2017
HIGHLIGHTS
The ninth annual Boston Book Festival took place on October 27-28, 2017. Once again this year, we were excited to partner with Boston’s first-in-the-nation Literary District, which presented the second annual Lit Crawl on the Thursday before the BBF, with free readings, performances, and literary games hosted in unconventional spaces throughout Back Bay. Bright and early on Friday, we were also pleased to work with the Wondermore organization to have author and illustrator Javaka Steptoe conduct two workshops with students at the Curley School in Jamaica Plain, which was the recipient of this year’s Shelf Help book donation. And in the weeks leading up to the festival, we were thrilled to partner with Books on the T for the first time–their volunteer “book fairies” left free copies of books by BBF presenters (including this year’s One City One Story by Daphne Kalotay) on subway cars, buses, and transit stations around Boston.
Official BBF festivities kicked off Friday evening with the Book Revue, featuring readings and performances by Krysten Hill, Marianne Leone, Leland Melvin, Eileen Myles, and singer-songwriter Hugh Macdonald, not to mention a drawing lesson from illustrator Chris Van Dusen.
After nearly a week of nonstop rain, BBF Saturday was sunny, warm, and bright, a beautiful New England fall day. The weather might have been dry, but more than 25,000 attendees flooded Copley Square, visiting 75 exhibitors, sampling food truck options, and enjoying performances on the outdoor stage. In addition to vibrant musical performances by Berklee College students, the stage hosted a lively outdoor performance of The Shakespeare Time-Traveling Speakeasy with spoken-word artists Marlon Carey, Regie Gibson, and his band. Boston By Foot provided free literary walking tours of Back Bay, and The Drum Literary Magazine invited readers to record their own stories in their portable audio booth.
The theme of this year’s festival was “Where We Find Ourselves,” a reference not only to the current political/historical moment but also to numerous sessions about place, migration, and finding home. Topical sessions included “Politics: Where We Find Ourselves,” which saw Maureen Dowd, Jared Yates Sexton, and Tom Ashbrook discussing the 2016 election to a packed house of 1300 attendees; “Arrivals and Depatures” with New Yorker writer Adam Gopnik and graphic memoirist Kristin Radtke; “Strangers in a Strange Land,” with novelists Hala Alyan, Lisa Ko, and Jonny Sun discussing migration and rootlessness; and “This Is the Place,” which brought together several contributors to a new anthology of women’s writing about the idea of home.
In addition to BBF Unbound sessions and workshops on small press publishing, writing from privilege, ecological writing, defining diversity, writing in Paris, and writing and reading feminist romance, we welcomed sessions developed by the Mystery Writers of America, the Christian Science Monitor, and Candlewick Press, as well as three sessions presented by the French Cultural Center. A new venue, the Newsfeed Cafe at the Boston Public Library, was a happening scene, as attendees sampled literary-themed coffee drinks and snacks while listening to authors read from their new fiction, memoir, and essays.
Candlewick Press was the inaugural sponsor of “Hubbub at the BBF,” an expansion of the BBF’s children’s programming featuring costume characters, a music class for preschoolers, and hands-on projects and activities curated by partner organizations. Other popular sessions for young people included a series of story time presentations at the BPL’s children’s library, a shadow puppet workshop from Puppet Showplace Theater, and workshops on pop-up books, cartooning, and dinosaurs.
One kids’ presenter, award-winning author Matt de la Peña, did double duty–reading his new picture book to kids in Copley Square and then zipping over to East Boston to do a workshop for aspiring young writers as part of a pilot program that saw the East Boston branch of the Boston Public Library turned into a mini-BBF. Attendees in East Boston could also watch the BBF’s cookbook session live-streamed from Copley Square, discuss One City One Story, and even get a visit from Curious George.
After a busy day, BBF attendees flocked to Mass Poetry’s annual Poems & Pints poetry reading session or just headed home, tired but well stocked with ideas, inspiration, and reading material for months to come. Thanks to everyone who joined us at BBF 2017–we’ll see you next year for the tenth annual Boston Book Festival!
2017 AUDIO
Archival audio recordings are available for the following sessions from BBF 2017:
(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.)
