2022 TBF Holiday Gift Guide

By Ke'ara Hunt on December 15, 2022

‘Tis the season to be reading! The Texas Book Festival staff has recommended reads to add to your shopping lists this holiday season. The round-up includes books for everyone to cozy up and enjoy with your favorite warm beverage and festive treats. Check out the picks below.

The Miracle of Salt by Naomi Duguid
Recommended by Lois Kim, Executive Director

Remember that fairy tale where the king banishes his daughter when in response to being asked how much she loves him, she says as much as people like salt in their food. The king only comes to realize his mistake at a wedding banquet years later where the same princess serves unsalted food to the guests. Naomi Duguid’s The Miracle of Salt: Recipes and Techniques to Preserve, Ferment, and Transform Your Food takes her readers on a journey that details the importance of salt in our human story and the endless ingenuity with which people have preserved, pickled and seasoned with salt to make delicious and meaningful food. Ever since Duguid published Hot Sour Salty Sweet (with Jeffrey Alford) more than 20 years ago, I’ve admired her anthropological approach to writing about food and cooking. This is a great gift for the sophisticated cook in your life who loves to read about the history of food as much as they love to cook. Or who really wants to master a kickass kimchi or kraut.

Inciting Joy: Essays by Ross Gay
Recommended by Ke’ara Hunt, Communications & Marketing Coordinator

Though the holiday season is usually a time to be festive and surround yourself with those who love and support you, I cannot help but also get the holiday blues. Maybe it is a sort of grief that the year is ending and with it all of the highs and lows. It is safe to say that Inciting Joy: Essays by award-winning poet and author Ross Gay was a much-needed spark to help me remember what brings me the most joy in life, at any given time of the year. In the essay “(Dis)Alienation Machinery / (Losing Your Phone: The Seventh Incitement),” Gay writes about trying to find a sense of direction or feeling aimless when you have to rely on yourself to lead the way and get you to where you need to be. For some reason, I felt very emotional reading this even though it is not outwardly trying to incite sadness. What I took from it was that reliance on yourself can be tiring and overwhelming and you will eventually get lost. However, being constantly connected to something like your phone, with its preinstalled hivemind, will likely be even more of an obstacle. Disconnect and get on your way!

Civil Service by Claire Schwartz
Recommended by Dalia Azim, Deputy Director

It was a highlight of my 2022 Texas Book Festival to have a chance to moderate a conversation with Whiting Award winners Megha Majumdar and Claire Schwartz. Schwartz’s debut poetry collection is not only stunning and thought-provoking but also raises essential questions about the relationship between art and social change. This is a book that seduces you with its precise and beautiful language—every word feels essential and urgent—and once it has absorbed you in its pages, inspires you to look at our troubled world and think about how to change it.

Also a Poet: Frank O’Hara, My Father by Ada Calhoun
Recommended by Matthew Patin, Literary Director

Some of the memoirs that most attract me center on an author’s relationship, whether personal or intellectual/emotional/creative, with a literary figure or their works. Still others center on an author’s relationship with a parent. Festival 2022 alum Ada Calhoun’s Also a Poet—one of my favorite memoirs of 2022—centers both, and beautifully. A moving, rewarding read anytime, but perhaps especially so during an end-of-year season of reflection and family reunions.

The Family Izquierdo by Ruben Degollado
Recommended by Susannah Auby, Development Manager

Meet the Izquierdos and I promise you won’t forget them. Set in the Rio Grande Valley and spanning three generations, this book introduces you to characters one by one in a series of Interlocking chapters. Their lives are filled with misfortune but their perspectives are rich. I finished the book and immediately started re-reading it.

Kicks by Van G. Garrett
Recommended by Michelle Hernandez, School & Community Programs Coordinator

Though this book is the perfect gift for the sneakerhead in your life, it is also a fun and vibrant picture book that anyone can enjoy. Van G. Garrett’s lyrical style paired with Reggie Brown’s joyful illustrations beautifully capture the way that sporting a fresh new pair of kicks can make you feel like you can run a little faster, jump a little higher, and express yourself without saying a word.

