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Southern Festival of Books 2019

October 3, 2019

Mark your calendars! The Southern Festival of Books is October 11-13.  The festival takes place at Nashville Public Library and War Memorial Plaza and is free and open to the public.

Here are just a few sessions I'd recommend. Also, don't miss the annual Main Library Book Sale, going on throughout the Festival.

Friday, October 11

The festival kicks off with a dilemma:  a rare chance to see Ottessa Moshfegh, or Jessica Chiccehitto Hindman with her captivating memoir of playing violin in a fake orchestra?

My Year of Rest and Relaxation

NPL auditorium, 1:00-2:00 p.m.

A-memoir-ica: Beauty, Deception and Deep Truths by Way of Stage and Screen

NPL Conference Room 1B, 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 12

On Saturday, the underrated Southern comic writer George Singleton appears with Belle Boggs and Brock Clarke.

American Misadventures: Tragicomic Tales

NPL Commons, 12:00-1:30

Saturday afternoon is packed with local celebrities (again in competing time slots!):

In Conversation: Ann Patchett & Margaret Renkl

War Memorial Auditorium, 2:00-3:00

Skillet Love: The Recipes, Styling, and Photos that Made the Book

NPL Conference Room 1A, 2:00-3:00

Then at 3:00, Saeed Jones will discuss his memoir about coming of age as a gay black man in the South, one of the most highly anticipated books of the fall:

How We Fight for Our Lives: A Memoir

NPL Conference Room 1B, 3:00-4:00

Sunday, October 13

My favorite pick for Sunday is Casey Cep, who will discuss her strange but effective hybrid of a true crime story and a biography of Harper Lee.

Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee

NPL auditorium, 12:00-1:00

For all the details, visit the Southern Festival of Books website.
 

beth winter

Beth

Beth works in the Collection Development department.  She loves short stories, memoirs, documentary films, and cookbooks.  Her favorite things about working at the library are knowing in advance about all the new releases and the easy access to her library holds.