2014

HIGHLIGHTS

The sixth annual Boston Book Festival took place on October 23-25, 2014. Following a week of rain and wind (which didn’t damp the spirits of attendees at our Thursday evening memoir keynote with Herbie Hancock or our Friday evening fiction keynote with Susan Minot), BBF Saturday dawned clear and bright, a perfect New England autumn day.

Fans started lining up early in the morning for kids’ keynote presenter Rick Riordan, who was met by more than a thousand rockstar-worthy screams from the crowds packed into Trinity Church. Later in the day, an equally enthusiastic (if somewhat more sedate) crowd packed Trinity again to hear history keynote presenter Doris Kearns Goodwin offer timely insights into presidential leadership. World-famous architect Norman Foster, our art, architecture, and design keynote speaker, also dazzled Trinity audiences with insights into his singular vision and innovative designs.

Elsewhere in Copley Square and Back Bay, BBF’s illustrious lineup of more than two hundred presenters charmed and captivated attendees at more than five dozen sessions. Popular sessions included those on digital culture, memoir, and parenting, as well as a gathering of South Asian authors, a discussion of civil rights, and a vision of the future of libraries. Festivalgoers eagerly found their way to new venues, including popular sessions featuring French writers at the French Cultural Center and an equally packed series of BBF Unbound community-developed sessions at First Church.

Kids had plenty to keep them busy and happy all day long, especially at our new Character Connection tent in Copley Square Park, where they could meet characters like Corduroy and Llama Llama—and take part in a costume parade themselves. Authors and illustrators, including Anna Dewdney and Chris Raschka, shared their works with the picture book set, while older kids crafted puppet characters, guffawed at master storytellers, and met favorite authors like Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, and Ann M. Martin.

The glorious autumn weather drew an estimated 32,000 attendees to tour our 70+ exhibitor booths, including small presses, bookstores, literary nonprofits, and MFA programs. The centerpiece of our street fair was the big BBF tent, where BBF merchandise and info shared space with Brookline Booksmith and Presenting Partner 90.9 WBUR, whose on-air hosts chatted with visitors throughout the day (when they weren’t moderating some of our biggest sessions). Celebrating the kickoff of Boston’s new literary cultural district, tour guides from Boston By Foot led history buffs on walking tours through the literary history of the Back Bay. On the Berklee Stage, an eclectic music lineup engaged music fans all day long. 826 Boston’s booth, where attendees could get their photo with Bigfoot, and Fidelity’s booth, where kids could literally picture the future, were highlights for kids completing the Passport to Imagination scavenger hunt. Young BBF fans also learned that they’ll soon have a new opportunity for festive fun, at the BBF’s newly announced kids’ festival, HUBBUB, premiering June 20, 2015.

Enthusiastic attendees ended their BBF Saturday with one of two wrap-up sessions: a “Poems and Pints” reading at a local bar or a fun-filled Words and Music literary “jam session,” where novelists Wesley Stace, Stacey D’Erasmo, and Kate Racculia enjoyed conversations with emcee Paul Harding, punctuated with musical interludes by Stace and the band Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library.

Over and over we hear from attendees who hate to choose between the many fascinating sessions at the BBF. The good news is that thanks to our archived audio recordings, they don’t really have to. Download sessions to your computer or portable audio device, and you can take the BBF with you in the car, to the gym, or on a walk. It’s the best way we know to pass the time until the next BBF in October 2015!

2014 AUDIO

Audio recordings are available for the following sessions from BBF 2014:

(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.)

