The University of Guam Press is accepting pre-orders for its newest publication, “The Properties of Perpetual Light,” written by human rights attorney, activist, and author Julian Aguon.
The book is scheduled to be released on March 29 and has garnered international praise and attention from critically acclaimed authors and scholars, with one describing the book as a call for justice.
Featuring prose and poetry, Aguon’s memoir weaves together stories from his childhood in the villages of Guam with searing political commentary about everything from nuclear weapons to climate change. Throughout the book, Aguon grapples with one loss after another by immersing himself in the beauty of his island, the magic of Micronesia, and the wisdom of his favorite books and elders.
Alice Walker, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of “The Color Purple,” described Aguon’s book as “powerful” and “beautiful.” She said, “Its fierce love — of the land, the ocean, the elders, and the ancestors — warms the heart and moves the spirit.”
The book is available for pre-order sales on the UOG Press website (www.uog.edu/uogpress), on Aguon’s website (www.julianaguon.com), through its U.S.-based distributor, Itasca Books (https://itascabooks.com/), and on Amazon.com. The book costs $23 and will also be available in all Guam bookstores after its official launch.
UOG Press is partnering with PBS Guam to host a televised launch event on March 29 followed by a virtual book tour. Leading up to the launch, Aguon is scheduled to make presentations about the book at the Guam Library Conference, the Marianas History Conference, University of Guam’s Charter Day, and a sneak-peak event hosted by American University at 6 p.m. EST on Feb. 11. Details about these events will be available on UOG Press’s website and social media pages.
Other reviewers have said:
“A breathtaking book and I mean it — this book took my breath away. ‘The Properties of Perpetual Light’ is so alive with passion, wisdom, and heart, you can almost feel its pulse. A call not only for justice, but for a brand new covenant with our world.” -- Junot Díaz, Author of “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao,” Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
“I did not know I needed this book until it had me in its embrace like the oldest and dearest of friends, from the very first page. Overflowing with warmth and wisdom and defying all categorization, ‘The Properties of Perpetual Light’ is philosophy, poetry, memoir, history, and self-help for humanity. With bottomless love for his people and place, Aguon guides us through a portal to the Pacific, sharing deep insights earned from life on the existential knife’s edge.” -- Naomi Klein, Senior Correspondent at The Intercept and Author of “The Shock Doctrine” and “This Changes Everything”
For more information, please contact UOG Press Marketing Communications Coordinator Akina Chargualaf at (671)735-2154 or achargualaf@triton.uog.edu.
###