Kind of Close to Heaven

Part celebration, part civics lesson, and part cautionary tale, Kind of Close to Heaven — an anthology of columns written by Joyce Kleiner for the Mill Valley Herald — chronicles the author’s adopted hometown in all its perfect imperfection.

In these collected essays — sometimes sweet, sometimes instructive, and sometimes bitingly satirical — Joyce Kleiner captures Mill Valley’s unique character. Included are profiles of residents such as poet Jane Hirshfield; explorations of the town’s traditions and institutions, from the Little League Opening Day to the critically acclaimed Marin Theater Company; and recollections of Mill Valley’s quirky history. Kind of Close to Heaven examines the many ways a community builds walls at its own peril, whether through the virtual barriers of racism or real borders that threaten the democratic spirit of public parks and gathering places, and delivers civic lessons in unexpected and irreverent ways. There’s the call to community responsibility, for example, in the declaration that Mill Valley has no poop fairies to clean up after your dog; the early warning against the destructive potential of a new phenomenon called Twitter; and the ten lessons on being a good citizen that evoke redwood trees, front porches, and — yes — more dog poop. Together, this collection gives readers encouragement, advice, and warnings on building community, and reminds the citizens of Mill Valley why they think their town is kind of close to Heaven.