Santa Barbara

Book Review | ‘Exit Party’ by Emily St. John Mandel

Book Review | ‘Exit Party’ by Emily St. John Mandel

Santa Barbara Independent

September 24, 2026

Original

If you've been looking for your next great read, the Santa Barbara Independent just reviewed Emily St. John Mandel's 'Exit Party' — and it sounds like a haunting one. Described as a requiem for an alternate world not unlike our own, it's the kind of book that lingers long after you close the cover.

Here in the 805, we know something about parallel worlds — the quiet fog rolling over Goleta, the hush of a Santa Barbara evening, the sense that life could have gone another way entirely. Mandel has a gift for that ache, and this one seems no different.

So curl up with a cup of coffee from a local spot and give it a read. And thanks to the Independent for keeping our bookshelves — and our imaginations — well fed.

Read Original Article

This summary was written by AI based on the original article from Santa Barbara Independent.

Published

September 24, 2026

AI-curated summary from local news sources

Explore Santa BarbaraAll Santa Barbara News

More News from Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara
KEYT News Channel 3-12· Sep 26, 2026

Al no haber arma homicida, el juicio contra Caleb Flynn se centra en la relación extramatrimonial y en el supuesto intruso

A murder trial unfolding just up the coast is drawing attention here in Santa Barbara, and it's the kind of case that's hard to look away from. Caleb Flynn's trial, reported by KEYT News Channel 3-12, has no murder weapon — instead, prosecutors are leaning on testimony about a secret church affair, thousands of deleted texts, and lies told to the FBI. Even the family dogs stayed eerily quiet that night, which has become a strange piece of the puzzle. For those of us in the 805, it's a reminder that even tight-knit communities aren't immune to the kind of drama you'd expect from a courtroom thriller. Cases like this can shake faith in neighbors and institutions, and they raise hard questions about trust and evidence. We'll be watching how the trial unfolds — not out of spectacle, but because it touches on the real lives of people not so far from home.

Santa Barbara
Noozhawk· Sep 25, 2026

UCSB Recovers From Slow Start, Beats CS Northridge in Big West Volleyball Opener

Good news for Gaucho fans — UCSB women's volleyball finally got back in the win column Friday night at the Thunderdome, shaking off a slow start to beat Cal State Northridge in the Big West opener. After dropping the first set, the team looked like a squad still finding its footing following a tough preseason that ended on a six-match skid. But conference play is a fresh slate, and the Gauchos took advantage. For our Isla Vista and Goleta neighbors, there's something special about catching a match on campus — cheap tickets, loud student section, and a team that's easy to root for. Thanks to Noozhawk for the coverage. If you haven't been to a UCSB volleyball match yet, consider this your sign to check one out this season.

Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Independent· Sep 25, 2026

Cottage Health Hosts Sepsis Conference Focused on Early Recognition and Treatment

Cottage Health pulled together doctors, nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists and other clinicians from across the region on Friday, Sept. 18, for a conference zeroing in on one of medicine's trickiest foes: sepsis. If you've never heard the word, you're not alone — but it's a leading cause of death in hospitals, and the difference between a good outcome and a tragic one often comes down to how fast someone recognizes the signs. That's why this gathering matters here. Santa Barbara County spans a big, sometimes rural region, and not every clinic or ER has the same resources. When Cottage Health convenes providers from up and down the 805 to share protocols and lessons learned, it quietly raises the standard of care for all of us — whether you're in Goleta, Lompoc, Santa Maria or Santa Ynez. The Santa Barbara Independent first reported the conference, and it's the kind of unglamorous, behind-the-scenes work that keeps our community healthier. Next time you or a loved one lands in an ER with a puzzling fever, this is the preparation you'll be glad happened.