2011

HIGHLIGHTS

The third annual Boston Book Festival took place on October 15, 2011. The night before, we kicked off BBF 2011 with The Art of The Wire, a provocative and timely discussion about the landmark television series with its cast and creators. More than one thousand fans packed into John Hancock Hall to hear from—and later meet—their favorite writers and actors from the show.

On Saturday, beloved author Mo Willems kicked off the day with our Kids Keynote. Hundreds of kids and parents laughed at Elephant and Piggie (who made a surprise appearance!), learned how to draw the Pigeon, and shouted “Oinky, Oink, Oink!” as they celebrated Happy Pig Day! Kids had plenty to keep them busy and happy all day long, from the appearance of costumed characters like The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Curious George, and Geronimo Stilton in StoryPlace to our new Passport scavenger hunt to great sessions featuring authors like Chris Raschka and Julia Alvarez. Kids and families could even learn to make their own books at Deborah Davidson’s Building Books Workshop.

Outside, the day was sunny and mild, perfect for visiting the booths of 75 exhibitors like 826 Boston, the Brattle Bookshop, Greater Boston Food Bank, or Little Pickle Press. Food Network favorite Roxy’s Grilled Cheese kept our visitors well-fed, with the Cupcakory offering plenty of delicious sweets for dessert. Seating by the outdoor music stage was a popular place for a picnic lunch, as attendees listened to young talent from Berklee College of Music. And the big tent was a hub of activity, with BBF info and merchandise, WBUR, Google Books, and the Brookline Booksmith sharing space—and enjoying the bright sunshine that kept everyone warm and happy!

The tent, though, was not the star of the show. That distinction goes to more than one hundred world-renowned authors, who gave presentations throughout the day in the historic venues surrounding Copley Square. Standing-room-only crowds enjoyed fascinating discussions with novelists like Jennifer Egan, Ha Jin, Jennifer Haigh, and George Pelecanos, while lovers of nonfiction were thrilled by authors like Siddhartha Mukherjee, Tony Horwitz, Lisa Randall, and Stephen Greenblatt. Capping off the day was a stimulating and inspiring Keynote presentation by Booker Prize-winning novelist and poet Michael Ondaatje.

If you missed this year’s BBF, or just want to relive it, check out our slide show, as well as the audio and videos from some of our events. See you next year!

2011 AUDIO

Audio recordings are available for the following sessions from BBF 2011:

(Note: clicking the title of a session will play the audio file in a new window. To download the file to your hard drive, right-click (PC) or ctrl-click (Mac) and select “Download linked file” from the menu that appears.)

The Art of The Wire (BBF 2011 kick-off event): Donnie Andrews, Fran Boyd, Robert Chew, Jamie Hector, Tray Chaney, Host: Rev. Eugene Rivers (Video)

Civil War: Adam Goodheart, Tony Horwitz, Charles Flood, Drew Faust, Host: Annette Gordon-Reed (Video)
Crime Fiction: Joseph Finder, Chuck Hogan, George Pelecanos, Host: Hank Phillippi Ryan
Eat Your Words: Joan Nathan, Lisa Abend, Anka Muhlstein, Amy Traverso, Host: Donna Garlough
Far Out Fiction: Gregory Maguire, Karen Russell, Chuck Klosterman, Kate Beaton, Host: Eugenia Williamson
Fiction: Time Is…: Jennifer Egan, Peter Mountford, Lawrence Douglas, Host: Henriette Lazaridis Power
Fiction: Truth and Consequences: Ha Jin, Jennifer Haigh, Vanessa Diffenbaugh, Host: Ladette Randolph
Fresh Thinking for a Small Planet: Frances Moore Lappe, Susanne Freidberg, Host: Sacha Pfeiffer
Frontiers of Science: Stephen Greenblatt, Lisa Randall, Siddhartha Mukherjee, Host: Christopher Lydon
Girls and Boys: Caryl Rivers, Rosalind Barnett, Niobe Way, Host: Richard Weissbourd
Graphic Novels: Daniel Clowes, Seth, Alison Bechdel, Host: Robin Brenner
How to Live: Sarah Bakewell, Howard Gardner, Michael Jackson, Host: Joseph Koerner
Learning Learning: Nicholas Negroponte, Sugata Mitra, Idit Harel Caperton, Host: Mark Nieker (Video)
Memoir: Carlos Eire, Ben Ryder Howe, Maisie Houghton, Sandra Beasley, Host: Leslie Gilbert-Lurie
Music Legends: Bob Blumenthal, Tim Riley, Host: William Banfield
One City One Story: Richard Russo, Host: Alicia Anstead
Poetry: New Directions: Michael Palmer, Susan Howe, Forrest Gander, Host: Jeffrey Yang
Poetry: Personae, Self-Portrait As…: Sandra Beasley, Jessica Bozek, Host: Stephen Burt
A Reason to Lead: Governor Deval Patrick, Host: Guy Raz (Video)
Sports: Writers on Deck: Jane Leavy, Thomas Whalen, Glenn Stout, Host: Bill Littlefield
Steampunk!: Kelly Link, Gavin Grant, Allison DeBlasio, Holly Black, Host: Maya Escobar
True Story: Mitchell Zuckoff, Emma Rothschild, Michael Willrich, Host: Robin Young
What’s Up with Men?: Andre Dubus III, Stephen McCauley, Tom Matlack, Jabari Asim, Host: Tom Ashbrook
YA Fiction: On the Edge: Danica Novgorodoff, Ellen Levine, Daniel Nayeri, Host: Amy Pattee

