I have an idea for the perfect book club: It’s held in a beach town, covers topics diverse as the literary world itself. It’s accessible – and free. And some of the world’s most beloved authors join in.
Such a literary treat exists, thanks to the Nantucket Book Festival, now in its 11th year.
From June 15-18, the Festival will bring you up close with famed writers like Sebastian Junger, Tracy Kidder, Jodi Picoult, Luke Russert and more.
You’ll find famed Pulitzer Prize winners and finalists, National Book Award winners and finalists and New York Times bestsellers – ready to chat all things literary with you at the beach, the bar, or elsewhere on the island.
And yes, it’s pretty much free. While some of the events do require a ticket, the vast majority of talks and events are completely free, something the festival takes great pride in.
That means you can grab a hotel room or home rental – or even just hop the easy to take Hy Line Ferry back and forth for a day (out of Hyannis, a quick hour-or-so trip each way) and have the beach book experience of a lifetime.
While the Festival has no overarching theme, this year’s opening night event focuses on “Freedom,” with four of the world’s best-known writers — Junger, Imani Perry, Picoult, and Russert – each offering their own take on what freedom means to them.
Some have some recent experience: Picoult’s book co-authored with Jennifer Finney Boylan, “Mad Honey,” is currently being banned in spots around the country.
There are many other themes to be explored via literature and discussion as well, including poetry, playwriting, and even an all-female climate change panel
Events are held across the island. You’ll chat with Junger, for example, at the local Methodist church, take in poetry at the famed Chicken Box, dine with literary legends at island restaurants, and even have a chance to toast your favorite authors via the “Authors in Bars” event at the Nantucket Breeze.
The island, compact and easy to navigate without a car (in fact, skip the car entirely; walking is easy, bike rentals are plentiful and the Uber and cab drivers on site are adept at getting you to where you need to be).
It’s also a place of literary fame, with its own hometown writing all-stars. Both Nathaniel Filbrick and Elin Hilderbrand call the island home, and are often found signing books on a weekday at one of the local independent book stories like Mitchell’s Book Corner and Nantucket Bookworks.
Both of those shops will host author many author signings throughout the event, and while books will be on sale at many spots, these two shops give you a true classic bookstore experience.
There are events for children as well, like Friday’s story time and activities in the lovely Atheneum Garden. A nice addition: these will be offered in multiple languages.
To stay for more than a day, you can consider the host hotel The White Elephant, or check out the many lodging offerings via https://www.nantucketchamber.org.
With the ease of getting around the island, it’s simple to mix in other island experiences too, from waterside dining to beach and bluff walks to some really great shopping. You’ll find literary themed specials in both food and libations at all kind of locales.
Should you choose to ferry, book ahead at https://hylinecruises.com. Their Hyannis spot has excellent remote parking (quick and available shuttles get you back and forth; trust it) and you can even savor one of their famed Bloody Mary’s on your ride.
The Ferry drops you smack in the center of Nantucket proper, making coming and going simple.
As for the festival itself, while almost all events are free, they do ask you to register on line in advance to help them be ready for the crowd. You can do that at https://nantucketbookfestival.org.
With sneakers, your bathing suit and a hunger for the best beach book day(s) ever, you can step into a magical literary experiences ever.
