Bruce Berlin will discuss and sign copies of ‘From Camden to Kathmandu’

IN SANTA FE

Bruce Berlin will discuss and sign copies of his book “From Camden to Kathmandu: You Don’t Have to Know Where You’re Going to Get Where You Want to Be” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, at Collected Works.

“It’s both an internal and an external journey. I ended up in a Tibetan monastery near Kathmandu,” Berlin said in a phone interview.

Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal.

Berlin’s year-long trip began in Europe in May 1972 when he was 27 years old. He then traveled through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

The unplanned “internal” portion was a month-long retreat at the monastery, though his original intention had been to hike the Himalayas, he said.

“The trip changed my life. It was transformative,” Berlin said. “It was my introduction to Buddhism and to seeing the world as a place in which we are all connected.”

One other strong memory Berlin has of his travels was how hospitable people were, even the humblest in India.

Born and raised in Camden, New Jersey, he graduated from law school and worked for one year at a legal aid society in Trenton, New Jersey, before starting out on his journey.

After returning to the United States, Berlin worked for a legal aid society in Greenfield, Massachusetts.

In 1981, he moved to New Mexico, first to Ojo Caliente, then Santa Fe.

Berlin, 80, did political nonprofit work and subsequently served as a lawyer for two state agencies, but is now retired.

At Collected Works, he will be in conversation with Dr. Victor La Cerva, co-founder of New Mexico Men’s Wellness.

The bookstore is located at 202 Galisteo St. in Santa Fe.

IN PLACITAS

Amy Owens, director of the Young Voices of the Santa Fe Opera, will read the children’s picture book “Octopus Stew” at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 1, at the Placitas Community Library.

The book asks “What to do when an octopus captures Grandma?” 

Answer: “Put on your superhero cape and rescue her.”

The octopus has grown to gigantic proportions, so grandson Ramsey uses art and smarts to free his beloved abuela.

Throughout the reading, Young Voices will perform songs that add to the excitement and drama of the book’s story and illustrations. Eric Velásquez is the author/illustrator.

The event is a production of the Opera Makes Sense program aimed at introducing children ages 3 to 11 (or older) to opera music.

The Placitas Artists Series is sponsoring the free event. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP to childrens@placitaslibrary.com with the parent’s full name and the number of adults and children in the group.

The library is located at 453 New Mexico Highway 165 in Placitas.

AT BOOKS ON THE BOSQUE

The bookstore presents “Voices: Women Braving It All to Speak Their Truth” at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28.

At the event will be Voices curator/author Chloe Rachel Gallaway in collaboration with authors Laura Bechdol Riley, Hope McIntosh, Diane Van Buren and Lisa Baird.

The volume is Book 2 in the "Voices" series.

Books on the Bosque is located at 6261 Riverside Plaza Lane NW.