Video

The Art of The Wire
Donnie Andrews, Fran Boyd, Tray Chaney ("Poot"), Robert Chew ("Prop Joe"), Jamie Hector ("Marlo Stanfield"), George Pelecanos, Host: Reverend Eugene Rivers

A Reason to Lead
Governor Deval Partrick, Host: Guy Raz

The Civil War
Drew Gilpin Faust, Charles Bracelen Flood, Adam Goodheart, Tony Horwitz, Host: Annette Gordon-Reed

Learning Learning
Idit Harel Caperton, Sugata Mitra, Nicholas Negroponte, Host: Mark Nieker

Learning Learning from Boston Book Festival on Vimeo.

2011 Slide Show

Slide Show from Boston Book Festival on Vimeo.

 

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!

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 also available)
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 

 

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

Announcements 

Thanks to all who came to the 1C1S event!  Everything went wonderfully-the audience discussion, Richard Russo's comments, and Alicia Anstead's moderation!

We are happy the community took advantage of all we offered this year: library discussions, distribution at public events, businesses, and organizations, an online and audio download, Chinese, Portuguese, and Spanish translations, discussion questions, and writing prompts/contests.  We really enjoyed ourselves and we hope you did too.       

Speaking of contests the 1C1S contest winner is...

The Boy Who Cried Wolf by Patrick Barrett

About 1C1S

The mission of the Boston Book Festival is to celebrate the power of words, to promote a culture of literature and ideas and to enhance the vibrancy of the city of Boston, and in 2010 we launched One City One Story to do just that. One City One Story is the BBF’s version of an all-city read, but instead of a book, we print and distribute a short story. Our goal is to make a short story available to all free of charge, to spread the joy of reading for pleasure among the teens and adults of our city, and to create a community around a shared reading experience.  

The Story and Its Author

The pick for One City One Story this year is "The Whore’s Child" by Richard Russo. It was originally published in 2002 as the title story in Russo's only collection of short fiction. 

Richard Russo, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire Falls, has always had strong Boston ties. Much of his work takes place in the Northeast, and his most recent novel, That Old Cape Magic, is set largely on Cape Cod. After teaching at The University of Southern Illinois, The Iowa Writer’s Workshop, and Colby College, he now lives with his wife in Maine and Boston, where he is a beloved member of the local literary community.

 

Background

In 2010, One City One Story’s inaugural year, we distributed thousands of free copies of Tom Perrotta’s story, “The Smile on Happy Chang’s Face,” offered online translations and downloads, and led citywide discussions leading up to a town-hall style discussion with the author at the Boston Book Festival.

We are honored that Richard Russo will join us at this year’s Boston Book Festival on October 15 in Copley Square for a special session. He’ll participate in what is sure to be an engaging conversation about the story, bringing together readers from all corners of the city for a town-hall style discussion facilitated by Alicia Anstead. In the weeks leading up to the BBF, bound copies of the story will be printed and distributed at libraries, bookstores, farmer’s markets, T stations, and other places throughout Greater Boston. We’ll also be facilitating neighborhood discussion groups and posting downloadable translations of “The Whore’s Child.” Keep your eye right here to see where you can pick up your own copy—for free!

Download the Story

English
Download PDF

Portugese
Download PDF

Spanish
Download PDF

Chinese
Download PDF

Find the Story 

Local Places and Events 

1C1S attended citywide events, passed the booklets out at T-stations, local businesses and organizations, and all Boston Public Libraries. 

Participate

Local Discussions

Discussions were held at The West End, Roslindale, Honan-Allston, and Faneuil Branches of the Boston Public Library leading up to the festival. 

Discussion Questions

1. "The Whore's Child" is written as a story within a story that, at the same time, deconstructs the art of storytelling. Why do you think it was told in this way?

2. Sister Ursula tells her story linearly and in full, but the narrator's story is given in pieces. What aspects of Sister Ursula's story highlight the narrator's and vice versa? What would be missed if the narrator's personal life weren't sewn into the story? How does the combination of both stories add richness and complexity to the overall piece?

3. Do you think the act of telling her story allows Sister Ursula to reconcile her past? Why or why not?

4. The story poses a question: "If [a character] doesn't participate in [his] her own destiny, where's the story?" The story's discussion concludes that it is not good to be a victim-"not in stories, not in life."  Do you see Sister Ursula as a victim? Why or why not?

5. How do both Sister Ursula's experience and the narrator's question the standard definition of morality (i.e., principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior) and its institutional embodiment?

6. What does your reaction to each circumstance in the story (the nuns' treatment of Sister Ursula, her unfortunate circumstances, the narrator's past and present actions) say about how a story (and its details) can shape the way a person, place, thing, or incident (even the past) is perceived, and thus how Sister Ursula shaped her own past?

7. The narrator, as Sister Ursula's teacher, attempts to teach her how to shape her story in specific ways. How does Sister Ursula shape and manipulate her past accordingly? How does the narrator's shaping of himself as a character affect our perception of him?

8. Both the narrator and Sister Ursula edit their own life stories. How is this similar to an author writing a story?

9. Have you experienced a conflict between how you remember the past as compared to how others remember it? Maybe the details around events in the past fade or are highlighted based on a present situation. How does the new information (the conflict between things remembered, a faded or highlighted detail) change your outlook on the past?  

10. Both in this story and in general, how does a lie create fiction, and where does the truth come in? 

Downloadable 1C1S Discussion Questions

Writing Prompt

Write a story in four paragraphs (roughly 500-700 words). Easy, right? Here's the twist: each paragraph has to start with a specific opening that we tweaked from Richard Russo's "The Whore's Child."

The guidelines are as follows:

The story can no more than four paragraphs (roughly 500-700 words)
The first paragraph must begin, "I was known as..."
The second paragraph must begin, "And so I became a..."
The third paragraph must begin, "It was my _______ that drew me deeper into the..."
The fourth paragraph must begin, "My life as _______ has been one of terrible...

Enter the writing contest by emailing your submission to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with "1C1S Writing Contest" in the subject bar. If your story is chosen you win a goodie bag of BBF swag--a tote bag, a t-shirt, a water bottle, a full set of BBF bookmarks, and a copy of 1C1S signed by Russo.

The submission deadline is October 10th by 3pm.      

Additional Readings

The Whore's Child and Other Stories, by Richard Russo

Empire Falls, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Richard Russo

The Memoir Project from Grub Street

Writing for therapy helps erase effects of trauma from CNN, by Chris Woolston

 

Contact 

Ask a question. Let us know what you think.

The Boston Book Festival 

2 Canal Park

Cambridge, MA 02141

P: 617-252-3249     

E: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

FB: 1C1S

T: @bostonbookfest (#1C1S)

Media

News media requiring additional information should contact:

Joyce Linehan

Ashmont Media 

T: (617) 282-2510 

E: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Press

October 9, 2011 Article about 1C1S at Boston.com

October 7, 2011
Article about 1C1S at ojornal.com

September 30, 2011 Article about 1C1S at tech.mit.edu

June 20, 2011 1C1S Announcement on Boston.com

June 21, 2011 Interview with Richard Russo at Boston Phoenix

June 21, 2011
 On-air interview with Richard Russo on Radio Boston, WBUR 

One City One Story Project Manager

Katie Lynn Murphy

1C1S Committee

Callie Crossley, Ladette Randolph, Christina Thompson, Henriette Lazaridis Power.  

