while the latter, has exploited to the last drop place names like 38th Avenue (Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz, California). The writer's reference to 212 Fern Street, the late Tushar Atre's cannabis business site, is truly unprecedented. A palm-sized building renovated from an automotive shop has suddenly been elevated to an enormous business empire building. The author mentions the street number countless times in a 370-page book. I would totally surrender myself to the description, if Paul did not have his studio right across the street for more than 20 years, or if we did not shop at Santa Cruz Costco and pass it by it weekly. 

Courtesy of https://www.amazon.com/Typewriter-Beach-Meg-Waite-Clayton/dp/006342214X

Meg's Typewriter Beach followed suit by referring constantly to Carmel-by-the-sea and Carmel Point. The word Carmel alone has been used 90 times, whereas Point, 62 times, in a 305-page book. It was, however, surpassed by Nina Simon's Mother-daughter Murder Night (2023). Elkhorn Slough, or simply Slough, is used 99 times in a book of 357 pages. Such a fondness for overusing local references might be characteristic of any out-of stater or transplanted authors, perhaps in order to endear themselves to both local readers and publishers. 

Courtesy of https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/65646968-mother-daughter-murder-night

There is a commonality to all those titles with distinctive real places: powerful Silicon Valley tycoons, LA high-powered real estate moguls, or reclusive Oscar-winners descending upon, residing at, or immortalizing humble places like Fern Street. While in awe of recent titles for local authenticity and colors, we are wondering if there is an underlying insecurity or lack of deeper knowledge of local history. Heavy makeup is always a tell-tale sign of the desire to hide. More often than not, overreliance on limited named places shrink the universe of a character or story. No wonder, most activities conducted by Gemma and Sam take place no further than the Point in Typewriter Beach.

Visiting Dallas in March

Paul and I visited Dallas from March 5th to the 11th. It was an overdue visit, as we did not go last year, when it coincided with our busy preparations for the 50th reunion in Shanghai in April 2025.

Unlike the scorching August heat that we often experienced in the past 30 odd years, the weather in Dallas this time was actually quite pleasant. We were even drenched by a couple of heavy downpours. As the main freeway I-635 has more or less been restored to its normal state, the travel time was significantly reduced from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to our hotel adjacent to the LBJ Freeway.

The main purpose of our visit was seeing and spending time with Paul's sister Crissie who resorts mainly to a scooter to move around her apartment. To go out for a dinner or other entertainment, she needs to get help into a wheelchair, for her battery operated scooter is simply too heavy to be transported with a vehicle. With the combined effort of her daughter Nikki, Paul and me, we managed to have dinner at Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe, a Greek Restaurant. Two days later, her plan to visit a dinner-theater was aborted, due to her miscommunication with a receptionist. Hence, we settled on dining with at her Sunrise facility.

We saw Rob and Nikki, two of Crissie's five children residing in Dallas. Despite torrents of change in their respective lives, they both seemed to cope well with their new situations. The relationship between the two appeared to be thawing as well. It is so good to see them taking extra care of their mother by visiting her more often, and reinforcing their bonding. This is particularly true of Rob who shares the same intense interest in tennis as his mother. He is like a walking encyclopedia powered by AI on tennis, in the know of many nuances that would escape most of us laymen. It turns out that tennis, like golf, goes on all year round. Crissie, on the other hand, watches major tennis matches with gusto and a good memory. She is watching less news this time than before, which is beneficial to her health.

Rob watches one of tennis matches at Indian Wells 2026

A week in Dallas came and went before our eyes. The week back home was quickened too with a week long heat wave, work and family calls. There has not been a dull moment.

Gary Kurutz, a True California Librarian, Historian and Writer

I am deeply saddened at the passing of Gary Francis Kurutz (1948-2025), after learning it first on Facebook and confirmed by BrittneyDawn Cook, Editor of the California State Library Foundation (CSLF) Bulletin. 

My association with Gary is relatively short, compared with his other longtime associates and colleagues. The catalyst is Harriet G. Eddy (1876-1966), the first organizer of the California County Library System, and one of the two assistants to the 9th State Librarian James L. Gillis (1857-1917). Guided by Dr. Michael K. Buckland at Berkeley, I was researching and writing about her since 2018. Upon the completion of two years' writing, I was contemplating about its prospective publishers. Dr. Buckland advised me that the Bulletin would likely accept a paper on Eddy, if it had some new material in it. Also it was an open access journal.