Nubia: The Awakening by Omar Epps
Recommended by Ke’ara Hunt, Communications & Marketing Coordinator

BONUS ROUND: Though this novel is laced with fantasy, the topics of class, climate change, family, and culture allowed me to not only enjoy reading the more ‘epic adventure’ parts of the story but to also connect with the main characters: Zuberi, Uzochi, and Lencho. I love sharing these types of stories with my teen brother, who is coming into his own self, day by day. We have read and watched the Black Panther comics and films together and I specifically remember having a discussion about how painful it is to know that we are disconnected from our African heritage due to history. Of course, he was a bit too young to fully grasp what I meant, but he agreed that he would love to have lived in a place like Wakanda – full of community, pride, and overall joy.

This will be my gift to him this holiday season. I am sure that he will enjoy learning about the story of Nubia and how the characters fight to hold onto their identities and uplift one another despite oppression by those living ‘Up High’.

Side note: I’m a huge fan of Omar Epps’ film and television work, including House, M.D. It was wonderful to see him in person at the Texas Book Festival. He is inspiring the next generation of storytellers through yet another medium which is very cool!

The Tryout by Christina Soontornvat
Recommended by Olivia Hesse, Event Production & Logistics Coordinator

While I wasn’t able to attend the whole session at the Texas Book Festival this year, I did get to sit in on a few minutes of the Graphix Con panel to learn a bit more about graphic novels, and I made it my mission to read one from the festival before the end of the year. While I was initially unsure about The Tryout, I’m so glad it ended up in my hands.

I think everyone can agree that middle school is hard; you’re not an adult but you’re not a little kid anymore either, classes are increasing in difficulty, and you start to cultivate friends based around interests rather than convenience. You start developing who you are, and Christina Soontornvat captured this experience, and the growing pains that come along with it, perfectly.

She tells the story of her childhood as a nerdy Thai Texan girl desperate to make the Cheerleading team and fit in. Young Christina faces racism from classmates, changing friendships, changing interests, and identity struggles all within the colorful pages of this quick read, and I think it would be the perfect gift for any girl who has experienced, or is experiencing, the trials of 7th grade.

American Reboot by Will Hurd
Recommended by Anna Dolliver, Operations Coordinator

The holidays often bring large gatherings and family reunions, which can mean interacting with people whose views diverge from your own. While these conversations may feel tense at first, they can provide opportunities for deeper understanding and connection. In American Reboot, former US congressman Will Hurd reflects on the polarized state of American politics and proposes ways to address current problems our country faces. Salient threads in the book include Hurd’s endeavors to represent the diversity of Texan views while in Congress, his prioritization of personal ethics and integrity over partisan goals, and his collaboration with people across the aisle to work toward solutions.

I look forward to gifting this book to my father. Though our backgrounds and perspectives differ significantly, I find that our conversations help us grow and learn from each other. I anticipate that we’ll have contrasting approaches to solving the issues Hurd proposes, and I’m excited to see what insights emerge through our conversation. I recommend gifting American Reboot to someone with whom your views don’t quite align and using it as a springboard for those uncomfortable but rewarding discussions.

Our Impact in 2022

By Ke'ara Hunt on December 6, 2022

We feel we’re not alone when we look at the calendar and exclaim: How is it December already?! At the TBF office, we are just finally digging out from Festival wrap up — packing away supplies, signing checks to our valued vendors and security officers who keep everyone at the Fest safe, and writing thank you notes — LOTS of thank you notes — to express our gratitude to everyone who helped make our annual celebration of books and community so meaningful this year.

Some highlights of the impact TBF made this year:

We were thrilled to bring back a fully in-person Festival Weekend in all its glory — completely free and open to the public. We brought 300+ authors and their books to tens of thousands of attendees of all ages and the joy was palpable. Seen and heard throughout the Festival: laughter, thought-provoking conversations, serendipitous running into friends, and so much positive book-buying energy to support authors, booksellers and TBF.

We granted $101,000 in collection enhancement grants to 42 public libraries across Texas.

Through our Reading Rock Stars program, we gave more than 13,000 books and brought inspirational award-winning authors to students in Title I elementary schools in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and the Rio Grande Valley.

Real Reads, our outreach program focused on serving middle and high school students, brought 5 renowned authors and almost 600 books to students in Austin and Dallas this year through partnerships with Breakthrough Central Texas, Somos Escritoras, Austin Community College’s Ascender program, and Skyline High School.