Readers

Akshay Ahuja, Alicia Anstead, Elisa Birdseye, Kate Brown, Alice Hennesey, Mark Krone, Vivien Morris, Sheila Scott, Betty Southwick, and the staff of WriteBoston.

Video

Keynote
Joyce Carol Oates, Host: Faith Salie

 

Kids' Keynote
Jeff Kinney

 

Bugs in the System
Dan Ariely, Mark Moffett, Host: Faith Salie

 

Talking About Justice
Dambisa Moyo, Michael Sandel, Amartya Sen, Host: Joel Hyatt

 

Good Idea!
David Edwards, Atul Gawande, Steven Johnson, Neri Oxman, Host: Callie Crossley

 

Pop Culture
Lisa Birnbach, Chip Kidd, David Rakoff, Host: Jared Bowen

 

The Tendencies of Technology
Nick Bilton, Kevin Kelly, David Kirkpatrick, Nicholas Negroponte, Host: John Hockenberry

 

The Economy: What Happened and How to Fix It
Michael Porter, Juliet Schor, Joseph Stiglitz, Host: Tom Ashbrook

 

From Page to Screen
Dennis Lehane, Tom Perrotta, Host: Ty Burr

 

Tyler Florence: Cooking for the Family
Tyler Florence, Host: Donna Garlough

 

Home and Away
Bill Bryson, Tony Hiss, Host: Robin Young

 

 

Slideshow

 

Highlights

Sunny skies and more than 130 authors and presenters greeted 25,000 festival-goers on Saturday, October 16, 2010, for a day of presentations, writing workshops, interactive kids’ events, a street festival with more than 60 exhibitors, and a live music stage. In the afternoon, close to 4000 seats were filled each hour as people flocked to hear presentations and discussions by world-renowned authors and thinkers.      
 
Some of the most popular sessions of the day included Dennis Lehane and Tom Perrotta discussing the adaptations of their books into films; Bill Bryson and Tony Hiss talking about mindfulness at home and away; “Good Idea!,” where David Edwards, Neri Oxman, Steven Johnson, and Atul Gawande wowed everyone with ideas ranging from whiffable chocolate to simple checklists to buildings that breathe, and “The Economy,” where Joseph Stiglitz, Michael Porter, and Juliet Schor debated what went wrong and how to fix it.
 
Standing room only crowds were also eager to hear authors discuss everything from ancient history to sports writing. And while many sessions were entertaining enough to elicit belly laughs, the poignant stories told by Marianne Leone, Nick Flynn, and Jerald Walker at the Memoir panel moved some festival-goers to tears.
 
The future was on everyone’s minds at BBF 2010, and sessions such as “The Tendencies of Technology,” “Internet or Not,” and “The Novel: A Prognosis” asked where we are, where we have been, and where we are going when it comes to books, writing, and technology. Luminaries like Nicholas Negroponte, David Shields, and Nicholas Carr attempted answers.
 
The culmination of our very first One City One Story project drew several hundred people who were eager to discuss “The Smile on Happy Chang’s Face” with author Tom Perrotta. If you were not one of the nearly 30,000 people who received a free copy of the story, you can learn about our 2011 selection HERE.
 
Joyce Carol Oates delivered the Keynote, first reading an unsettling story from her new collection Sourland and then engaging in a contentious and at times unintentionally hilarious conversation with moderator Faith Salie.
 
We added many more sessions for kids in 2010, including a Kids’ Keynote presented by Jeff Kinney, the bestselling author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Jeff delighted his eager young audience with a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Greg Heffley’s beloved diary as well as some sneak peeks at the much-anticipated Diary of a Wimpy Kid #5.
 
We ended the day with a literary rock star revue where the ebullient Steve Almond hosted the most writerly group of rockers we’ve ever seen. People went home exhausted but happy from BBF 2010.

 

Audio

 

Audio is not available for the following sessions:
Building Books: Host: Deborah Davidson
Fun with Fancy Nancy: Robin Preiss Glasser, Jane O'Connor, Host: Maija Meadows
Guided Open Mic: Host: Steve Almond
Hidden Treasures: How Much Is It Worth? Boston Antiquairan Book Fair
History, Mystery & Art: Elyssa East, Erica Hirshler, Da Zheng, Host: Megan Marshall
Keynote: Joyce Carol Oates, Host: Faith Salie (Video available)
Kids' Keynote: Jeff Kinney (Video available)
Poetry of Our Times: Elizabeth Alexander, Edward Hirsch, Ellen Doré Watson, Host: Lloyd Schwartz
Spoken Word: FreeVerse!
StoryPlace: Timothy Basil Ering, Rose Lewis, Brian Lies, Scott Magoon, Rob Scotton
Writer Idol: Host: Chris Castellani

 

Presenters 

Susan Abulhawa
Caroline Alexander
Elizabeth Alexander
Steve Almond
Alicia Anstead
Dan Ariely
Tom Ashbrook
Jenny Attiyeh
Helene Atwan
Brunonia Barry
Kate Bernheimer
Nick Bilton
Lisa Birnbach
David Boeri
Jared Bowen
Robin Brenner
Howard Bryant
Bill Bryson
Ty Burr
Stephen Burt
Thanassis Cambanis
Nicholas Carr
Noni Carter
Kristin Cashore
Richard Cohen
Justin Cronin
Callie Crossley
Jef Czekaj
Kathryn Davis
Alan Dershowitz
Elyssa East 
David Edwards 
Hallie Ephron
Timothy Basil Ering 
Haleh Esfandiari
Noah Feldman
Joshua Ferris
Tyler Florence
Nick Flynn
Alexis Frederick-Frost
Stefanie Friedhoff
Donna Garlough
Atul Gawande
Robin Preiss Glasser
Myla Goldberg
Christina Gonzalez
Allegra Goodman
Andrew Gross
Jennifer Haigh
Eric Haseltine
Edward Hirsch
James Hirsch
Erica Hirshler
Tony Hiss
John Hockenberry
A.M. Homes
Ann Hood
Michelle Hoover
Joel Hyatt
Marlon James
Gish Jen
Steven Johnson
Peter Kadzis
Daphne Kalotay
Meg Kearney
Kevin Kelly
Chip Kidd
Jeff Kinney
David Kirkpatrick
Jarrett Krosoczka
Eric Kuhne
Nicole Lamy 
Kathryn Lasky
Dennis Lehane
Marianne Leone
Rose Lewis
Brian Lies
Kelly Link
Bill Littlefield
Scott Magoon
Megan Marshall
Simon Mawer
Andrew McAfee
Jill McDonough
Maija Meadows
Richard Michelson
Katie Smith Milway
Mark Moffett
Nick Montfort
Dambisa Moyo
Nicholas Negroponte
Joyce Carol Oates
Jane O'Connor
Neri Oxman
Joan Parker
Jay Parini
Mitali Perkins
Tom Perrotta
Michael F. Porter
Henriette Lazaridis Power
William Powers
David Rakoff
Joanna Smith Rakoff
Aaron Renier
John Rich
Nir Rosen
Moshe Safdie
Faith Salie
Michael Sandel 
Stacy Schiff 
Juliet Schor 
Kathryn Schulz
Lloyd Schwartz
Rob Scotton 
James Sebenius 
Amartya Sen 
David Shields 
Brando Skyhorse 
Sarah Sogigian 
Jessica Stern 
Joseph Stiglitz 
Francisco Stork 
Sir Peter Stothard 
Maria Tatar 
Christina Thompson 
Lionel Vital 
Jerald Walker
Andy Wasif 
Ellen Doré Watson
Raffi Yessayan
Kevin Young
Robin Young
Da Zheng 

