"The Gospel According to Coco Chanel" is more than a history of a fashionista, offering everything from passion to self-invention and living life on your own terms. Submitted photo

MANZANITA – Author Karen Karbo will read from her new book, “The Gospel According to Coco Chanel,” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Manzanita Writers’ Series, at the Hoffman Center Annex.

At first glance, it might seem odd to have a reading about Coco Chanel here at the coast – the land of Birkenstocks and fleece and extremely casual fashion, if indeed “fashion” is a word we even apply here – but Karbo’s book is about the life lessons of Coco Chanel, who lived a much different life than most of us think.

Renowned French fashion designer Chanel, who brought us the little black dress and boxy jackets (think Jackie Kennedy), was the only fashion icon to be named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century.

But even more interesting is her life story. Born in 1883 in a poorhouse in southern France to unmarried parents, Chanel was raised in a convent after her mother died when she was six and her father abandoned her. The nuns taught her to sew, and while working as a café singer in the early 1900s, she began designing hats for fun. Her lovers included a wealthy English industrialist, who helped her set up her own millinery shop and steered his society friends her way. Later, Chanel popularized pants for women. Her easy, practical clothes allowed women a chic freedom they’d never known before.

Karbo’s book is a captivating, offbeat look at style, celebrity and self-invention, with life lessons that might apply to any of us.

Karbo is the author of three novels, all of which were named New York Times Notable Books; four works of nonfiction-including “How to Hepburn,” which the Philadelphia Inquirer called “an exuberant celebration of a great original,” and “The Stuff of Life,” a People Magazine Critic’s Choice, plus three books for young adults. Her essays, articles and reviews have appeared in the New York Times, Outside, Elle, Vogue, More and Salon.com

Following Karbo’s reading and question and answer period, the popular Open Mic session will provide opportunities for the audience to hear nine local writers read from their original work. Interested writers sign up at the door to read, on a first come, first to read basis. Writers interested in reading should check out the Open Mic guidelines at hoffmanblog.org and come prepared to read your original piece of work in five minutes or less.

The series is a program of the Hoffman Center and will be held at the Hoffman Center Annex at 594 Laneda Ave., across from Manzanita Library. The Annex will be set up in a café style with coffee/tea and snacks available. Admission fee is $5. Further information and the 2009 schedule are available at hoffmanblog.org or contact Kathie Hightower at (503) 739-1505 or kathie@jumpintolife.net