In this season of giving, if you’re thinking of tax-deductible charitable gifts you’d like to make before the end of the year, I hope that TBF is high on the list of nonprofits whose missions you support.

With a donation of $100 or more, you’ll become a Festival Friend and receive perks for the 2023 Festival.

Make your 2022 donation on or before December 31!

MAKING A SCENE: Constance Wu in Conversation

By Ke'ara Hunt on November 28, 2022

We’re excited to announce that we’ve scheduled a new date for a live, virtual conversation with Golden Globe Award-nominated actress Constance Wu about her new memoir Making a Scene. Join the virtual conversation on Friday, December 2 at 12 p.m. CT. The session is free and open to the public. You can register here.

“Illuminating… enthralling… her willingness to not just address her faults but grapple with them makes Wu’s memoir all the richer. Throw in her talent for vivid scene setting, plus an understanding that reflections are nothing without introspection, and the ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ star delivers a page-turner that amounts to much more than its headline-grabbing revelations.” —The Washington Post“A portrait of a young woman’s life and of a young artist, struggling to find her way… poignant… frank and intimate.” —The New York Times

Author:
Constance Wu is the Golden Globe Award-nominated star of Crazy Rich Asians and Hustlers. Her breakthrough role was starring as Jessica Huang in the television comedy Fresh Off the Boat (2015–2020). She has been nominated for the Screen Actors Guild award, two Television Critics Association awards, and four Critics Choice awards. Time has honored her as one of the 100 Most Influential People of the Year. She lives on the east side of Los Angeles with her partner, Ryan Kattner, their daughter, and their pet bunny rabbit, Lida-Rose.

Moderator:
Kara Watson, executive editor at Scribner / Simon & Schuster

Thank you to the sponsor of this session, Amplify Credit Union!

In 2022, Amplify turned off all bank fees for its customers. They are now working to end bank fees in Texas, one person at a time. For more information, visit www.goamplify.com.

Festival Weekend: Intern Edition

By Ke'ara Hunt on November 21, 2022

This past Festival Weekend was a jam-packed and exciting return to TBF’s annual event, and we hope all of you had as much fun as we did! If you’re curious about what it looked (and felt) like to be an intern during the Texas Book Festival, see below for the inside scoop shared by some of our outstanding interns.

From left to right: Amelia McConnico, Noor Iqbal, Emily Hirsh, Yuliana Mireles-Marin, Valeria Guerrero, and Alex Steele

NOOR IQBAL, Literary Intern

1) While helping author Janet Evanovich and her publicist at her book signing table, I was able to hear all the attendees speak to Evanovich and tell her how much her books meant to them. For example, there were many people who came as a family, stating that reading Evanovich’s books together helped them bond through reading. It reminded me of how powerful reading can be on a large scale.

2) Attending Rabia Chaudry and Madhushree Ghosh’s panel about food, family, and immigration with my Pakistani family was such a heartfelt moment. My family could see what my internship was all about and everyone left feeling excited to read their books because they could relate to their stories.

3) Finally, I attended a few “Read Me A Story” readings and “Next Chapter” panels, and hearing all of the kids’ questions for the authors was so sweet. It was great to see them excited about reading, especially for books that related to their identity.

AMELIA MCCONNICO, Development Intern

My highlights from the Festival include seeing all the kids listening to a book being read out loud by an author at the “Read Me a Story” tent, helping patrons get their Festival Friends passes, and listening to Jacques Pépin talk about his incredible life story. That was my favorite highlight because he is so sweet and genuine, and I felt very special when he said hello to me!

EMILY HIRSH, Marketing & Communications Intern

1) One of the best moments from my Festival experience was attending Juli Berwald and David George Haskell’s panel: “Climate and the Natural World: Wonders Of, Dangers To.” Berwald’s explanation of how she wound her daughter’s mental health struggles with the crippling issue of mass coral loss was as unique as it was important. It was also held in the basement of the Capitol building, which I had never set foot in before. Once I cleared the metal detector, the ceiling literally took my breath away.

2) Another experience that stands out to me took place during a quick lunch break in between events. Standing on the 15th floor of TBF’s home base while I inhaled a sandwich, I was able to see Congress Avenue packed with people, small as ants from my viewpoint, milling from tent to tent with the Capitol stretching in the horizon. I guess that moment made me realize how many people were there and how much putting on an event like this can bring a community together.