 

 

Boston Book Festival 2009: Highlights

At the inaugural Boston Book Festival on Saturday, October 24, 2009, more than 12,000 readers of all ages from across Greater Boston and New England came to Copley Square and The Boston Public Library, Old South Church and Trinity Church to attend talks and sessions by more than 90 world-renowned authors and presenters including Nobel, Pulitzer, Caldecott and Emmy award winners, and dozens of New York Times bestselling authors.  More than 40 local booksellers, businesses and nonprofit organizations showcased their goods and services, and music groups – many from Berklee College of Music – performed live in the bustling Copley Square street fair.  Boston Book Festival 2009 also featured many free participatory activities for festival-goers and their families including programming for children, writing workshops, open mic opportunities, and Writer Idol.

At the Teen Spoken Word Showcase, young Bostonians performed original works, participating in the long tradition of accomplished poetic expression in Massachusetts.  In Old South Church’s Sanctuary, a rapt audience of over 1000 people listened to Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk deliver the keynote address, while in the Boston Public Library’s Rabb Lecture Hall, some of our country’s greatest thinkers – Michael E. Porter, David Gergen, Lani Guinier – discussed the first year of the Obama Presidency.  At the 826 Boston Copley Square booth, children pounded away on typewriters and drew pictures of favorite words.  In the E-Ink pavilion, festival-goers experienced the cutting edge in electronic paper and ereader technology including flexible and color displays.  

At Boston Book Festival 2009, avid readers met authors and each other and exchanged thoughts, ideas, and book recommendations, aspiring writers received encouragement and direction from established masters, and children and their families interacted with book characters, authors and illustrators.

Video Production by: Paula Aguilera, Jonathan Williams, The Boston Phoenix, WGBH
Photography by: Norman Lang, Matt Teuten, Mike Ritter

 

Tweets and Comments from Boston Book Festival 2009 attendees:

“Awe-inspiring...how many times can you say you were in the same room as a Nobel Prize winner?

“Writer idol changed the way I look at my writing.”

“I am glad that the city of Boston finally has a festival. I saw a lot of people I have not seen in awhile. There was a wonderful mix of authors and topics. I think it was an amazing first year.”

“I just loved that so many people came out to be involved with books! It was nice just to meet and talk to so many interesting people brought together by the same passion.”

“Our family LOVED the Book Festival and cannot wait until next year!!!!

“Having an excuse to meet other local bibliophiles; we're a town of readers but never get together all at once. I loved the sessions, the star-studded talent, and grabbing all sorts of books at the booths outside. Holding the event at the Copley Square library was excellent! What a great excuse to visit our library! Also loved that events were free.”

“Correcting a long oversight. Getting a BPL library card. @bostonbookfest #bbf09”

“@AliciaSilv's talk about vegan eating may have just changed my life. I'm inspired to take the leap - finally. Thanks #bbf09”

 

Videos

KEN BURNS

 

JOHN HODGMAN & TOM PERROTTA

 

ORHAN PAMUK

 

RICHARD RUSSO

MICHAEL THOMAS

 

SCOUT TUFANKJIAN

 

DAVID POGUE - "Don't Cry for Me, Cupertino"

 

DAVID POGUE - "The Future of Reading"

 

 

 

Press

Oct 29, 2009 - The Bay State Banner

First Boston Book Festival attracts both young and old

http://www.baystatebanner.com/local17-2009-10-29

Oct 28, 2009 - Blue Rose Girls (Blog) 

Boston Book Festival

http://bluerosegirls.blogspot.com/2009/10/boston-book-festival.html

 

Oct 27, 2009 - Phoenix Online

The PHlog - Podcast and accompanying article:

http://thephoenix.com/BLOGS/phlog/archive/2009/10/27/podcast-dennis-lehane-on-boston-noir-from-the-boston-book-festival.aspx

 

Unreliable Narrator

Boston Book Festival

http://smithdell.blogspot.com/2009/10/boston-book-festival-recap.html

Oct 26, 2009 - Boston Neighborhood Network News

Chris Harding of Boston's Neighborhood Network News captured the Festival feel, plus Spoken Word, Hodgman/Perrotta, children's events and storyteller Irene Smalls.

VIDEO: http://vimeo.com/7279387

The wild Hodgman as seen in his natural habitat (Blog)

http://www.jon22.net/the-wild-hodgman-as-seen-in-his-natural-habitat/

Vernacular, the Emerson College Writing, Literature & Publishing Graduate Student Blog

Boston Book Festival - Chris Van Allsburg

http://v.tgdn.net/2009/10/boston-book-festival-chris-van-allsburg.html

 

Oct 25, 2009 - Flyby Blog at Harvard Crimson

Boston Book Festival a Nerd's Paradise

http://www.flybyblog.com/2009/10/25/boston-book-festival-a-nerd-paradise/

Pink Apron (Blog)

Meeting Cookbook Authors at the Boston Book Festival

http://pink-apron.com/2009/10/meeting-cookbook-authors-at-the-boston-book-festival/

Culture Junkie (Blog) 

Boston Book Fest

http://ow.ly/wrZP

Oct 20, 2009‎ - Bostonist

Interview with Boston Book Festival Participant Nicholas Negroponte

http://bostonist.com/2009/10/20/boston_book_festival_technology_nicholas_negroponte.php

Oct, 21 2009 - Boston Herald

Book it to Copley Square for literary fest

http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/books/view/20091022book_it_to_copley_square_for_literary_fest/srvc=home&position=also

Oct 22, 2009 - Boston Globe

Don’t Miss the Boston Book Festival Saturday

http://www.boston.com/travel/blog/2009/10/dont_miss_the_b.html

Oct 23, 2009 - Boston Globe

Is this the end? Some people think book publishing is in its final throes. The Boston Book Festival begs to differ.

http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2009/10/23/some_people_think_book_publishing_is_in_its_final_throes_the_boston_book_festival_begs_to_differ/

10/18/09 - Boston.com

Writers Out Loud

http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2009/10/18/boston_book_festival_features_90_authors/

10/15/09 - Dorcester Reporter

Lehane to launch "Boston Noir" at Book Festival

http://www.dotnews.com/2009/lehane-launch-boston-noir-book-festival

10/15/09 - Bay State Banner

Prize-winning Authors to Grace Boston Book Festival

http://www.baystatebanner.com/local18-2009-10-15

10/08/09 - HubArts.com

Boston Book Festival Schedule and Locations Announced

http://www.hubarts.com/weblog/2009/10/boston-book-fest-schedule-and-locations.html

09/15/09 – Boston Globe

Kidd In Town

http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/more_names/blog/2009/09/kidd_in_town.html