At the kind recommendation of Cynthia Mediavilla, emeritus professor at University of California, Los Angeles, I contacted Gary Kurutz, Editor of Bulletin in August 2020. Gary read the manuscript and was interested. He would like to include it in Bulletin #129. Owing to the imminent COVID-19 and overlength of the manuscript, he revised his publishing plan by turning it into a special edition, with his ingenious and tireless efforts in securing the needed funding. Edited professionally by Pat Morris and Gary himself, the 2021 Special Edition is a beautiful and classic tribute to Eddy, an unsung heroine in the history of California libraries. Looking at the official publication, the quiet Gary could not help cheering loudly to Dr. Buckland, "We are very pleased for you, Michael! Harriet lives on!" (Re: Beautiful! On Sat, Jul 17, 2021 at 10:51 AM) 

Gary's 2021 Special Edition published!

During the process of revising, rewriting and proofreading, Gary and I maintained in constant contact, mainly by email. On August  22, 2020, he shared with me his lifelong dream plan, "It has been a goal of mine to create a pictorial history of early library service in California. Those photographs of makeshift library buildings and libraries sharing space in general stores are an amazing story. The dedication of the traveling librarians like Eddy makes me admire their valor. It must have been very frightening on some of those roads long before AAA and service stations every few miles."

Gary was a staunching supporter of creating and preserving early library service in California. Two years later I completed an article on Laura Steffens Suggett (1874-1946) under the close guidance of Dr. Buckland. In January 18, 2023, I emailed both Gary and BrittneyDawn, the new editor of Bulletin about the manuscript. As one of the two assistants to Gillis, Laura was a California library pioneer, and contemporary of Eddy. Gary replied three days later to unequivocally endorse the Laura project as our biblical-heroine, even though he had retired from the position of Editor of Bulletin. Little did I know that Gary and Laura both served as the Head Librarian of Sutro Library, from 1979 to 1980, and 1917 to 1923 respectively.

Thanks to two editors of Bulletin, Laura's story is out for the public

As a true California librarian, historian and writer, Gary guided me generously to the rich resources California State Library (CSL) housed, such as the California History Section at the CSL, his pictorial article entitled, It's a Long Trip from Headquarters (Bulletin #92), and his exhibits celebrating Early County Library Service in California. 

Gary was a loving husband, caring father and proud grandfather. In March 17, 2021, he was all excited that his son, daughter-in-law, and baby granddaughter would drive from San Diego to Sacramento. Since their arrival time was at 2:00 AM, Gary and his wife were understandably concerned about their safety. He was happy again that that in July that year, the son's family would join them to spend time in South Lake Tahoe.

Gary was a true admirer of natural beauty in California. He wrote more than once to show his love for Santa Cruz where I live and work, its surfing culture, and tourists from all over the world. "Santa Cruz must be bursting with visitors. Several people in my neighborhood have told me their trips to your beautiful community. How fortunate you are," wrote Gary in August 20, 2020.

We miss you, Gary. So does California, its mountains, forests and beaches.

Revisit Magical Capitola

Last Thursday, Paul suggested that we revisit Capitola. Even though the City of Capitola is only two miles away from our home, we had not been there since the devastating storm of 2023 that broke its Wharf midsection, and destroyed the structures of both Capitola Boat and Bait, and the Wharf House Restaurant. The monster storms also damaged many businesses along the Esplanade. 

Being a stranger in our own neighborhood, we found ourselves lost the moment we parked our car at one of the three-hour metered spots in front of Margaritaville. There were no other parking spaces, but a tall sign a short distance away, indicating the area we were in, forthe ParkMoble app. To get a better cell phone signal, Paul went to the sign and entered from scratch his credit card number, and other essential data to update our seldom-used app.

View from Stockton Bridge

Our first destination was, of course, the restored Capitola Wharf. The moment we approached the wharf, a tranquility transcended on us, along with a revelation of its refreshing modernity. The grimy portable toilets were replaced by three ultra modern bathrooms at the entrance. Going forward, we found the wharf seemed much wider than before with the bouncy and strong new boards. 

The End of New Capitola Wharf 

The Bait Shop was open for business in a semi-tent and under-construction building, while the end restaurant was gone forever. Everywhere you could feel the pride of locals who had kept their new wharf spanking clean and well-funded. They made substantial contributions by immortalizing their families or loved ones' names in bronze plates drilled into the lookouts, benches, railings and front metal banners. The pristine telescopes installed on both sides were new, and in perfect working condition. What a magical transformation of the Wharf!

We ventured along the Esplanade. All the businesses seemed to be there, displaying a collective resilience after damage from several storms in recent years. Further down Monterey Avenue, we reacquainted ourselves with Britannia Arms, the old British red phone booth, Geisha Sushi, and Thai Basil Restaurnt.

Britannia Arms, British Phonebooth, and Geisha Sushi in the back

Capitola is the Carmel of Santa Cruz County, known for its neat and quint boutique shops and houses. as one could glean from its one-room historical museum on Capitola Road, or residential homes and rentals along Riverview Drive. A feel of magic and pride was again deeply felt and permeated the magical village.

Capitola Historical Museum

 

Old Riverview Court & Historic Capitola Cottage