Reflections on the Texas Book Festival 2006

On Saturday, my husband and I attended the panel discussion on Hurricane Katrina in the House Chamber and got to sit in the big soft chairs on floor of the House. Douglas Brinkley talked about his book The Great Deluge (get the book, read the book, be the book). He sat on a panel with other Katrina authors including Ivor van Heerden (The Storm: What Went Wrong during Hurricane Katrina), a Louisiana scientist who minced no words. (Question from the audience: "I went back to my house and everything smells like an oil spill. Are there abatement programs or studies being done?" Van Heerden: "No.")

That afternoon we saw Lawrence Wright (The Looming Tower) talking about what led up to 9/11. He spoke mostly about his sources: he was able to get excellent information from very violent people who horrified him.

Sunday’s seminar was the most fun: Lou Dubose and Jake Bernstein talked about their new book, Vice: Dick Cheney and the Hijacking of the American Presidency. I leave it to you to imagine the tone of the discussion. Suffice to say that Laura Bush might have thought twice about founding this book festival eleven years ago if she'd known where the publishing industry was heading.

The picture of the dancers was taken in front of the capitol building in the late morning.