Mayor's Book Club begins with UT alumnus' memoir

As a part of the "Keep Austin Reading" program, the Mayor's Book Club brings Austinites together to form a citywide book club. The 2007 Mayor's Book Club events begin tonight at 7 at the International Center of Austin, 201 E. Second St.

This year's selection is "Around the Bloc: My Life in Moscow, Beijing and Havana" by Stephanie Elizondo Griest, a UT alumna. This travel memoir covers her experiences in Russia, China and Cuba, beginning at age 21. A few of the adventures in store for readers include confrontations with babushkas, happening upon Moscow's underground gay scene and meeting Revolution-rapping hip-hop artists in Havana. All of the events and discussions are free and will culminate in a reception with the author, including a book signing, interview and book discussion April 17.

This year's book selection is available at all of the Austin Public Library locations, the Benson Latin American Collection, the Center for American History and local bookstores.

"Around the Bloc" was named "Best Travel Book of 2004" by the National Association of Travel Journalists of America and "Best Book of 2004" by the San Francisco Chronicle. Griest's newest book "100 Places Every Woman Should Go" was released in February.

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