PORT TOWNSEND — The author of a new book that traces his adventures in music will be the featured speaker at the Port Townsend Library from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Wednesday.
Port Townsend author Charlie Bermant, a former Peninsula Daily News reporter, will read from and discuss “Never Enough” in the Carnegie Reading Room at 1220 Lawrence St.
The book balances memoir with music/pop culture journalism, following his adventures through the turbulent 1960s, through cultural and technological changes and into a more peaceful, contemplative maturity.
“My generation has ridden two significant cultural waves,” Bermant said. “Social, with the 1960s creating a cultural thunderstorm that uprooted everything that happened before. And technological, where new products emerged so rapidly, the world would change from one year to the next.”
The stories are told from different viewpoints, including first person, second person, reconstructed journals and transcripts.
After editing “Never Enough,” Jim Thomsen, who describes himself as an author and recovering journalist, said: “It’s got a great voice, angry and self-deprecating and coolly analytical from one moment to the next. In a rock-book world of braggarts and blowhards, there’s nothing like it.”
Bermant worked as Jefferson County editor for the Peninsula Daily News for six years prior to retiring in July 2016. Since that time, he has freelanced for the Port Townsend Leader and KPTZ-FM, along with completing “Never Enough.”
The presentation will take place 48 years and one week after the historic Woodstock Festival.
“We are thrilled to have Charlie sharing his nearly five decades of experience with pop culture journalism around the anniversary of Woodstock,” said Library Director Melody Eisler. “Charlie has great stories to tell about an ever-changing musical world.”
Said Bermant: “It was exciting, to live through some truly interesting times and be able to tell the tale.
“Now it’s time for me to kick back and enjoy some of the books, music and video that I accumulated during those times.”