#LookItUP: Knowledge Matters: Brian Halley, Marilynn Johnson, Tom Nichols, Host: Amy Brand
Atlas Obscura: Ella Morton, Host: Zeninjor Enwemeka
BBF Unbound: Defining Diversity: Carla Duran, Monineth Hang, Jackson Kokeh, Onotse Omoyeni, Sam Ramsden, Stephane Silva, Hosts: Teja Arboleda and Jessica Lander
BBF Unbound: Literary Never Have I Ever: Ann Collette, Mackenzi Lee, Timothy Mudie, B.A. Shapiro, Host: Stephanie Gayle
BBF Unbound: The Joys and Realities of Small Press Publishing: Olivia Kate Cerrone, Jennifer Crystal, Courtney McDermott, Enzo Silon Surin, Host: Catherine Parnell
BBF Unbound: Writing from Privilege: Laura van den Berg, Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich, Shuchi Saraswat, Hasanthika Sirisena, Host: Kaitlin Solimine
The Beatles: Adam Gopnik, Alan Light, Rob Sheffield, Touré, Host: Shira Springer
The Biker, the Baker, and the Dumpling Maker: Karen Akunowicz, Joanne Chang, Stella Parks, Host: Steve Holt (video for this session is also available via Facebook)
The Book Revue: Krysten Hill, Dennis Lehane, Leland Melvin, Marianne Leone, Eileen Myles, Chris Van Dusen, Host: Meredith Goldstein
Bosch, Bruegel, and the Depiction of Extreme Conditions: Jorie Graham, Joseph Leon Koerner, Host: Peter Sacks
Discover the Magic of Children’s Book Making: Mira Bartók, Ekua Holmes, Karen Lotz, Chris Paul, Matt Tavares
Fiction Keynote: Claire Messud, Jacqueline Woodson, Host: Sari Edelstein
Fiction: Missed Connections: Eshkol Nevo, Celeste Ng, Lily Tuck, Host: Dawn Tripp
Fiction: Strangers in a Strange Land: Hala Alyan, Lisa Ko, Jonny Sun, Host: Simón Rios
Fiction: War and the Home Front: Laura Harrington, Stephen P. Kiernan, Jessica Shattuck, Host: Catherine Parnell
Freeman’s: The Future of New Writing: Garnette Cadogan, Édouard Louis, Tania James, Host: John Freeman
Geopolitics: Graham Allison, Host: Nicholas Burns
Good Leaders: Nancy Koehn, Anthony Tjan, Host: Anthony Brooks
Gumshoes to Cyber Sleuths: Peter Abrahams, Ray Anderson, Hallie Ephron, Edith Maxwell, Joanna Schaffhausen, Dave Zeltserman, Host: Mo Walsh
Keep Us in Suspense: Malin Persson Giolito, Dennis Lehane, Peter Swanson, Host: Amy MacKinnon
Memoir and True Crime: The Prison of the Self: Danielle Allen, Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich, Sarah Perry, Host: Ethan Gilsdorf
Memoir Keynote: Eileen Myles, Host: David Leonard
Memoir: Arrivals and Departures: Adam Gopnik, Kristen Radtke, Host: Meghna Chakrabarti
Memoir: Strange Journeys: Holly FitzGerald, Andrew Forsthoefel, Leland Melvin, Ayelet Waldman, Host: Maria Garcia
Memoir: The Ties That Bind: Amy Dickinson, Melissa Febos, Dani Shapiro, Host: Leslie Gilbert-Lurie
Middle Grade: Solving Problems: Rob Buyea, Michelle Cuevas, Barbara Dee, Ellen Wittlinger, Host: Jennifer De Leon
Muhammad Ali: Conscience of a Fighter: Jonathan Eig, Leigh Montville, Host: Bill Littlefield
Natural and Unnatural History: Kathryn Miles, Ben Mezrich, Host: Vicki Croke
One City One Story: Daphne Kalotay, Host: Alicia Anstead
One Land, Two Peoples: The Kingdom of Olives and Ash: Geraldine Brooks, Ayelet Waldman, Jacqueline Woodson, Host: Libby Lenkinski
Our Digital Future: Jeff Howe, Andrew McAfee, Nicholas Negroponte, Host: Asma Khalid
Politics: Where We Find Ourselves: Maureen Dowd, Jared Yates Sexton, Host: Tom Ashbrook
Racism in America: It’s a Crime: Chris Hayes, James Forman Jr., Host: Kim McLarin
Reading Like a Writer: Debuts: Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg, Annie Hartnett, Weike Wang, Host: Henriette Lazaridis
Reading Like a Writer: Perspective: Rachel Kadish, Brendan Mathews, Paul Yoon, Host: Dawn Tripp
Reading Like a Writer: Poetry: Stephanie Burt, Myronn Hardy, Erika L. Sánchez, Host: Alicia Anstead
Reading Like a Writer: Setting: Brunonia Barry, Jessie Chaffee, Erica Ferencik, Host: Henriette Lazaridis
Readings: Essays and Musings: Will Dowd, Minna Zallman Proctor, Leslie Stein, Host: Anjali Mitter Duva
Readings: Memoir: Mindy Fried, Jessica Berger Gross, Tova Mirvis, Host: Christine Mastrangelo