Africa: Looking on the Bright Side: Dayo Olopade, David Sengeh, Host: Calestous Juma
Art, Architecture, and Design Keynote: Norman Foster, Host: Paola Antonelli
Artist Books and Books About Art: Elena Foster, Leslie Pell van Breen, Host: Joseph Koerner
BBF Unbound: Inspiring Young Readers to Be the Change: Katie Smith Milway, Elizabeth Suneby, Hosts: Patti Quigley, Helen Rosenfeld
BBF Unbound: Fact vs. Fiction: The Business of Publishing: Amaryah Orenstein, Rebecca Podos, Lana Popovic, Host: Katherine Flynn
BBF Unbound: Poets in the Asylum: Alex Beam, Wendy Ranan, Kathleen Spivack, Host: Doug Holder
BBF Unbound: The Whydunnit in Crime Fiction: Sheila Connolly, Ray Daniel, Kate Flora, Arlene Kay, Marian Lanouette, Edith Maxwell, Liz Mugavero, Leigh Perry, Barbara Ross, Host: Julie Hennrikus
Beyond the Book: Fizgerald, Joyce, and Zweig: Kevin Birmingham, Maureen Corrigan, George Prochnik, Host: Christopher Lydon
Civil Rights: Icons and Unsung Heroes: Peniel E. Joseph, Kenneth Mack, Jeanne Theoharis, Host: Callie Crossley
Conscious Choice and Mindful Living: Peter Georgescu, Ellen Langer, Host: Anthony Tjan
Creativity: Agony and Ecstasy: Sarah Lewis, Jan Swafford, Miles Unger, Host: Michael Hawley
Digital by Design: Vikram Chandra, Judith Donath, Howard Gardner, Host: Jason Pontin
Fiction: Another Country: Lily King, Joseph O’Neill, Rupert Thomson, Host: James Wood
Fiction Keynote: Susan Minot, Host: Dayo Olopade
Fiction: Literary Thriller: Elisabeth Elo, Sue Miller, Edgard Telles Ribeiro
Fiction: Love and Loss: Jaime Clarke, Leah Hager Cohen, Celeste Ng, Host: Jessica Keener
Fiction with a Twist: William Giraldi, Ben Mezrich, Lauren Oliver, Host: Robin Young
Finding Our Way: Hiawatha Bray, John Edward Huth, Host: Bruce Gellerman
History Keynote: Doris Kearns Goodwin, Host: Jack Beatty
Kids’ Keynote: Rick Riordan
Lesley MFA Faculty and Alumni Read from New Work: Rafael Campo, Leah Hager Cohen, Sara Farizan
Libraries of the Future: Matthew Battles, Jeffrey Schnapp, Host: Joshua Glenn
Memoir Keynote: Herbie Hancock, Host: Roger Brown
Memoir: Journeys Home and Abroad: H. D. S. Greenway, Richard Hoffman, Alden Jones, Host: Peter Stothard
My Memoir, My Quest: Rebecca Mead, Joanna Rakoff, Max Tegmark, Host: Ethan Gilsdorf
Middle Grade: Masters of Fantasy: Holly Black, Soman Chainani, Cassandra Clare, Gregory Maguire
One City One Story: Jennifer Haigh, Host: Alicia Anstead
The Parent Trap: Jennifer Senior, David McCullough Jr., Host: Carey Goldberg
Perilous Journeys: Scott Anderson, Vicki Croke, Carl Hoffman, Host: Jeremy Hobson
Poetry: Charlotte Boulay, Dan Chiasson, Host: Kirun Kapur
(Post) Modern Love: Jennifer Finney Boylan, Margo Howard, Daniel Jones
Reading Like a Writer: Suspense: Rory Flynn, Peter Swanson, Host: Dawn Tripp
Readings: Pushing Boundaries: Jay Cantor, Tova Mirvis, Bradford Morrow, Host: Dawn Tripp
Readings: Relationships: Hester Kaplan, Yannick Murphy, Annie Weatherwax, Host: Michelle Hoover
Repairing the World: Jacqueline Bhabha, Joshua Greene, Timothy Phillips, Host: Gabriella Blum
South Asian Authors: Geeta Anand, Vikram Chandra, Host: Ulka Anjaria
Sports Writing: Local Heroes: Ben Bradlee Jr., Christopher Klein, Host: Bill Littlefield
State of Mind: Consciousness and Thinking: Stanislas Dehaene, Daniel Dennett, Host: Deborah Becker
Storytime: Anna Dewdney
Storytime: Tony DiTerlizzi
Storytime: Chris Raschka
Storytime: David Ezra Stein
Technology: Promise and Peril: Nicholas Carr, Andrew McAfee, David Rose, Host: Sacha Pfeiffer
True Story: Michael Blanding, Matthew Gilbert, Jessica Lander, Lawrence Lindner, Robert C. Pozen, Host: Jared Bowen
Twenty Questions with Steve Almond: Steve Almond, Host: Henriette Lazaridis
YA: Tackling Tough Topics: C. Desir, Sara Farizan, Brendan Kiely, Stephanie Kuehn, Host: Laura Koenig

