Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to have read the book to attend BookFest?
Ideally, yes – and please come with some good questions for the speakers. But in fact some participants prefer to read or re-read the book after the program, guided by the talks they’ve heard. So it’s up to you – there’s no exam!
What’s the basic format?
Our initial approach was for a two-day event: Friday evening and most of Saturday. It soon became obvious, however, that BookFest should be experienced as more than just one intensive weekend. There is too much to talk about! Starting in 2023, we re-thought the BookFest experience to be something that starts in mid-winter and builds up to the weekend.
You can find the 2024 schedule of supplementary events on this website. Most of them are free and take place at the Rogers Free Library but require registration due to space limits. We do plan two ticketed events – a talk on “why read Moby-Dick” by the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Nathaniel Philbrick (March 5, co-sponsored with the Herreshoff Marine Museum) and a musical/theatrical performance by the Providence-based ensemble Aurea (March 10, St. Michael’s Church).
We are fortunate to enjoy a close working relationship with the staff at the Rogers Free Library and are especially grateful for the generosity of its Friends organization. We’re also thankful for the continuing support of the other sponsors you will find listed on this website.
Is the program just literary in focus?
No, we aim to make these programs as multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary as possible. That means actors, dancers, musicians, filmmakers, scientists, cartographers, culinary experts – whatever the book that year suggests. Our keynote speaker for Frankenstein, for example, was an emergency room physician who is also a gifted writer – Dr. Jay Baruch.
Is the program free?
The Friday evening keynote at the Colt Memorial School Auditorium is open to the public free of charge (as is the reception at the Library afterwards if you register in advance.) Saturday’s program in the Linden Place Ballroom costs $40, payable online starting January 1, 2024. Students can attend free of charge (but must register), and we can offer scholarships for anyone whose resources are limited.
Does Saturday include lunch?
There will be modestly priced box lunches available, bookable in advance. But you are free to bring a lunch or visit downtown Bristol restaurants. Coffee and tea will be available gratis throughout the day.
Are teachers eligible for professional development credits?
At present we are not authorized to grant such credits. But we are happy to write a letter acknowledging attendance and describing the program if that would be helpful.
Do we all need to read the same edition of the book?
In the case of a translation, this is a good idea. With a book in English, it’s less necessary, though we recommend finding an edition with a good introduction and notes.
Where can we find the book?
Inkfish Books on Main Street in Warren offers BookFest attendees a 10 percent discount. Rogers Free Library will have multiple copies for lending, including in some cases audiotapes and graphic novel versions. Inkfish’s pop-up bookshop at the April 5-6 weekend will offer a range of relevant titles, including books by our speakers.
How is the book chosen?
The Steering Committee collects recommendations from throughout the community over the year and narrows them down to a short list vetted by a sub-committee. Three “finalists” are submitted to the whole Committee, with supporting materials, for a vote in early summer.
Criteria for selection include name recognition, the existence of a body of scholarship about the book and author, and the availability of suitable speakers, preferably in New England. While contemporary concerns influence the choice, the central focus is on proven literary excellence. There is no restriction as to age of the book or country of origin.
How are speakers chosen?
We look for distinguished scholars who are also gifted teachers, willing to share their knowledge with a general audience. They are found by personal recommendations, YouTube appearances, teaching awards, and the kind of courses they teach to undergraduates. Our speakers have proven extraordinarily generous with their time in the middle of a challenging academic year. Part of our appeal is that they know sBristol is a beautiful, historic seaport town; part is that they love talking to post-collegiate audiences who are there by choice, not because they have to be!
What opportunities are there for small-group discussion?
This is an aspect of the program that appeals to many participants, but not to all. We have aimed at a compromise in order to make BookFest more interactive: opportunities during a long lunch break to sit at a table with a facilitator (often one of our speakers) and talk in depth about the book with other readers, working from a “kick off” question. This is totally voluntary. Some participants prefer to sit with friends or walk into town or explore Linden Place.
We also encourage people to read the book in eight weekly installments as part of a “guided” reading group at the Rogers Free Library in January and February. Please see the Library’s website for details.
Still have questions?
Send us a note!