The 2025 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (LATFOB), held on April 26–27 at the University of Southern California (USC), was a significant cultural event that brought together a diverse array of participants and marked its 30th anniversary with a vibrant celebration of literature, culture, and community. The festival is known for attracting large crowds each year; for instance, the 2024 festival drew over 150,000 attendees. The 2025 event featured more than 550 writers, experts, and storytellers, along with hundreds of exhibitors.
The festival included over 100 ticketed author events, children’s storytelling sessions, poetry readings, book signings, and more than 400 exhibitor booths. Notable participants in the 2025 festival included authors such as Stacey Abrams, Jon M. Chu, Amanda Gorman, Chelsea Handler, Ibram X. Kendi, and Rebecca Yarros, among many others. The festival’s success was also attributed to the generous involvement of volunteers, who assisted with various aspects of the event, including welcoming attendees, staffing author events, and supervising book signings.
LATFOB 2025 emphasized accessibility and community involvement. General admission was free, with select programming requiring tickets. The festival’s partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs ensured that a wide range of activities was available to attendees of all ages and backgrounds, fostering a welcoming environment for literary enthusiasts and families alike.
As LATFOB celebrates three decades of literary engagement, the 2025 festival underscored the importance of storytelling in shaping culture and community. With its diverse programming and commitment to accessibility, the festival continues to be a premier event for book lovers and cultural aficionados. The success of this year’s event sets a promising precedent for future festivals, ensuring that the tradition of literary celebration will continue to thrive in Los Angeles.
LATFOB 2025 offers a unique opportunity to explore new voices, groundbreaking ideas, and thought-provoking works of art. One of this year’s most anticipated entries is Poetry for the Soul: Plus Satire by Jean Fradenburg McPhee, showcased in the Book Gallery. This distinctive poetry collection blends spiritual introspection with sharp wit.
McPhee, a poet with a PhD in Humanities from Florida State University, draws from her diverse experiences—including her upbringing as a military child and her involvement in the Brownsville Revival—to craft poems that are both reflective and humorous. The collection aims to inspire readers to embrace freedom, let go of past burdens, and recognize the power of their thoughts and emotions.
Jean Fradenburg McPhee is a proud mother and grandmother. With a PhD in Humanities from Florida State University, she is a realtor by trade and a poet at heart. She grew up as a military brat and currently resides in Pensacola, Florida, where the Brownsville Revival blessed her with five years on the prayer team. She takes great joy in her faith and in sharing it with others. A mother, grandmother, sister, and friend—she offers prayers to bless you.
The book is divided into two main sections:
- Poetry for the Soul – This section offers uplifting verses that encourage readers to find peace and strength through faith. Themes of divine protection, emotional healing, and personal growth are prevalent.
- Plus Satire – In this section, McPhee shifts tone to deliver poems that use humor and satire to comment on societal issues, human behaviors, and everyday absurdities. This portion showcases her versatility as a poet, seamlessly transitioning between introspective messages and sharp wit. The satire adds a layer of depth, reminding readers that laughter can be a powerful tool for introspection and growth.
Poetry for the Soul: Plus Satire is poetry for your soul—words meant to make you whole. The Word, a gift from Creator God, who also came to walk the earth, leads you back to the Lord so that you, too, can be restored. It is a masterful collection that weaves together the profound and the playful. With an eye for both introspection and humor, McPhee offers readers a unique journey through the landscapes of human experience.
In this book, McPhee delves deep into themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning, crafting verses that resonate with emotional depth and lyrical beauty. Each poem is a meditative exploration of the soul, designed to uplift and inspire. But the collection doesn’t stop there—it introduces a refreshing twist with McPhee’s sharp wit and incisive commentary. Through clever and often humorous verse, she tackles contemporary issues, social norms, and the absurdities of modern life, offering a satirical lens that both challenges and entertains.
Whether you’re seeking solace or a hearty laugh, this entertaining yet inspiring collection promises a rich tapestry of poetic brilliance and satirical flair, showcasing Jean Fradenburg McPhee’s remarkable ability to illuminate life’s complexities with both grace and humor. Poetry for the Soul: Plus Satire offers a compelling blend of spiritual encouragement and satirical commentary, appealing to readers who appreciate poetry that both uplifts and provokes thought.
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