Readin' in the Rain: Reporting on the Boston Book Festival

Inclement weather notwithstanding, I'd say the inaugural Boston Book Festival is a success that must become an annual event. I think there has been an unquenched thirst for something like this in Boston, so let's hope that this year's launch is only the beginning.

Although the outdoor foot traffic around the stalls set up on Copley Square has been impacted by the weather, it appears that the book talks are well attended. The panel I attended late in the morning jam packed the lovely sanctuary of the Old South Church off Copley Square, despite several other panels with well-known authors running concurrently.

Thanks to the Festival, I finally got to hear my friend Michael Thomas discuss his work and his acclaimed novel, Man Gone Down. I've come to know Michael through cousins in New York, but in everyday social situations he's not one to talk about his own writing. Ever since his book was published in 2007, I've wanted to attend one of his book talks.

Today Michael was on a panel titled Ties That Bind (i.e., family influences in writing fiction), sharing the stage with fellow authors Elinor Lipman and Richard Russo, and it was well worth the wait. I'm awfully biased, but Michael stood out in the way that he shared aspects of his life, family, and emotions to provide insights into an author's motivations and about ourselves. He talked about the ties that bind us and that push us away, and it was a thought provoking set of remarks. I think I embarrassed Michael a bit when I went up to him afterward and said a little too loudly that he was the best of the panelists, but I couldn't help it! It was true.

There's still time to head over there, and here's the site:
http://www.bostonbookfest.org/index.php