The Arts: The National Book Festival
It’s a book lover’s paradise. Held each fall on the National Mall in Washington, the National Book Festival brings over 100,000 fans together with dozens of noted authors in a weekend celebration of the written word.
Sponsored by the Library of Congress, 2010 is the Festival’s 10th anniversary. There are special sections devoted to children’s books, popular fiction/mystery, contemporary life, history/biography, poetry/prose, and teens and children. Among the more notable authors attending are Jules Feiffer, Isabel Allende, Ken Follett, Diana Gabaldon, Martha Grimes, Karin Slaughter, Peter Straub, Scott Turow, Jonathan Franzen, Brad Meltzer, and Katherine Paterson.
Among the activities at the Festival are interviews, readings, signings, and lectures. And, as you might expect, lots of reading-related programs throughout the weekend to entertain children and families.
This year’s festival is Saturday, September 25. If you’re a reader living anywhere near D.C., this is an opportunity you shouldn’t let pass you by.
Here’s an interesting presentation from last year’s Festival by one of my wife’s favorite authors, Nicholas Sparks:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFkMnlYKhiE]
LOVE Nicholas Sparks!!! and just saw a brand new book today at Sams…can’t wait to get it!!! Some women buy shoes, some buy purses….for me, it’s books. I can’t help it. Gotta always have a book to read…Christian fiction, mysteries, chick lit, true crime…suspense.