2012 Brooklyn Book Festival the Biggest So Far

It was a great day for readers and writers, young and old. Thousands came to the seventh annual Brooklyn Book Festival in Downtown Brooklyn yesterday to listen to intriguing authors, get books signed, and open their minds to new ideas.

There were tables full of books to browse, and more than 100 panels this year.

Hundreds of famous authors -- from Paul Auster, Carol Higgins Clark, Tony Danza, Jimmie Walker, Edwidge Danticat, Pete Hamill to Joyce Carol Oates -- sat on the panels, gave readings and signed books. (Pete Hamill was voted this year's Bobi Honoree.)

UPDATE: Some people said the panels were so full they couldn't get into some of them. We didn't have this trouble, but we didn't try to get into the crowd-magnets this year. How many people were shut out?

The Melville House booth.

The event grows bigger every year. Poets, philosophers, journalists, foreign correspondents, authors and writers of all stripes spoke on the panels, and all the events were absolutely free.

Above: "Altered States" -- panel featuring books with themes of drugs and their effects on relationships. Steven Wishnia (When the Drumming Stops), Alex Shakar (Luminarium) and Bronwen Hruska (Accelerated). Hirsh Sawhney moderated.

Photos by MK Metz

- 2011 Book Festival here.
- 2010 festival;
- 2009; 2008; 2007

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