Must-See Authors at the National Book Festival

The National Book Festival is tomorrow, and there is a great group of authors coming to the Mall.  I imagine that John Grisham, David Pelecanos and Jodi Picoult will be big draws.  (I met Jodi Picoult and her husband a few years ago at a presidential primary debate party in New Hampshire, without really knowing who she was.  She’s charming!  Very nice and funny.)  Gwen Ifill will be there, for the politicos.  And Paula Deen, y’all!  I love her.  You can find the full schedule and map here.  But!  There are a few you definitely shouldn’t miss.  They are: 

Kay Ryan, 12:00-12:45 p.m.

Kay Ryan is the Library of Congress’s Poet Laureate.  I saw her give a reading last year and she was great.  She’s also in The New Yorker with some regularity.  Her new book is The Jam Jar Lifeboat, which I haven’t picked up yet.  At left, Say Uncle, a good one.  See a few samples here.  

Junot Diaz, 3:35-4:05 p.m.

I really loved The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.  I read an excerpt of it in the Summer 2007 fiction issue of The New Yorker and was hooked.  It’s about a family from the Dominican Republic that immigrates to New Jersey (or I think just the mom is from DR, and the kids were born in N.J.).  In any case it’s an enthralling, fast-paced look into the lives of the family members and how they deal with each other, and New Jersey.  I have no idea what Junot Diaz is like in person, but the book is very funny and has some great punchy lines.  Even if he’s not funny and punchy in person, I’d love to hear him talk about writing those lines, along with his thoughts on family and Dominican culture.     

Marilynne Robinson, 3:45-4:15 p.m.

I love Marilynne Robinson and Gilead is one of my favorite books.  (Thanks for the recommendation, MK!)  It is beautifully written and full of slow, contemplative observations about living a good life.  Robinson writes from the point of view of an aging pastor in Iowa, who sends letters to his young son about his daily life.  It’s not plot-driven, but every page is a pleasure to read.  

I have a huge problem with Junot Diaz and Marilynne Robinson being scheduled at overlapping times!  If it were me, I’d go to Junot for 15 minutes or so and then head over to Marilynne.   

Judy Blume, 5:00-5:30 p.m.

Fudge-a-Mania and Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret.  Enough said, she’s a classic.