09/14/09 – HubArts.com

Boston Book Festival Highlights

http://www.hubarts.com/weblog/2009/09/boston-book-festival-highlights.html

06/25/09 – ArtsDaily.org

Chip Kidd to Design Poster for Inaugural Boston Book Festival

http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=31649

05/06/09 – Boston Globe “Off The Shelf” Blog

Marriage of Tech and Books In Boston

http://www.boston.com/ae/books/blog/2009/05/technoliteracy.html

05/05/09 – "Survival of the Book" Blog

Boston IS a Literary City!

http://booksurvival.blogspot.com/search?q=boston+book+festival

05/05/09 – Boston Globe

Technology Will Be The Subtext in Boston Book Festival This Fall

http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2009/05/05/technology_will_be_the_subtext_in_boston_book_festival_this_fall/

05/04/09 – Publishers Weekly

Boston Book Festival Slated For October

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6656045.html

05/04/09 – HubArts.com

Boston Book Festival set for Oct. 24 in Copley Sq.

http://www.hubarts.com/weblog/2009/05/boston-book-festival-set-for-oct-24-in-copley-square.html

 

Presenters

Russ Aborn

Kurt Andersen

Alicia Anstead

Jessica Anthony

Tom Ashbrook

Jack Beatty

Jared Bowen

Stace Budzko

Ken Burns

Dana Cameron

Stephen Carter

Billy Costa

Harvey Cox

Callie Crossley

Carolina de Robertis

Anita Diamant

Brendan DuBois

Andre Dubus III

Joseph Finder

A. W. Flaherty

Jim Fusilli

David Gergen

Leslie Gilbert-Lurie

Ethan Gilsdorf

Mary Gordon

Michael Greenberg

Lani Guinier

Steve Haber

Jennifer Haigh

Lynne Heitman

John Hodgman

Jeffrey Howe

Walter Isaacson

Jennie Israel

Mary Lou Jepsen

Bret Anthony Johnston

Neil Jones

Sheryl Julian

Calestous Juma

Brewster Kahle

Jane Kamensky

Kathleen Kent

Scott Kirsner

Deborah Kovacs

Tim Kring

Corby Kummer

Reif Larsen

Dennis Lehane

Jill Lepore

Brian Lies

Grace Lin

Elinor Lipman

Bill Littlefield

Christopher Lydon

Barbara Lynch

Michael Patrick MacDonald

Jackie MacMullan

Scott Magoon

Megan Marshall

Kim McLarin

Ben Mezrich

Richard Michelson

Nicholas Negroponte

Elizabeth Nunez

Jay O'Callahan

Brian O'Donovan

Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo

John Orwant

Orhan Pamuk

Tom Perrotta

Robert Pinsky

John Pipkin

David Pogue

Michael Porter

Alicia Potter

Iqbal Quadir

Nancy Rappaport

Richard Russo

Katherine Roy

Hank Phillippi Ryan

Anita Shreve

R. Sikoryak

Alicia Silverstone

Irene Smalls

Jessica Stern

Glenn Stout

Grace Talusan

Michael Thomas

Paul Tremblay

Scout Tufankjian

Larry Tye

Chris Van Allsburg

Cornel West

Jared T. Williams

Did you love BBF 2011? Are you full of ideas on how to make it even better?

Here's your chance to provide some feedback!

Our survey will be available for a limited time only! Let us know what you thought of the day. Thank you--and see you next year!

BBF 2011 Survey

Congratulations to Cassandra R. and Dick L., our iPad winners!

At the Boston Book Festival, avid readers have met authors and each other and exchanged thoughts, ideas, and book recommendations, aspiring writers received encouragement and direction from established masters, and children and their families interacted with book characters, authors and illustrators.

Please view the archives from our past Boston Book Festivals to see highlights, audio, and video.

State Street, one of the world’s leading providers of financial services to institutional investors, is proud to support the city’s rich literary culture as presenting sponsor of the Boston Book Festival. 

We believe being an industry leader carries with it a responsibility for good citizenship. That’s why supporting our communities around the world — and close to home — is one of our fundamental values.

Sponsoring the festival provides another way for us to give back to the local community we’ve been a part of for more than 200 years. 

The mission of the Boston Book Festival is to showcase Boston as a center of creativity and of reading-related innovation and technology. This mission aligns with our support of educational programs worldwide and locally, such as those provided by ReadBoston.

 

 

Berklee City Music All-Stars
Festival Stage, Copley Square
10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

The Berklee City Music All-Star Ensemble is composed of the best and brightest City Music students, all of whom have attended Berklee's Five-Week Summer Performance Program on full-tuition scholarships. The ensemble performs multiple genres of contemporary music, including jazz, pop, hip-hop, and rhythm and blues and is made up of talented urban teens from the Boston area. The All-Stars have performed in New York City at an event hosted by Quincy Jones to promote national music education for youth. The Berklee City Music program has also been nationally recognized as a recipient of the prestigious 2008 Coming Up Taller Award, and were featured performers at a ceremony, which took place in the East Room of the White House. 

 

Alicia Lemke
Festival Stage, Copley Square
11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

A native of Madison, WI, Alicia Lemke is a young singer/songwriter who began writing her own brand of folk/pop music a little over a year ago. Musically speaking, Alicia is an amalgam of poetic and whimsical lyrics, lilting melody, finger style guitar, and a graceful, strong voice. Her songwriting speaks of her own self-awareness, honesty and personal experience. Alicia and her trio blend a steady harmonic interplay between piano and acoustic guitar with the rhythm of cajon and hand percussion, to breathe life and movement into her words.  

 

Berklee Performance and Slam Poetry
Festival Stage, Copley Square
12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.

No costumes, no props -- just raw creativity and a courageous soul. Performance poetry sweeps across all genres, spanning hip-hop, stand-up, comedy, theater, social commentary, bittersweet love ballads and personal evolution. The end result is an electric event that inspires, transforms, entertains and liberates.

Featuring, Berklee students Jennifer Ayala, Sarah Mount, and Scott Kapelman; and Berklee Poetry Slam Team Coach Caroline Harvey, a poet featured on HBO's Def Poetry Jam. 

 

Sierra Hull
Festival Stage, Copley Square
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Sierra Hull began playing mandolin at age eight, and quickly became noted on the national festival scene for her fluid, inventive picking-winning several mandolin and guitar championships in the process. She is also an exquisite vocalist, giving performances that are disarmingly tender and eloquent, yet delivered with the confidence and honesty necessary to cut through a top-notch bluegrass ensemble. A featured performer on the Great High Mountain Tour, she has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry radio and television shows and shared the stage with bluegrass legends Alison Krauss, IIIrd Tyme Out, Sam Bush, Mountain Heart, and Ricky Skaggs.  An active member of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), Hull has been performing in that organization's annual convention showcases of young bluegrass talent since she was ten. Her national debut album is entitled "Secrets."

http://www.sierrahull.com/

 

Hailey Niswanger
Festival Stage, Copley Square
2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Alto saxophonist Hailey Niswanger has shared the stage with jazz greats Dee Dee Bridgewater, George Duke, George Garzone, Red Holloway, Terell Stafford, Phil Woods, James Moody, Steve Nelson, Christian McBride, McCoy Tyner, Maceo Parker, Wynton Marsalis, and Mark Whitfield, among others. In September 2009 she was selected as the new alto saxophonist for the internationally acclaimed big band the Either/Orchestra, occupying the chair previously held by Miguel Zenon and Jaleel Shaw, among others. Niswanger's June 2009 recording debut, the self-produced and self-released CD "Confeddie", was reviewed in such leading jazz magazines as Jazz Times and Jazziz and inspired veteran jazz critic Nat Hentoff to profile her in the Wall Street Journal. "Confeddie" appeared on the Jazz Week Top 50 chart 3 times and was among the top 100 jazz CDs in the country for two months. It features a rhythm section composed of fellow Berklee students Michael Palma on piano, Greg Chaplin on bass, and Mark Whitfield Jr. on drums.  Niswanger was a featured artist at the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where she won the festival's saxophone competition in 2008.