Readings: Past and Present: Ellen Herrick, Julie Lekstrom Himes, Crystal King, Host: Robin Kall
Readings: Relationships: Sylvia Brownrigg, Joshua Max Feldman, Sarah Healy, Host: Robin Kall
Readings: Short Stories: Noy Holland, Edie Meidav, K.L. Pereira, Host: Marjan Kamali
Story Time: Susanna Chapman
Story Time: Bryan Collier
Story Time: Gaia Cornwall
Story Time: Matt de la Peña
Story Time: Julia Denos, E.B. Goodale
Story Time: Aram Kim
Story Time: Javaka Steptoe
The Rise and Fall of Adam and Eve: Stephen Greenblatt, Host: Martha Minow
The Secret Chord: Geraldine Brooks, Host: Christopher Lydon
The State of Affairs: Esther Perel, Host: Robin Young
Vegas: Architecture, Urbanism, and the American Dream: Stefan Al, Aron Vinegar, Rob Wiesenberger, Host: Lauren Jacobi
Voices of America: The Immigrant Experience Through a Writer’s Eyes: Ha Jin, Marjan Kamali, Grace Talusan, Host: Simon Montlake
Welcome to Night Vale: It Devours!: Jeffrey Cranor, Joseph Fink, Host: Virginia Prescott
YA Keynote: M.T. Anderson, Host: Cathryn Mercier
YA: Fantasy Worlds: Libba Bray, Julie C. Dao, Tochi Onyebuchi, Host, Lana Popović
YA: It’s Getting Real: Dick Lehr, Daniel José Older, Erika L. Sánchez, Nic Stone, Host: Laura Koenig
Audio is not available for the following sessions:
BBF Unbound: Ecological Writing: Katie Mather, Tamara Ellis Smith
BBF Unbound: Rhyme Time: Oliver “SydeSho” Arias, Michele Simos
BBF Unbound: The How and Why of Feminist Romance: Aya De Leon, Jackie C. Horne
BBF Unbound: Writing in Paris: Marcia DeSanctis, Lauren Grodstein, Stacey Resnikoff, Host: Kelly MacFarland
BBF Unbound: You Are a Writer: Louise Miller
Blinkie Paper a Favorite Book Scene: Learn 2 Teach, Teach 2 Learn
Dinosaurs Alive!: Abby Howard
The End of Eddy: Édouard Louis, Host: Bruno Perreau
Fiction: The Naughty Bits: Daniel Handler, Alissa Nutting, Tom Perrotta, Host: Eloisa James
Find Your Story, Draw Your Story: Raúl the Third
Hush/Shut Up/Please Be Quiet: Margot Livesey
Identity Crowns and Shields: Wee the People
Incest: Christine Angot, Host: Annabel Kim
Kids’ Keynote: Lemony Snicket
The Magic of Pop-Up Books: Denise Price
Middle Grade: Reimagination: Elizabeth Eulberg, Kekla Magoon, Karuna Riazi, Host: Elissa Gershowitz
Poems and Pints: Rebecca Morgan Frank, Krysten Hill, Natalie Shapero
Readings: Coming of Age: Kelly J. Ford, Gabe Habash, Simeon Marsalis, Host: Whitney Scharer
The History of Halloween: Cultured Kids
The Safe House: Christophe Boltanski, Host: Côme de la Bouillerie
Shadow Puppet Playground: Puppet Showplace Theater
The Shakespeare Time-Traveling Speakeasy: Marlon Carey, Regie Gibson
This Is the Place: Women Writing About Home: Sonya Chung, Jennifer De Leon, Kelly McMasters, Host: Margot Kahn
Writer Idol: Ann Collette, Esmond Harmsworth, Amaryah Orenstein, Host: Christopher Castellani
YA: Truth and Consequences: Kristin Cashore, Malinda Lo, E. Lockhart, Host: Lauren Rizzuto
2017 PRESENTERS
Peter Abrahams
Karen Akunowicz
Stefan Al
Danielle Allen
Graham Allison
Hala Alyan
M.T. Anderson
Ray Anderson
Christine Angot
Alicia Anstead
Teja Arboleda
Oliver “SydeSho” Arias
Tom Ashbrook
Brunonia Barry
Mira Bartók
Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg
Christophe Boltanski
Côme de la Bouillerie
Amy Brand
Libba Bray
Anthony Brooks
Geraldine Brooks
Sylvia Brownrigg
Nicholas Burns
Stephanie Burt
Rob Buyea
Garnette Cadogan
Marlon Carey
Kristin Cashore
Christopher Castellani
Olivia Kate Cerrone
Jessie Chaffee
Meghna Chakrabarti
Joanne Chang
Susanna Chapman
Sonya Chung
Ann Collette
Bryan Collier
Gaia Cornwall
Jeffrey Cranor
Vicki Croke
Jennifer Crystal
Michelle Cuevas
Cultured Kids
Julie C. Dao
Côme de la Bouillerie
Matt de la Peña
Aya De Leon
Jennifer De Leon
Barbara Dee
Julia Denos
Marcia DeSanctis
Amy Dickinson
Maureen Dowd
Will Dowd
Carla Duran
Anjali Mitter Duva
Sari Edelstein
Jonathan Eig
Zeninjor Enwemeka
Hallie Ephron
Elizabeth Eulberg
Melissa Febos
Joshua Max Feldman
Erica Ferencik
Joseph Fink
Holly FitzGerald
Kelly J. Ford
James Forman Jr.
