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. Some participants prefer to read or re-read the book after the program, guided by the talks they’ve heard. 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 schedule of events on this website. All events require registration, as seats are limited. Most events have no charge. All events at Rogers Free Library have no charge.
We are fortunate to enjoy a close working relationship with the Rogers Free Library and are especially grateful for the generosity of the charitable foundation Friends of Rogers Free Library. 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. For example, our keynote address for “Frankenstein” was delivered by an emergency room doctor; our Spotlight for “Fahrenheit 451” featured Brown University graduate students and Boston Dynamics’ robotic dog; the “Mrs. Dalloway” weekend will feature the Rhode Island Youth Poetry Ambassadors and a curator from New York Public Library. Additionally we have presented Nathaniel Philbrick for “Moby-Dick” and performances by Aurea Ensemble including one in 2026.
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 $45, payable online starting January 1. Students can attend free of charge (but must register), and we 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?
The BBF committee and the library recommend two: the Mariner Edition also known as "The Virginia Woolf Library Authorized Edition” (197 pages) or the Norton Critical Edition of the novel that includes 200 additional pages of commentary (not "required reading").
Where can we find the book?
Ink Fish 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 10-11 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 Bristol 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?
We have responded to participants’ request for discussion on the weekends with the inauguration of our Conversation Parlor during “Fahrenheit 451.” It’s a sort of parlor game in which participants meet in small groups with a deck of cards especially designed to generate focused conversation regarding the annual BookFest weekend and selection. We also encourage people to read the book and attend a multi-week reading seminar at the Rogers Free Library. See the Bristol BookFest Events page and Roger Free Library's websites for detail.
Who are the committee members?
Co-Chairs: Steven Calvert and Renee Soto
Steering Committee: Betty Brito, Gail Burmeister, Allen Clark, Jillian DeLong, Travis DeLong, Elizabeth Hanson, Susan Hibbitt, Kasey Kennedy, Beverly Larson, Elisabeth Lavers, Kim Petta, Lianne Pinheiro, Tina Palmer, August Thompson, and Ann Kathrin Weldy
Still have questions?
Send us a note!