Social Literature

If I had a dollar for every coffee mug I own that says “Go Away I’m Reading,” well, I suppose I would have two dollars. But, my point is that these coffee mugs speak to an obvious but important truth about reading: it’s a solitary activity.

Increasingly, though, people are looking to find ways to be more sociable about books and to discuss what they’ve read. The huge popularity of book clubs and websites, such as Goodreads, is testament to our hunger to engage with others about books.

I’m pleased to announce that as of April 2016, there will be a new way for Columbia residents to talk (and listen) about books. On April 23, 2016, the inaugural Unbound Book Festival will take place on the campus of Stephens College. It promises to be a wonderful daylong celebration of books and reading. (Full disclosure: I am the founder of the festival, and we are proud to have Columbia Home as a media sponsor of the event.) Nationally acclaimed authors from across the country will come to Columbia to speak about their books and their writing lives. There will be programs for fiction, nonfiction, poetry and children’s literature as well as a variety of panels on book-related topics. A wonderful collection of authors and poets have already agreed to appear, including (at the most recent count) two National Book Award winners, a Guggenheim “genius” fellow, and many New York Times bestselling writers. From a local perspective, all three of Missouri’s poets laureate will be sharing a stage to read their poetry that event promises to be standing-room only.

Events such as these offer the public a unique opportunity to chat with well-known authors, and we’re going to make the festival wildly interactive. Rather than having writers stand up and read from their books or deliver prepared talks, every event will be in an interview format, and there will be plenty of opportunities for audience members to quiz the writers, both in person and also ahead of time via the website. In addition to authors, the children’s venue will feature storytellers, magicians, crafts and more.

The festival is an all-day event and will be free to the public. More information is available at www.unboundbookfestival.com where you can find out more about guest authors, learn how to volunteer and sign up for our e-newsletter. I hope you’ll make a note in your calendars and plan to come. See you on April 23, 2016, at Stephens College.

Atul Gawande – Being Mortal

This might just be the most important book you read this year. Atul Gawande, a surgeon, writes with grace and concision about aging and illness in an era of advanced medical practices. He discovers modern medicine is not always well equipped to provide the elderly and the sick with what they need most at the end of their lives. Gripping and humane, Being Mortal looks at this difficult topic with compassion and asks some vital questions – questions that we will all, at some point, have to ask ourselves.