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This year marks the 10th anniversary of Open Book / Open Mind, our popular author conversation series. Over the years we’ve hosted Colson Whitehead, Matthew Desmond, Michelle Zauner, Ann Patchett, Nicholas Kristof, Isabel Wilkerson, Maggie Haberman, Jhumpa Lahiri, Charles Blow, Christina Baker Kline, Sandra Cisneros, Alice Hoffman, Isabel Allende, Mary Roach, Toluse Olorunnipa, Elizabeth Kolbert, Michael Schmidt, Jonathan Alter, Rachel Swarns and so many more. We’re proud that attending our events has become a Montclair tradition.
Use the blue navigation buttons above to learn more about the origins of Open Book / Open Mind and to view yearly lists of programs with YouTube links. Scroll down to find out more about the generous sponsors and our advisory committee of outstanding volunteers who make this series possible, year after year.
For more information, contact MPL librarian Ariel Zeitlin.
Saturday, January 25, 4 p.m. Rumaan Alam, “Entitlement.“ In conversation with Alice Elliott Dark (“Fellowship Point”). A novel of money and morality from the New York Times bestselling author of “Leave the World Behind.” “A brilliant exploration of extreme wealth and how it bends the lives of those close to it… Alam keeps things crystal clear and speedway fast.”—The Boston Globe
Co-presented by AAPI Montclair
Tuesday, February 18, 6:30 p.m. Jennifer Jones, “Becoming Spectacular : The Rhythm of Resilience from the First African American Rockette.“ In conversation with Sharron Miller. The program includes a slideshow of Jones in her heyday. “Being a pioneer involves breaking down stubborn barriers, challenging closed-minded people and navigating through instances of racism and prejudice….It’s believing in your dream—that you can be and do whatever it is that you love.”—Jennifer Jones
Co-presented by Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts
Tuesday, February 25, 7 p.m. Curtis Sittenfeld, “Show Don’t Tell.” In conversation with Jennifer Hershey, publisher of Ballantine Books, Bantam and Delacorte/Dell. At The First Congregational Church of Montclair. The New York Times bestselling author of “Eligible” and “Romantic Comedy” will be talking with her longtime editor about her newest book of short stories. “Witty . . . In one sparkling comedy of manners after another, [Sittenfeld] documents with a clear and affectionate eye how tiny prejudices and blind spots lead her protagonists astray. These stories entertain and unsettle in equal measure.”—Publishers Weekly
This is a ticketed event. Tickets cost $34 and include a copy of the book signed by the author.
Saturday, March 15, 4 p.m. Anna Quindlen, “After Annie.” In conversation with Elisabeth Egan of The New York Times Book Review. At The First Congregational Church of Montclair. The Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist’s latest New York Times bestseller. When Annie, the pillar of her family and community, dies unexpectedly, everyone in her life must find a way to mourn, heal, and, ultimately, move on. “Part of Quindlen’s gift is that you don’t just read about these characters, you inhabit them. . . . Luminous with life, hope and the power of love.”—People magazine
This is a ticketed event. $25 includes a paperback of the book signed by the author.
Thursday, April 3, 4 p.m. Chris Bohjalian, “The Jackal’s Mistress.“ In conversation with Christina Baker Kline (“The Exiles,” “Orphan Train”). Two #1 New York Times bestselling historical novelists discuss Bohjalian’s latest, which is based on a true Civil War story about the wife of a missing Confederate soldier and a wounded Union officer. “This page-turner from bestselling Bohjalian…will not disappoint fans of American Civil War narratives. The vividly drawn characters and historical details make for a compelling read.”—Library Journal
This is a ticketed event. $34 includes a copy of the book signed by the author.
Saturday, May 3, Time TBD. Edwin Frank, “Stranger Than Fiction: Lives of the Twentieth-Century Novel.” In conversation with Alexandra Jacobs of The New York Times Book Review. The editorial director of New York Review Books and the founder of the NYRB Classics series engages deeply with the twentieth-century novel. “‘Stranger Than Fiction’ is a rare thing: a volume of criticism that is a thrilling read….It not only illuminates unexpected connections but also suggests that there are many, many other links out there still waiting to be discovered.”—Los Angeles Review of Books
Co-sponsored by Succeed2gether’s Montclair Literary Festival
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Saturday, May 3, Time TBD. Benjamin Wallace, “The Mysterious Mr. Nakomoto: A Fifteen-Year Quest to Unmask the Secret Genius Behind Crypto.” The New York Times bestselling author of “The Billionaire’s Vinegar” investigates the shadowy identity of Bitcoin’s creator. “‘The Mysterious Mr. Nakamoto’ could be the best mystery story of the past twenty years. I’m not sure whether Ben Wallace should win a Pulitzer, be institutionalized for taking on this massive project, or both.”—James Patterson
Co-sponsored by Succeed2gether’s Montclair Literary Festival
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Tuesday, June 3, 6:30 p.m. New Ways to View Marriage: A Panel with Ada Calhoun (“Crush: A Novel”), Molly Roden Winter (More: A Memoir) and Jaclyn Geller (“Moving Past Marriage”). Moderated by Kate Tuttle, books editor of The Boston Globe. Love may still be a many-splendored thing but many have questions about matrimony. Join a bestselling novelist, musician, professor and book critic to discuss.
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Wednesday, September 10, 7 p.m. Richard Rothstein and Leah Rothstein, “Just Action,” How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under the Color of Law.” At the First Congregational Church of Montclair. Richard is a 30-year veteran of the Economic Policy Institute and the Thurgood Marshall Institute of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Leah is a consultant focusing on the issues of community development and affordable housing policy, practice, and finance. Following up on “The Color of Law,” Richard’s acclaimed New York Times bestseller, “‘[Just Action’ is an] impassioned guide to ending residential segregation in America . . . Throughout, inspiring stories of people uniting to preserve their communities and redress segregation are interwoven with nitty-gritty policy details. It’s a comprehensive and inspiring guide to solving a pressing social problem.”― Publishers Weekly
This summer, join our community read! We’ll be reading this groundbreaking book to get ready for the author conversation. Stay tuned to find out more about Montclair Reads “Just Action.”
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We are grateful to all of the wonderful authors, conversation partners, library staffers, and, of course, attendees who make Open Book / Open Mind Online such a success.
Special thanks to the Open Book / Open Mind Advisory Committee: Co-chairs Alice Elliott Dark and Kate Tuttle; Jonathan Alter, Reagan Arthur, Marina Budhos, Neal Carruth, Catherine Chung, Alice Elliott Dark, Jennifer Dorr, Elisabeth Egan, David Folkenflik, Dionne Ford, Jon Fortt, Gabrielle Glaser, David Jones, DT Max, Dale Russakoff, Juan Milà, Sara Mosle, Margot Sage-EL, Rachel Swarns, Susan Weinberg, and Kate Zernike.
Open Book / Open Mind is presented by the Montclair Public Library through the unstinting financial support of The Montclair Public Library Foundation, Watchung Booksellers, New Jersey Council for the Humanities, First Congregational Church of Montclair, The George Montclair, and Amanti Vino. Many thanks to our generous donors, Dr. Alex and Doris Malaspina, Anonymous, David and Mary Lee Jones, and our new individual Underwriters.
