Wisconsin Book Festival October 15-19

The Wisconsin Book Festival : Home Page is back again starting Wednesday, October 15 through Sunday October 19 in Madison (and Monona and environs). Most events are at at the Overture Center, but check the schedule for specific events.


Wednesday

Mel Laird's authorized biographer speaks on opening night: Melvin Laird in War, Peace and Politics: A Presentation by Laird's Biographer, Dale Van Atta


Thursday

Young and Muslim: How Does It Feel to be a Problem? Moustafa Bayoumi, Amitava Kumar

At the Monona Public Library, 6:15 PM to 7:15 PM: Feathers, Furs, and Tepees: Family Storytelling with Debra Morningstar (Her web page: Debra Morningstar, Oneida Storyteller ~ Native Story, Song and Spirit)


Friday

Picturing Indians: Photographic Encounters and Tourist Fantasies An interesting look at HH Bennett's photography of Ho-Chunk people and the beginning of Dells tourism.

Get rad at the Barrymore on Friday evening with Amy Goodman, Jeremy Scahill, & Bob McChesney: The Media Now. They would probably not get to do an authorized bio of Melvin Laird.

Black Contributions to Madison, Wisconsin and the World with Richard Harris, Edward Powe, Clayborn Benson.


Saturday

Wisconsin Votes: An Electoral History with Robert Booth Fowler, Katherine Cramer Walsh. They promise that Fowler an emeritus UW professor is an "outstanding, impactful lecturer". Impactful? Mercy. I think they mean he talks good.

Monona's own Jim Draeger teams with Mark Speltz to talk about gas: Fill ’er Up! The Glory Days of Wisconsin Gas Stations: Madison Launch Event


Michael Dobbs, One Minute To Midnight: Kennedy, Khrushchev, And Castro, On The Brink Of Nuclear War Dobbs talks about his new book on the dark days of the missile crisis.


Changing Places Through Dissent and Activism: William H. Thomas, Jr., and James J. Lorence Thomas reveals U.S. Government efforts to intimidate critics into silence and to squelch expressions of opposition to American’s entry into the First World War and James J. Lorence presents his biography of Socialist Party organizer Don West, one of the most important literary and political figures in the southern Appalachians during the mid-twentieth century. Saturday, 4:00 - 5:30 PM at the Rainbow Bookstore Cooperative .


David Maraniss: The Olympics that Changed the World Maraniss returns to Madison to talk about his bestselling book on the 1960 Rome Olympics. Saturday, October 18 7:00 - 8:30 PM Venue: Promenade Hall/Overture


Marilynne Robinson & Ron Wallace: For a Limited Time Only and Home Pulitzer prize winner Robinson and UW creative writing founder Wallace talk about writing on Saturday, October 18 7:00 - 8:30 PM Venue: Wisconsin Historical Society-Library Mall


Sunday

To the Best of Our Knowledge Special Interview: Marilynne Robinson & Elizabeth Strout
Sunday, October 19 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Venue: Buck Studio at Wisconsin Public Radio, on the 7th floor of Vilas Hall

Because Jim Draeger likes to talk, he reprises Fill 'Er Up: The Glory Days of Wisconsin Gas Stations




Fall Book Sale - Wednesday to Saturday
The Friends of UW-Madison Library Fall Book Sale: Preview Sale ($5 Entry) coincides with the festival at the Memorial Library. Wednesday night costs $5 to get in and you have to compete with every second-hand bookseller in the Midwest. The rest of the weekend is free to enter. Ends at 1 pm on Saturday, Friends of UW-Madison Library Book Sale: Regular Sale (no entry fee)