http://www.haileyniswanger.com/Site/haileyniswanger.com.html

 

Ariadna Rivas Band
Festival Stage, Copley Square
3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Spanish pianist and composer Ariadna Rivas , graduated in 2005 from Guildhall School of Music in London receiving a degree on classical piano. Once returning to Spain she performed with many great figures on the Flamenco scene such as Niño Josele, Jorge Pardo, Agustín Carbonel ‘El Bola” and Jesús del Rosario.  She has toured with Jorge Pardo, Vivancos and other artist playing in Israel, Athens, NYC, U.K, Turkey, Romania, besides performing all over Spain.  Currently residing in Boston, while attending Berklee College of Music, she took part in a tribute to the great flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía and performs around the New England/NYC area.  She is also working on her upcoming album to be recorded with Javier Limón (Paco de Lucía, Bebo Valdés y el Cigala).

 

Boston Boys
Festival Stage, Copley Square
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The sound of Eric Robertson and the Boston Boys is contemporary roots rock, blending reverence for the Beatles and the energy of the Avett Brothers with hints of Appalachian string band music. Featuring singer/songwriter Eric Robertson, the Boston Boys is a new band emerging from the hotbed of talented young players in the hip Boston music scene. All band members are either students at or alumni of the prestigious Berklee College of Music.

http://www.myspace.com/bostonboysmusic

http:www.thebostonboys.com

 

The Boston Book Festival thanks Berklee College of Music for sponsoring the music at Boston Book Festival 2010.

 

Click on the link below to download high resolution headshots for the Boston Book Festival 2010 presenters. If something you're looking for is missing, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with your request.

Boston Book Festival 2011 Presenters: Hi-Res Photos

 

New Contest! Tweet, Become a Facebook Fan - and You Could Win a Sony Reader Pocket Edition

Spread the word by inviting your friends to events at the Boston Book Festival using Facebook and Twitter - and you'll be entered to win a Sony Reader Pocket Edition™.

We have four to give away, courtesy of Sony! There are four ways to win: 

1-Send a tweet on Twitter mentioning a Festival topic and using #bbf09 in your message between now and 6:00am EST on October 24. The Book Festival handle is @bostonbookfest and our main url is bostonbookfest.org. The more you tweet #bbf09, the more likely you are to win!

2-Tweet during the Festival (from 8:00am until 9:00pm EST on October 24) using #bbf09 in your messages.

3-Become a Boston Book Festival Facebook fan - one lucky fan will win. Please post about the Festival on your status update.

4-Fill out and submit an evaluation card after any session, including your contact information, and you'll be automatically entered to win.

Winners will be notified via Facebook, Twitter or phone after October 25 and must provide a mailing address within one week of notification. Staff, family members of staff, event producers, paid contractors, partners, and advisors of the Boston Book Festival and Sony are not eligible to win.

About the Sony Reader Pocket Edition™

Priced under $200, the Sony Reader Pocket Edition™ provides the perfect reading companion for people of every age. Available in silver, blue and rose, the Reader Pocket Edition features a 5-inch display and an elegant, lightweight design that's easy to slip into a purse, jacket pocket, gym bag...or holiday stocking.

Get instant access to more than a million titles from the Sony eBookstore using easy software that is both Mac and PC compatible

Download borrowed eBooks from your local library

Tote up to 350 books with you at any time - without breaking your back

Reduce eye strain when reading with the Reader's E-Ink® technology, a paper-like screen display that makes you feel like you're reading a traditional book

Read without your glasses by taking advantage of three adjustable font sizes

Find the Sony Reader online and at retail outlets, such as Sony Style, Target and Borders nationwide

Have any more questions about the Sony Reader? Attend the Boston Book Festival session The Future of Reading: Books without Pages? from 1:30-3:00pm at the Boston Public Library's Rabb Lecture Hall and you can ask one of the presenters, Steve Haber, President of Sony's Digital Reading Division. He is responsible for the global direction and development of Sony's Reader Digital Book, Sony's eBook Store in the US and relationships with affiliate book stores overseas.

The street fair at the Boston Book Festival has something for everyone. Exhibitors range from independent publishers and literary magazines to performance companies, arts organizations, media outlets, food vendors, and even a new kids area with an interactive passport to imagination activity. Be sure to visit our varied list of vendors at BFF 2011, including:

826 Boston

Actors' Shakespeare Project

ArtsBoston

Authoright PR

Barefoot Books

Better World Books

Black Widow Press

Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair

Boston Ballet

Boston Magazine

Boston Phoenix

Boston Review

Brattle Book Shop

Cabot Creamery

CBS Radio

Celebrity Series of Boston

Chowdaheadz

Christian Science Reading Room

The Common

The Cupcakory

David R. Godine, Publisher

Drawn & Quarterly

Emerson College MFA and MA

Emerson College Professional Studies

Facing History and Ourselves

Google

Greater Boston Food Bank

Grub Street

Harper Perennial

Harvard Review

Hobblebush Books

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Independent Publishers of New England

Libboo.com

Little Pickle Press

Mass.gov/Libraries

Massbook.org

Max Warburg Courage Curriculum

Melville House Publishing

Mind Adventure, Inc.

Mybookcart.com

National Writers Union Boston

New Center for Arts and Culture

New England Science Fiction Association

The New School

The New York Review of Books

The New York Times

Nicholas Brealey Publishing

Owens Corning

Pearson Foundation

Peter Pan

Ploughshares Literary Magazine

Post Road Magazine

Prison Book Program

The Radio City Rockettes

Random House Audio

Raven Used Books

Redivider Journal

The Republic of Tea

Rice Quakes

Room to Read

Roxy's Grilled Cheese Truck

Sisters in Crime New England

Small Beer Press

St. Johann Press

Stonyfield Farms

Symposium Books

Target

Teen Ink Magazine

Union Park Press

Usborne Books and More

Verizon

Vermont College of Fine Arts

Veronica Lane Books

Wakefield Press

The Wall Street Journal

Walnut Hill School for the Arts

WBUR

Women's National Book Association Boston

The Worcester Review

The Writers' Room of Boston

WUMB Radio

Zephyr Press

 

Media home page

 

 articles 

 press releases 

  announcements

  social media 

  press contact 

Announcements page

Thanks for visiting our website.  You can get your Boston Book Festival fix in a variety of ways:

 

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Press releases issued by the Boston Book Festival are archived below.  Information may have changed since the release was issued.  Please contact Joyce Linehan at Ashmont Media, 617-282-2510 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), with press questions.

