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Reader's Paradise

Book Festivals....

16 years ago

Just got back from a weekend in Austin at the Texas Book Festival. What a great way to spend Saturday - surrounded by books and book lovers (most of whom seem to be retired women in their sixties). :-)

It was my first one, and I got to hear Richard Russo promote his new book, That Old Cape Magic, which is actually very funny when he read it. And also, the pie'ce de resistance, saw and listened to an interesting interview with Margaret Atwood.

Also saw ZZ Packer and Colson Whitehead, two young authors who have written some good stuff. There was so much to see and do that if you didn't have a plan, you wouldn't have had a chance. The best thing was that I went with my mother-in-law who doesn't usually do literary things like this, and she loved it so much that she wants to join a book group. She said it was so invigorating to hang around literary people that she wanted to do it some more. So maybe another reader joins the ranks?

Hope so.

Anyone else been to any festivals this year? Which was the ones that happen near you?

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Comments (4)

cfhintx
16 years ago
Hi to all,
I've been lurking here for many years and have accumulated numerous titles to read.

I was also at the Texas Book Festival on Saturday, but without a plan. I did manage to see Margaret Atwood -- wonderful. So, in response, I am now reading Oryx and Crake again in anticipation of my turn at The Year of the Flood from the library.

Next year, a plan is definitely in order.
lemonhead101
Original Author
16 years ago
Cfhintx -

Sorry I didn't see you there! :-)

I am also very excited to read Atwood's Oryx and Crake prior to the Flood book. There had been such a mixed response to the Oryx book that it had put me off it, but now I would like to see what it's like.

Have you read much Atwood?
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cfhintx
16 years ago
I read alot of Atwood years ago and read Oryx and Crake when it first came out. Thought it very strange and very different than her other books. Re-reading it now and enjoying it much more. I plan to go back and do some more re-reading of her earlier works. Maybe we can get more folks to join in?
rambo
16 years ago
I loved Oryx and Cake. I read it about 3 years ago now. I couldn't put it down. Maybe it's time for a re-read. There are so many ethical and physical issues dealt with in the book. I live in Toronto (where she lives) and have never met Atwood... I guess I'll have to travel to Texas to meet her... :)

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