Andrew Forsthoefel
Rebecca Morgan Frank
John Freeman
Mindy Fried
Maria Garcia
Stephanie Gayle
Elissa Gershowitz
Regie Gibson
Leslie Gilbert-Lurie
Ethan Gilsdorf
Malin Persson Giolito
Meredith Goldstein
Raúl Gonzalez the Third
E.B. Goodale
Adam Gopnik
Jorie Graham
Stephen Greenblatt
Lauren Grodstein
Jessica Berger Gross
Gabe Habash
Brian Halley
Daniel Handler
Monineth Hang
Myronn Hardy
Esmond Harmsworth
Laura Harrington
Annie Hartnett
Chris Hayes
Sarah Healy
Ellen Herrick
Krysten Hill
Julie Lekstrom Himes
Noy Holland
Ekua Holmes
Steve Holt
Jackie C. Horne
Abby Howard
Jeff Howe
Lauren Anne Jacobi
Eloisa James
Tania James
Ha Jin
Marilynn Johnson
Gwyndolyn Jones (Ms. Wyndy)
Rachel Kadish
Margot Kahn
Robin Kall
Daphne Kalotay
Marjan Kamali
Asma Khalid
Stephen P. Kiernan
Aram Kim
Annabel Kim
Crystal King
Lisa Ko
Nancy Koehn
Laura Koenig
Joseph Leo Koerner
Jackson Kokeh
Jessica Lander
Henriette Lazaridis
Learn 2 Teach, Teach 2 Learn
Mackenzi Lee
Dennis Lehane
Dick Lehr
Libby Lenkinski
David Leonard
Marianne Leone
Alan Light
Bill Littlefield
Margot Livesey
Malinda Lo
E. Lockhart
Karen Lotz
Édouard Louis
Christopher Lydon
Kelly MacFarland
Amy Mackinnon
Kekla Magoon
Simeon Marsalis
Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich
Christine Mastrangelo
Katie Mather
Brendan Mathews
Edith Maxwell
Andrew McAfee
Courtney McDermott
Kim McLarin
Kelly McMasters
Edie Meidav
Leland Melvin
Cathryn Mercier
Claire Messud
Ben Mezrich
Kathryn Miles
Louise Miller
Martha Minow
Tova Mirvis
Simon Montlake
Leigh Montville
Ella Morton
Timothy Mudie
Eileen Myles
Nicholas Negroponte
Eshkol Nevo
Celeste Ng
Tom Nichols
Alissa Nutting
Daniel Jose Older
Onotse Omoyeni
Tochi Onyebuchi
Amaryah Orenstein
Stella Parks
Catherine Parnell
Chris Paul
KL Pereira
Esther Perel
Bruno Perreau
Tom Perrotta
Sarah Perry
Lana Popović
Virginia Prescott
Denise Price
Minna Zallman Proctor
Puppet Showplace Theater
Kristen Radtke
Sam Ramsden
Stacey Resnikoff
Karuna Riazi
Simón Rios
Lauren Rizzuto
Peter Sacks
Erika L. Sánchez
Shuchi Saraswat
Joanna Schaffhausen
Whitney Scharer
Jared Yates Sexton
Natalie Shapero
B. A. Shapiro
Dani Shapiro
Jessica Shattuck
Rob Sheffield
Stephane Silva
Michele Simos
Hasanthika Sirisena
Tamara Ellis Smith
Lemony Snicket
Kaitlin Solimine
Shira Springer
Leslie Stein
Javaka Steptoe
Nic Stone
Jonny Sun
Enzo Silon Surin
Peter Swanson
Grace Talusan
Matt Tavares
Anthony Tjan
Touré
Dawn Tripp
Lily Tuck
Urbanity
Laura van den Berg
Chris Van Dusen
Aron Vinegar
Ayelet Waldman
Mo Walsh
Weike Wang
Wee the People
Robert Wiesenberger
Ellen Wittlinger
Jacqueline Woodson
Paul Yoon
Robin Young
Dave Zeltserman