09/26/11 - Boston Book Festival Announces Panels, Locations, and Times

09/13/11 - Boston Book Festival One City, One Story Distribution Has Begun

08/31/11 - Boston Book Festival Opens with Panel Discussion on The Wire

07/28/11 - Boston Book Festival Announces 2011 Presenters

07/16/11 - Boston Book Festival Fundraiser with Tom Perrotta

06/20/11 - Boston Book Festival Announces Richard Russo's "The Whore's Child" as This Year's One City One Story Selection

05/17/11 - Boston Book Festival Announces Michael Ondaatje to Give Keynote Address

04/23/11 - Boston Book Festival Announces Prize Winners to Appear at 2011 Event

04/02/11 - Boston Book Festival Presents Science (non) Fiction: It's a Brave New World

02/03/11 - Boston Book Festival to be Held Oct. 15, 2011

Read all about it! We're in the news!

Click the links below to see what the press has been saying about us...

 

October 21, 2011 - The Simmons Voice

Boston Book Festival Returns Bigger and Better

http://www.thesimmonsvoice.com/boston-book-fest-returns-bigger-and-better-1.2660465#.Tq

 

October 18, 2011 - The Harvard Crimson

A Boston Bustling with Books

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/10/18/boston-book-festival-writers/

 

October 17, 2011 - The Daily Free Press (BU)

Bookworms Unite for Annual Festival

http://dailyfreepress.com/2011/10/17/bookworms-unite-for-annual-boston-festival/

 

October 17, 2011 - The BU Quad

Book It to the Boston Book Festival

http://buquad.com/2011/10/17/28745/

 

October 17, 2011 - Examiner.com

Boston Book Festival: An Attendee's Experience

http://www.examiner.com/book-reviews-in-boston/boston-book-festival-an-attendee-s-experience

 

October 17, 2011 - Examiner.com

Bookworms Unite at the Boston Book Festival

http://www.examiner.com/geek-culture-in-boston/bookworms-unite-at-boston-book-festival

 

October 16, 2011 - Quincy Patriot Ledger

Authors, Bookworms Mingle at Boston Book Festival

http://www.patriotledger.com/entertainment/x597432453/Authors-bookworms-mingle-at-Boston-Book-Festival

 

October 15, 2011 - The Boston Globe

Prominent Authors, Thousands of Bookworms, Expected at Festival

http://www.boston.com/Boston/metrodesk/2011/10/prominent-authors-thousands-bookworms-expected-festival/sGpAU2pNtQ2feVmf1cpo7N/index.html

 

October 15, 2011 - Boston Herald

Book Fest Looks Forward to Next Chapter in Publishing

http://news.bostonherald.com/entertainment/books/view/2011_1015book_fest_looks_forward_to_next_chapter_in_publishing/srvc=home&position=also

 

October 15, 2011 - Boston Herald

Readers Have Rainbow of Options

http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/books/view.bg?articleid=1373456

 

October 15, 2011 - BostInnovation

Boston Book Festival Sets Out to Prove Reading Isn't Boring

http://bostinnovation.com/2011/10/15/boston-book-festival-sets-out-to-prove-reading-isnt-boring/

 

October 13, 2011 - Bay State Banner

Boston Book Festival Panel Discusses The Wire

http://www.baystatebanner.com/local17-2011-10-13

 

October 13, 2011 - Quincy Patriot Ledger

Boston Book Festival to Feature Hundreds of Authors, Thousands of Ideas

http://www.enterprisenews.com/entertainment/x617626449/Boston-Book-Festival-to-feature-hundreds-of-authors-thousands-of-ideas

 

October 12, 2011 - Publishers Weekly

The Boston Book Festival Turns Three

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/trade-shows-events/article/49061-the-boston-book-festival-turns-three.html

 

October 2011 - Boston Magazine

All Lit Up: The Boston Book Festival Turns Three

http://www.bostonmagazine.com/arts_entertainment/articles/all_lit_up_boston_book_festival_2011/

 

September 30, 2011 - The Tech (MIT)

One City One Story: More Than One Scarlet Letter?

http://tech.mit.edu/V131/N41/bbf.html

 

September 15, 2011 - The Christian Science Monitor

One City, One Book: What 5 Cities Chose to Read

http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/2011/0915/One-City-One-Book-what-5-cities-chose-to-read/Boston-The-Whore-s-Child-by-Richard-Russo

 

June 21, 2011 - Boston Globe

Russo Work Chosen for Boston Book Festival's One Story Program

http://articles.boston.com/2011-06-21/ae/29684191_1_story-program-short-story-library-branches

 

October 20, 2010 - massnonprofit.org

Boston Book Festival Success Sets Stage for Greater Growth

http://www.massnonprofit.org/news.php?artid=2137&catid=12

 

October 18, 2010 - The Tufts Daily

Surviving the Boston Book Festival: A literary adventure in Copley Square

http://www.tuftsdaily.com/surviving-the-boston-book-festival-a-literary-adventure-in-copley-square-1.2372360

 

October 18, 2010 - Boston University's Daily Free Press 

Authors bring literature alive at Boston Book Festival

http://www.dailyfreepress.com/news/authors-bring-literature-alive-at-boston-book-festival-1.2372258

 

October 18, 2010 - Christian Science Monitor

Joyce Carol Oates makes them laugh, makes them squirm, in Boston

http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapter-and-verse/2010/1018/Joyce-Carol-Oates-makes-them-laugh-makes-them-squirm-in-Boston

 

October 18, 2010 - Boston.com's Culture Desk

Boston Book Festival keeps growing

http://www.boston.com/ae/specials/culturedesk/2010/10/boston_book_festival_keeps_gro.html?comments=all#readerComm

 

October 15, 2010 - Boston Phoenix

Boston Book Festival Bingo 2010

http://thephoenix.com/boston/arts/110090-boston-book-festival-bingo-2010/

 

October 15, 2010 - Boston Globe

Words and music - Kristin Hersh joins a lineup of literary rock stars for showcase

http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2010/10/15/kristin_hersh_joins_a_lineup_of_literary_rock_stars_for_the_book_revue/

 

October 15, 2010 - Boston Globe

Spreading the words

http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2010/10/15/spreading_the_word_of_the_boston_book_festival/

 

October 15, 2010 - Boston Globe

Boston Book Festival events run the gamut

http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2010/10/15/boston_book_festival_events_run_the_gamut/

 

October 14, 2010 - Edge Boston

Eclectic mix @ the Boston Book Festival

http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=books&sc2=&sc3=&id=111597

 

October 13, 2010 - Fox morning news

All-star literary event: Boston Book Festival

http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/morning/all-star-literary-event-boston-book-festival-20101013

 

October 10, 2010 - Boston Globe

Against All Odds: Deborah Porter Brings A Book Festival Back To Boston 

http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2010/10/10/deborah_porter_brings_a_book_festival_back_to_boston/ 

 

September 23, 2010 - Phoenix Online

 

September 23, 2010 - HubArts.com

Boston Book Festival - now with music!

http://www.hubarts.com/weblog/2010/09/boston-book-festival-now-with-music.html

 

September 9, 2010 - Bostonist.com

http://bostonist.com/2010/09/09/short_story_leads_up_to_boston_book.php

 

August 30, 2010 - Boston.com

Binding Boston with a story

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/08/30/binding_boston_with_a_story/

 

August 29, 2010 - Phoenix Online

 

August 26, 2010 - WBUR

One City One Story: Boston Launches Short Story Program

http://www.wbur.org/2010/08/26/one-city-one-story

 

