It was my first one, and I got to hear Richard Russo promote his new book, That Old Cape Magic, which is actually very funny when he read it. And also, the pie'ce de resistance, saw and listened to an interesting interview with Margaret Atwood.

Also saw ZZ Packer and Colson Whitehead, two young authors who have written some good stuff. There was so much to see and do that if you didn't have a plan, you wouldn't have had a chance. The best thing was that I went with my mother-in-law who doesn't usually do literary things like this, and she loved it so much that she wants to join a book group. She said it was so invigorating to hang around literary people that she wanted to do it some more. So maybe another reader joins the ranks?

Hope so.

Anyone else been to any festivals this year? Which was the ones that happen near you?

I was also at the Texas Book Festival on Saturday, but without a plan. I did manage to see Margaret Atwood -- wonderful. So, in response, I am now reading Oryx and Crake again in anticipation of my turn at The Year of the Flood from the library.

Next year, a plan is definitely in order.

Sorry I didn't see you there! :-)

I am also very excited to read Atwood's Oryx and Crake prior to the Flood book. There had been such a mixed response to the Oryx book that it had put me off it, but now I would like to see what it's like.

Have you read much Atwood?