Oksana Marafioti, American Gypsy Author, in Conversation at The Booksmith

With her parents members of a traveling troupe of Romani until she moved to America when she was 15-years-old, Oksana Marafioti got a chance to experience life on the road and accumulate a wealth of experiences.

Her new book, American Gypsy: A Memoir, recounts true-life tales from her childhood and the adventures she had while coming-of-age in Mongolia and Siberia.

Eventually ending up in Beverly Hills sifting through the garbage of Hollywood stars, Marafioti divulges the realities of life as a gypsy while also relaying the cross-cultural and linguistic misunderstandings that happen in immigrant families learning English as a second language.

Ms. Marafioti will be discussing her new memoir Thursday, August 9 at 7:30 pm at The Booksmith.

Zane Johnston writes about art and culture and is interested in all things literary. Send tips to @zanemone