July 1, 2010 - Berkshire Fine Arts

Second Annual Boston Book Festival

http://www.berkshirefinearts.com/?page=article&article_id=1781&catID=11

 

June 6, 2010 - Blast

Bringing Boston together, one short story at a time

http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/culturefashion/arts/the-literary/2010/06/bringing-boston-together-one-short-story-at-a-time/

 

January 31, 2010 - Boston Globe

Best of the New 2010

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/gallery/bestofnew10?pg=2 

 

October 29, 2009 - The Bay State Banner

First Boston Book Festival attracts both young and old

http://www.baystatebanner.com/local17-2009-10-29

 

October 28, 2009 - Blue Rose Girls (Blog) 

Boston Book Festival

http://bluerosegirls.blogspot.com/2009/10/boston-book-festival.html

 

October 27, 2009 - Phoenix Online

The PHlog - Podcast and accompanying article:

http://thephoenix.com/BLOGS/phlog/archive/2009/10/27/podcast-dennis-lehane-on-boston-noir-from-the-boston-book-festival.aspx

 

October 27, 2009 - Unreliable Narrator (Blog)

Boston Book Festival Recap

http://smithdell.blogspot.com/2009/10/boston-book-festival-recap.html

 

October 26, 2009 - Boston Neighborhood Network News

Chris Harding of Boston's Neighborhood Network News captured the Festival feel, plus Spoken Word, Hodgman/Perrotta, children's events and storyteller Irene Smalls.

VIDEO: http://vimeo.com/7279387

 

October 26, 2009 - Jon22.net (Blog)

The wild Hodgman, as seen in his natural habitat

http://www.jon22.net/the-wild-hodgman-as-seen-in-his-natural-habitat/

 

October 26, 2009 - Vernacular, the Emerson College Writing, Literature & Publishing Graduate Student Blog

Boston Book Festival - Chris Van Allsburg

http://v.tgdn.net/2009/10/boston-book-festival-chris-van-allsburg.html

October 25, 2009 - Flyby Blog at Harvard Crimson

Boston Book Festival--a Nerd's Paradise

http://www.flybyblog.com/2009/10/25/boston-book-festival-a-nerd-paradise/

 

October 25, 2009 - Pink Apron (Blog)

Meeting Cookbook Authors at the Boston Book Festival

http://pink-apron.com/2009/10/meeting-cookbook-authors-at-the-boston-book-festival/

 

October 25, 2009 - Culture Junkie (Blog) 

Boston Book Fest

http://ow.ly/wrZP

 

October 20, 2009‎ - Bostonist

Interview with Boston Book Festival Participant Nicholas Negroponte

http://bostonist.com/2009/10/20/boston_book_festival_technology_nicholas_negroponte.php

 

October 21, 2009 - Boston Herald

Book it to Copley Square for literary fest

http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/books/view/20091022book_it_to_copley_square_for_literary_fest/srvc=home&position=also

 

October 22, 2009 - Boston Globe

Don’t Miss the Boston Book Festival Saturday

http://www.boston.com/travel/blog/2009/10/dont_miss_the_b.html

 

October 23, 2009 - Boston Globe

Is this the end? Some people think book publishing is in its final throes. The Boston Book Festival begs to differ.

http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2009/10/23/some_people_think_book_publishing_is_in_its_final_throes_the_boston_book_festival_begs_to_differ/

 

October 18, 2009 - Boston.com

Writers Out Loud

http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2009/10/18/boston_book_festival_features_90_authors/

 

October 15, 2009 - Dorcester Reporter

Lehane to launch "Boston Noir" at Book Festival

http://www.dotnews.com/2009/lehane-launch-boston-noir-book-festival

October 15, 2009 - Bay State Banner

Prize-winning Authors to Grace Boston Book Festival

http://www.baystatebanner.com/local18-2009-10-15

 

October 8, 2009 - HubArts.com

Boston Book Festival Schedule and Locations Announced

http://www.hubarts.com/weblog/2009/10/boston-book-fest-schedule-and-locations.html

 

September 15, 2009 – Boston Globe

Kidd In Town

http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/more_names/blog/2009/09/kidd_in_town.html

 

September 14, 2009  – HubArts.com

Boston Book Festival Highlights

http://www.hubarts.com/weblog/2009/09/boston-book-festival-highlights.html

 

June 25, 2009 – ArtsDaily.org

Chip Kidd to Design Poster for Inaugural Boston Book Festival

http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=31649

 

May 6, 2009 – Boston Globe “Off The Shelf” Blog

Marriage of Tech and Books In Boston

http://www.boston.com/ae/books/blog/2009/05/technoliteracy.html

 

May 5, 2009 – Survival of the Book (Blog)

Boston IS a Literary City!

http://booksurvival.blogspot.com/search?q=boston+book+festival

 

May 5, 2009 – Boston Globe

Technology Will Be The Subtext in Boston Book Festival This Fall

http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2009/05/05/technology_will_be_the_subtext_in_boston_book_festival_this_fall/

 

May 5, 2009 – Publishers Weekly

Boston Book Festival Slated For October

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6656045.html

 

May 4, 2009 – HubArts.com

Boston Book Festival set for Oct. 24 in Copley Sq.

http://www.hubarts.com/weblog/2009/05/boston-book-festival-set-for-oct-24-in-copley-square.html

 

 

Interact page

The Boston Book Festival is held in Copley Square, rain or shine. All author events take place indoors in either the Boston Public Library, Old South Church, Trinity Church, or Back Bay Events Center. The street festival takes place in Copley Square and also occurs rain or shine. 

View Larger Map

 

Public Transportation

 

We highly recommend using Boston's public transit system, the MBTA, to get to the Boston Book Festival. It's easy, inexpensive, and best of all, you can spend your travel time doing what you do best: reading!

Take the "T" to the Copley stop on the Green Line and exit onto Copley Square (and the Boston Book Festival!). For detailed directions, go to the MBTA “Trip Planner.” Enter “Copley Station” as your end address.

From the commuter rail (Framingham/Worcester line, Needham line, Franklin line, and Providence/Stoughton line), get off at the Back Bay Station. Walk 0.1 miles northeast along Dartmouth Street toward Huntington Avenue.

 

Parking

Laz Parking is the official Parking Sponsor of Boston Book Festival 2011.  What does that mean?  It means BIG savings for you on parking the day of the festival!  Download and print out a parking voucher, park in one of two participating garages - Copley Place Garage or 126 Dartmouth Street Garage - and on your way out, just give the voucher to the attendant. YOU'LL PARK ALL DAY FOR ONLY $10! (offer good only for attendees of the Boston Book Festival on Saturday, October 15, 2011 from 6am-10pm).

