Caleb & Ben with Jeff Kinney at Boston Book Festival
Back in my glamorous days as a twenty-five year old working for a foreign language publisher in the city, when I didn't wear jeans or yoga pants six days of the weeks, I had a vibrant cultural life. I was a member at the Huntington Theatre Company, went to Tanglewood on occasion, and my favorite- I would walk from my office to the local bookstore, (Waterstone's at the time, now gone from Newbury Street) to hear my favorite authors read from their most current works. I was only a few years out of college, and every time I felt like I got to go to an entertaining lecture, by one of my favorite professors. And the best, no homework! I felt so urban and intellectual. I wore scarves to be cool, not just to keep warm.
Fast forward more than a few years, I am living in the suburbs, doing the crossword puzzle to keep sharp, married with children, now themselves a little older, and can be left to fend in the wilds of Duxbury from time to time. My cultural life can resume, from seeing Shrek at the movie theatre, back not quite to the level of my glory days in the city, because I can't stay out that late any more-but to a level that I am happy with. (But don't think that Shrek isn't loads of fun…)
What has most lately influenced my literate life has been Westwinds Bookshop, and their very willing partner, the Duxbury Free Library. The number of very talented authors that they are able to attract to the little hamlet of Duxbury really is amazing. Their readings are made all the more enjoyable in that they are free, and always intimate. You will get the question answered that you always wanted to ask. With the help of some dedicated author friends around town, and some sweet, smart talking by the managers at Westwinds and the director of the library, we get very talented authors to enrich us, so we might take a day off from the crossword, and feel intellectual, again. You can even bring the kids. Scarves optional.
Congratulations to Westwinds on their official grand opening this past weekend. You have really brought the store, and our town, to it's fullest potential.
A few of the recent author readings:
Marianne Leone
John Sayles
Ann Hood
Jennifer Haigh
Andre Dubus, III
See the Westwinds website at http://www.westwindsbookshop.com/ for what's coming up next… it will be sure to enrich and enliven your week!