Audio is not available for the following sessions:

BBF Unbound: The Personal Is the Political: Askold Melnyczuk, Qais Akbar Omar, ZZ Packer, Host: Jennifer De Leon
BBF Unbound: The Whydunnit in Crime Fiction: Sheila Connolly, Ray Daniel, Kate Flora, Arlene Kay, Marian Lanouette, Edith Maxwell, Liz Mugavero, Leigh Perry, Barbara Ross, Host: Julie Hennrikus
Boston Stories: Doug Most, Belinda Rathbone, Jenna Russell, Bob Ryan, Neil Swidey, Host: Nicole Lamy
Childhood Treasures: The Role of Illustration in Children’s Literature: Sterling Hundley, Maria Tatar, Host: Johanna Geary
Finnish Lessons: Pasi Sahlberg, Host: Nicholas Negroponte
Mayors Rule: Benjamin Barber, Mayor Dan Rivera, Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Mayor Lisa Wong, Host: Bob Oakes
Meg Wolitzer and Claire Messud in Conversation: Claire Messud, Meg Wolitzer
Middle Grade: Journeys Near and Far: Paul Durham, Laura Godwin, S. E. Grove, Ann M. Martin, Host: Rachel Keeler
Noodleheads: Norah Dooley, Joe Pagliuca, Tony Toledo, Alan White
Note-by-Note Cooking: Hervé This
Poems and Pints: Major Jackson, Kirun Kapur, Jill McDonough
Reading Like a Writer: Historical: Ursula DeYoung, Susanna Kaysen, E. B. Moore
War and Memory: Marc Crépon, Jay Winter, Host: Paul Jankowski
Where’s My Good Review?: Peter Stothard
Words and Music: Stacey D’Erasmo, Kate Racculia, Wesley Stace, Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library, Host: Paul Harding
Writer Idol: Sorche Fairbank, Kimiko Nakamura, Amaryah Orenstein, Dawn Tripp, Host: Christopher Castellani
Writing in French in New England: Jean-Claude Redonnet
YA: Reality, Meet Fantasy: A. S. King, Scott Westerfeld, Meg Wolitzer, Host: Cathryn Mercier

2014 VIDEO

The following sessions were videorecorded by C-SPAN2 for broadcast on BookTV.

Clicking the title of the session will take you to BookTV’s website, where you can watch the videos online.

Digital By Design: Vikram Chandra, Judith Donath, Howard Gardner, Host: Jason Pontin
Mayors Rule: Benjamin Barber, Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Mayor Dan Rivera, Mayor Lisa Wong, Host: Bob Oakes
State of Mind: Consciousness and Thinking: Daniel Dennett, Stanislas Dehaene, Host: Deborah Becker
Technology: Promise and Peril: Nicholas Carr, Andrew McAfee, David Rose, Host: Sacha Pfeiffer