We're grateful to Laz Parking for extending such an amazing deal to Boston Book Festival goers!  Show them your support (and get the 411 on great events and parking info throughout the city) by following them on Twitter: @lazparkingbos

 

Driving

 

From 93 South to Copley Place Garage:

Take the exit toward MA-28/MA-3 N/Storrow Dr/N Station 0.9 mi

Continue straight onto MA-3 N 0.3 mi

Slight right at MA-28 S/Embankment Rd Continue to follow MA-28 S 0.6 mi

Turn right at Beacon St 0.2 mi

Turn left at the 2nd cross street onto Clarendon St 0.3 mi

Turn right at MA-9 W/St James Ave 

Continue to follow St. James Ave

Destination will be on the right        

 

From 93 North to Copley Place Garage:

Keep right at the fork to continue toward I-93 N/MA-3 N 1.0 mi

Take the ramp onto I-93 N/MA-3 N 4.5 mi

Take exit 18 for Frontage Rd toward Mass Ave/Roxbury 417 ft

Merge onto I-93 Frontage Rd 0.8 mi

Turn left at W 4th St 226 ft

Continue onto E Berkeley St 0.8 mi

Turn left at MA-9 W/St James Ave Continue to follow MA-9 W

Destination will be on the right

 

From Mass Pike East to Copley Place Garage

Take exit 22 for Prudential Ctr toward Copley Square 0.4 mi

Sharp right at Stuart St 180 ft

Take the 1st left onto Dartmouth St 413 ft

Turn left at MA-9 W 

Destination will be on the right

 

From 93N to 126 Dartmouth Street Garage

Keep right at the fork to continue toward I-93 N/MA-3 N  1.0 mi

Take the ramp onto I-93 N/MA-3 N 4.5 mi

Take exit 18 for Frontage Rd toward Mass Ave/Roxbury 417 ft

Merge onto I-93 Frontage Rd 0.8 mi

Turn left at W 4th St 226 ft

Continue onto E Berkeley St 0.4 mi

Turn left at Tremont St 0.3 mi

Turn right at Dartmouth St 

Destination will be on the left

 

From 93 South to 126 Dartmouth Street Garage

Merge onto I-93 S 2.8 mi

Take exit 26 for MA-3 N toward MA-28/Storrow Dr/N Station 1.6 mi

Continue straight onto MA-3 N 0.3 mi

Slight right at MA-28 S/Embankment Rd  

Continue to follow MA-28 S 0.6 mi

Turn right at Beacon St 0.2 mi

Turn left at the 2nd cross street onto Clarendon St 0.5 mi

Turn right at Columbus Ave 0.1 mi

1Take the 1st right onto Dartmouth St 

Destination will be on the left

 

From Mass Pike East to 126 Dartmouth Street Garage

Merge onto I-84 E via the ramp to Hartford 

Partial toll road

Entering Massachusetts 51.6 mi

Take the exit onto I-90 E toward N.H. - Maine/Boston 

Partial toll road 55.0 mi

Take exit 22 for Prudential Ctr toward Copley Square 0.4 mi

Sharp right at Stuart St 180 ft

Slight right at Dartmouth St 

Destination will be on the right

 

Accommodations

Copley Square Hotel is the official hotel sponsor of Boston Book Festival 2011. It is conveniently located (shockingly enough) in Copley Square, steps from all the action of BBF 2011. 

Copley Square Hotel is offering a special Boston Book Festival Package which features deluxe overnight accommodations including a welcome gift from the hotel, a bookmark and copy of the One City One Story selection at turndown, and an invite to their nightly "Wine Down" wine reception. Rates start at $449 per night, October 13th-16th, 2011. (Rates do not include tax and are subject to availability.) Take advantage of this special deal here.

 

Whatever your age or your interests, BBF 2011 has something for you! Attend terrific sessions with world-class presenters, enjoy a performance at the Berklee Stage, try your hand at a Grub Street workshop, meet costumed characters, or just take in the lively street fair. Click the links on the sidebar to learn about everything that's happening this year!

By Mike Swartz of Upstatement

By Mike Swartz of Upstatement

By Mike Swartz of Upstatement

By Mike Swartz of Upstatement

By Mike Swartz of Upstatement

By Mike Swartz of Upstatement

By Mike Swartz of Upstatement

By Mike Swartz of Upstatement

By Mike Swartz of Upstatement

By Mike Swartz of Upstatement

By Mike Swartz of Upstatement

 

News media requiring additional information about the Boston Book Festival should contact:

Joyce Linehan
Ashmont Media
(617) 282-2510
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  

Contact Us

The Boston Book Festival
2 Canal Park
Cambridge, MA 02141
P: (617) 252-3240
F: (617) 252-3255
E: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
T: @bostonbookfest
FB: Boston Book Festival

 

Who We Are

Staff

Deborah Z Porter Founder and Executive Director	Norah Piehl Director of Communications and Development	Sarah Howard Parker Director of Operations	Santiago Nocera 1C1S Project Manager
Interns: Katy Berk Shannon LeBlanc Santiago Nocera

 

 

Board of Directors

Deborah Z Porter, President	Steve Oristaglio, Treasurer	Hannah Gilligan Commoss	Callie Crossley
Robert Duboff	Rona Kiley	Glenda Manzi	Jeff Mayersohn
Jackie McCabe	Nicholas Negroponte	Rose Styron	John Taylor (Ike) Williams

 

 

Honorary Advisory Board

Henry Louis Gates Jr.	Ann Gund	Arthur Golden	Phil Balboni
Lou Casagrande	Amy Ryan	Diane Patrick	Tom Perrotta
Steve Grossman	Larry Weber

 

 

Literary Advisory Group

Helene Atwan	D.Y. Bechard	Chris Bohjalian	Chris Castellani
Callie Crossley	Anita Diamant	Junot Diaz	Andre Dubus III
Leslie Epstein	Erica Funkhouser	Atul Gawande	Allegra Goodman
Elizabeth Graver	Lynne Griffin	Jennifer Haigh	Esmond Harmsworth
John Hodgman	Alice Hoffman	Gish Jen	Ha Jin
Bret Anthony Johnston	Dennis Lehane	Elinor Lipman	Margot Livesey
Michael Lowenthal	Amy MacKinnon	Gregory Maguire	Elizabeth McCracken
Kim McLarin	Mameve Medwed	Claire Messud	Sue Miller
Susan Orlean	Robert Pinsky	Richard Russo	Hank Phillippi Ryan
Salvatore Scibona	Jim Shepard	Anita Shreve	Janet Silver
Jessica Stern	Karen Wulf

 

 

Technology Advisory Board

Michail Bletsas	Judith Donath	Michael Hawley
Glenda Manzi	Andrew McAfee	Nicholas Negroponte

 

Presenting Partner 2011

Tour de Force Sponsors 2011

 

Blockbuster Sponsors 2011

 

 

Bestseller Sponsors 2011

 

 

Starred Review Sponsor 2011

 

 

Debut Sponsors 2011

 

 

Media Sponsors 2011

 

 

In-Kind Sponsors 2011

The 47th

Broadcastr

Copley Square Hotel

Food Should Taste Good

Grossman Marketing Group

Law Offices of Daniel P. Capobianco

LAZ Parking

Martignetti Companies

The Monitor Group

Samuel Adams

Stern Shapiro Weissberg & Garin LLP

Towerstream

Virtuous Teas

Partner Organizations 2011

826 Boston

ArtsBoston

Berklee College of Music

Boston Athenæum

Boston Public Library

Brattle Theatre

Cambridge Public Library

The City of Boston Parks and Recreation Department

Emerson College Writing, Literature, and Publishing Department

Grub Street

Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston

Massachusetts Center for the Book

Mass Poetry Festival

The Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism and Special Events

New Center for Arts and Culture

PEN New England

ReadBoston

Partner Bookstores 2011

Brookline Booksmith

Harvard Book Store

Porter Square Books

RiverRun Bookstore

Newtonville Books

Wellesley Booksmith

Grolier Poetry Bookshop