Book lovers descend on Washington for National Book Festival

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - In the nation’s capital on Saturday, book lovers got together for the annual National Book Festival.

Some of the country’s best writers come together each year for the festival, to read, sign and talk about their latest books at the event.

“This is a huge celebration of books. There are 95 of America’s best writers talking about their latest books. It’s all free and open to the public,” said Clay Smith, Literary Director at the Library of Congress, which hosts the festival.

The festival gives bookworms a chance to explore how reading can help connect and inform people and also gives attendees a chance to engage with authors, both those they love and some new ones.

“Very excited to meet, Sandra Cisneros, for her book and get to meet her and talk to her,” said Selene Verhofstad, an attendee originally from Houston.

“We’re going to see Max Greenfield, the actor from New Girl. I didn’t even know he was an author,” said Sohail Lokhandwalla from Hartford, Conn.

Library of Congress organizers also said that the festival is more than just a fun event.

“To get this huge convention center full of 100,000 people or whatever it is, who all have something in common, which is that we all love books, we all think that writers are really special people, that is a very powerful statement,” said Smith. “At a time when we hear in the media about discord and strife and wars, to have something in common with your fellow Americans who you don’t know. That’s very powerful. and that’s one of the reasons we put on this festival.”

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