2014 PRESENTERS

Steve Almond
Geeta Anand
Scott Anderson
Ulka Anjaria
Alicia Anstead
Paola Antonelli
Helene Atwan
Benjamin Barber
Matthew Battles
Alex Beam
Jack Beatty
Deborah Becker
Jacqueline Bhabha
Kevin Birmingham
Holly Black
Michael Blanding
Gabriella Blum
Charlotte Boulay
Jared Bowen
Jennifer Finney Boylan
Ben Bradlee, Jr.
Hiawatha Bray
Roger Brown
Rafael Campo
Jay Cantor
Nicholas Carr
Christopher Castellani
Soman Chainani
Vikram Chandra
Dan Chiasson
Cassandra Clare
Jaime Clarke
Leah Hager Cohen
Sheila Connolly
Maureen Corrigan
Marc Crépon
Vicki Croke
Callie Crossley
Ray Daniel
Stanislas Dehaene
Jennifer De Leon
Daniel Dennett
Stacey d’Erasmo
C. Desir
Anna Dewdney
Ursula DeYoung
Tony DiTerlizzi
Judith Donath
Norah Dooley
Paul Durham
Elisabeth Elo
Sorche Fairbank
Sara Farizan
Kate Flora
Katherine Flynn
Rory Flynn
Elena Foster
Norman Foster
Howard Gardner
Johanna Geary
Bruce Gellerman
Peter Georgescu
Matthew Gilbert
Ethan Gilsdorf
William Giraldi
Joshua Glenn
Laura Godwin
Carey Goldberg
Meredith Goldstein
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Joshua Greene
H.D.S. Greenway
S.E. Grove
Jennifer Haigh
Herbie Hancock
Paul Harding
Michael Hawley
Julie Hennrikus
Jeremy Hobson
Carl Hoffman
Richard Hoffman
Doug Holder
Michelle Hoover
Margo Howard
Sterling Hundley
John Edward Huth
Major Jackson
Paul Jankowski
Alden Jones
Daniel Jones
Peniel E. Joseph
Calestous Juma
Hester Kaplan
Kirun Kapur
Arlene Kay
Susanna Kaysen
Rachel Keeler
Jessica Keener
Brendan Kiely
A. S. King
Lily King
Christopher Klein
Laura Koenig
Joseph Koerner
Stephanie Kuehn
Nicole Lamy
Jessica Lander
Ellen Langer
Marian Lanouette
Henriette Lazaridis
Sarah Lewis
Lawrence Lindner
Bill Littlefield
Christopher Lydon
Kenneth Mack
Gregory Maguire
Ann M. Martin
Edith Maxwell
Andrew McAfee
David McCullough Jr.
Jill McDonough
Rebecca Mead
Askold Melnyczuk
Cathryn Mercier
Claire Messud
Ben Mezrich
Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library
Sue Miller
Katie Smith Milway
Susan Minot
Tova Mirvis
E.B. Moore
Bradford Morrow
Doug Most
Liz Mugavero
Yannick Murphy
Kimiko Nakamura
Nicholas Negroponte
Celeste Ng
Joseph O’Neill
Bob Oakes
Lauren Oliver
Dayo Olopade
Qais Akbar Omar
Amaryah Orenstein
ZZ Packer
Joe Pagliuca
Leslie Pell van Breen
Leigh Perry
Sacha Pfeiffer
Timothy Phillips
Rebecca Podos
Jason Pontin
Lana Popovic
Robert C. Pozen
George Prochnik
Patti Quigley
Kate Racculia
Joanna Rakoff
Wendy Ranan
Chris Raschka
Belinda Rathbone
Jean-Claude Redonnet
Edgard Telles Ribeiro
Rick Riordan
Mayor Dan Rivera
David Rose
Helen Rosenfeld
Barbara Ross
Jenna Russell
Bob Ryan
Pasi Sahlberg
Jeffrey Schnapp
David Sengeh
Jennifer Senior
Kathleen Spivack
Wesley Stace
David Ezra Stein
Peter Stothard
Elizabeth Suneby
Roger Sutton
Jan Swafford
Peter Swanson
Neil Swidey
Maria Tatar
Max Tegmark
Jeanne Theoharis
Herve This
Rupert Thomson
Anthony K. Tjan
Tony Toledo
Dawn Tripp
Miles Unger
Mayor Martin J. Walsh
Annie Weatherwax
Scott Westerfeld
Alan White
Jay M. Winter
Meg Wolitzer
Mayor Lisa A. Wong
James Wood
Robin Young