Audio is not available for the following sessions:

Alone Together: Sherry Turkle, Ethan Gilsdorf, Sue Hallowell, Host: Andrew McAfee
Building Books: Host: Deborah Davidson
Don’t Know Much About Boston History Quiz: Kenneth C. Davis
Flash Fiction Open Mic: Host: Henriette Lazaridis Power
Funny Kids’ Fiction: Julia Alvarez, Meg Wolitzer, Chris Raschka, Linda Urban, Host: Kathy Piehl
Keynote: Michael Ondaatje, Host: Homi Bhabha
Kids’ Keynote: Mo Willems, Host: Jef Czekaj
Readings: Local Talent: Steve Almond, Laura Harrington, Michael Klein, Host: Kim McLarin
Readings: New England Stories: Holly LeCraw, James MacManus, Dawn Tripp, Host: Michelle Hoover
Spoken Word: Host: Regie Gibson
Storytelling: Jef Czekaj, Norah Dooley
Writer Idol: Judges: Ann Collette, Sorche Elizabeth Fairbank, Caroline Zimmerman

2011 PRESENTERS

Lisa Abend

Steve Almond

Julia Alvarez

Alicia Anstead

Tom Ashbrook

Jabari Asim

Sarah Bakewell

William Banfield

Rosalind Barnett

Sandra Beasley

Kate Beaton

Alison Bechdel

Homi Bhabha

Holly Black

Bob Blumenthal

Jessica Bozek

Robin E. Brenner

Stephen Burt

Idit Harel Caperton

Daniel Clowes

Jef Czekaj

Kenneth C. Davis

Allison DeBlasio

Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Norah Dooley

Lawrence Douglas

Andre Dubus III

Jennifer Egan

Carlos Eire

Maya Escobar

Drew Gilpin Faust

Joseph Finder

Charles Bracelen Flood

Susanne Freidberg

Forrest Gander

Howard Gardner

Donna Garlough

Regie Gibson

Leslie Gilbert-Lurie

Ethan Gilsdorf

Adam Goodheart

Annette Gordon-Reed

Gavin Grant

Stephen Greenblatt

Jennifer Haigh

Sue Hallowell

Laura Harrington

Chuck Hogan

Michelle Hoover

Tony Horwitz

Maisie Houghton

Ben Ryder Howe

Susan Howe

Michael D. Jackson

Ha Jin

Michael Klein

Chuck Klosterman

Joseph Koerner

Jane Leavy

Holly LeCraw

Ellen Levine

Kelly Link

Bill Littlefield

Christopher Lydon

James MacManus

Gregory Maguire

Tom Matlack

Andrew McAfee

Stephen McCauley

Kim McLarin

Sugata Mitra

Frances Moore Lappe

Peter Mountford

Anka Muhlstein

Siddhartha Mukherjee

Joan Nathan

Daniel Nayeri

Nicholas Negroponte

Mark Nieker

Danica Novgorodoff

Michael Ondaatje

Michael Palmer

Deval Patrick

Amy Pattee

George Pelecanos

Sacha Pfeiffer

Kathy Piehl

Henriette Lazaridis Power

Lisa Randall

Ladette Randolph

Chris Raschka

Guy Raz

Tim Riley

Caryl Rivers

Emma Rothschild

Karen Russell

Richard Russo

Hank Phillippi Ryan

Seth

Glenn Stout

Amy Traverso

Dawn Tripp

Sherry Turkle

Linda Urban

Niobe Way

Richard Weissbourd

Thomas Whalen

Mo Willems

Eugenia Williamson

Michael Willrich

Meg Wolitzer

Jeffrey Yang

Robin Young

Mitchell Zuckoff