BookLovers: The SouthCoast is jamming with upcoming author events
We’re in full-on Summer Reading Season, baby, and the author events are popping up on two ends of SouthCoast, from the Cape line to South Dartmouth. BookLovers, warn your calendars: They’re about to be filled. Now let’s get out there and #GetYourCopySigned.
100 Things to Do on Cape Cod and Islands Before You Die
The subhead says it all.
A Boston-based freelance food and travel writer, Kim Foley MacKinnon often spends time on Cape Cod. In her new book, she culled together what she calls “100 Things to Do on Cape Cod and the Islands Before You Die.”
Travelers come from all over the world to see Cape Cod, beauty that lies right down Rt. 6 from SouthCoast — and we have a ferry service right here in New Bedford. If any travelers can knock these items off the ol’ bucket list, we SouthCoasters have the most ample opportunity.
From the Cape’s beaches to its “quirky museums, like Toad Hall with its impressive collection of red-only sports cars,” eating lobster at Martha’s Vineyard’s Larsen’s Fish Market or grabbing a brass ring while riding the island’s Flying Horses Carousel, MacKinnon has 100 suggestions.
Meet her and #GetYourCopySigned at Titcomb’s Bookshop, 432 Route 6A, East Sandwich July 21 at 2 p.m.
"SIX WALKS"
The fear with a book concept like retracing Henry David Thoreau’s footsteps is that it will veer toward twee tropes. But Ben Shattuck's “Six Walks” reads wonderfully authentic. The South Dartmouth writer/artist’s odyssey, as he retraces Thoreau’s famed walks in Massachusetts, is a metaphysical journey, peppered with Shattuck's dry humor, organic insights, rumination. As he’s an artist — also gallery director and lead curator at his mother’s Dedee Shattuck Gallery in Westport — there are also sketches of his wanderings.
For people (like me) who love and connect with Thoreau, it’s a must-read. Even if you don’t love Henry, you’ll want to read this reminder of the ways nature can move us intimately.
Meet Shattuck and #GetYourCopySigned at Titcomb’s Bookshop in East Sandwich July 22 at 6:30 p.m.
MORE FROM TITCOMB’S
Speaking of Titcomb’s … I’ll mention here, it’s an absolute gem of an indie bookstore. They host author events constantly. I literally don’t have room to mention every author on their calendar, but urge you to check their website, for upcoming events from their Book Club event with Pip Williams July 19, to hosting maritime historian Eric Jay Dolin talking “Rebels at Sea” July 26 at the Sandwich Public Library.
DAVOLL’S GENERAL STORE
And speaking of Shattuck… You probably know by now that he and his brother Will bought Davoll's General Store in South Dartmouth. Since opening its doors last year, the 18th century building has blossomed into a rustic SouthCoast gem-- and its book section is beautifully curated. If you haven’t been yet, check it out. (While you’re there, inquire about their once-a-month Book Club.)
They also have author readings: July 23, they host a poetry reading with Kylie Gellatly; July 26 they host something called “Prose N’ Food,” billed as “Hemingway + oysters, fish sandwiches + wine.”(I’m intrigued.) And mark your calendars for Aug. 17 at 5 p.m. when they host author William Martin on “December ’41.”
MARCEL THE SHELL
Honorary SouthCoaster, Shattuck’s wife actor/comedian/writer Jenny Slate has signed copies of her new book, “Marcel the Shell with Shoes on: Things About Me,” co-written with Dean Fleischer-Camp, at Davoll’s.
You might remember back in ’19 when I covered her reading to a packed house at the Dedee Shattuck Gallery. At the time, Slate was on a national book tour for her collection of essays, “Little Weirds.” Her now-mother-in-law’s gallery was the book tour finale. At the time, she told us: “I’ll live here for the rest of my life.”
Jenny, you’re now a full-on SouthCoaster, girl. #LocalAuthor
Slate Instagrammed a video of Davoll’s charming book section with the caption: “It’s nice when you’d husband owns the general store bc you get to put your @marcelthemovie READ poster in the children’s section of the bookstore and honestly what the heck else would anyone ever even want? PS: they have watermelon margaritas at the bar here @davollsgeneralstore."
Hey, all of the above sounds good to me.
Until next week, BookLovers: Read on.
Lauren Daley is a freelance writer. She tweets @laurendaley1. Read more at https://www.facebook.com/daley.writer.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: BookLovers: The SouthCoast is jamming with upcoming author events
